Georgia Athletics

Three national titles, No. 2 football ranking head accomplishments

By JENNA MARINA
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Published on: 06/26/08

With the University of Georgia baseball team just completing its season, coming one win away from the College World Series title, we look back at quite a year for some of the school's athletic programs. It includes three national championships.

National Champions

The Bulldogs (27-3, 10-1 SEC) became the first team to win back-to-back NCAA tennis titles since Stanford (1998-99). They also captured their third consecutive regular-season SEC title. Georgia added to its 47-match home winning streak. They head into next season with the school-record of 52 (1971-75) in sight.

Gymnastics

Georgia (31-2) earned its fourth straight national gynmastics title and the ninth in program history. They tied Utah for the most titles held by one school. The Bulldogs won all three postseason titles — the SEC, Regionals and NCAA — without defending back-to-back NCAA All-Around Champion and Hall of Famer Courtney Kupets, who tore her Achilles tendon in early March. Eight different gymnasts earned a total of 16 All-America awards with their performances at the NCAA Championships.

Equestrian

Georgia (11-2) claimed the third national team title in school history, and its first since 2004. Bulldogs sophomore Sarah Locker claimed an individual national title in Western Reining.

Other Notable Seasons

Though they didn't bring back a national championship, Georgia (45-25-1, 20-9-1 SEC) did win the first four games of the College World Series before falling to Fresno State. The SEC champs set single-season records for hits (787), innings pitched (634) and strikeouts (528). They finish second in home runs (96), runs (512), RBIs (468) and fielding percentage (.971).

Football

The Bulldogs (11-2, 6-2 SEC) ended the season ranked No. 2 in the nation after a seven-game win streak culminated in a Sugar Bowl win over previously undefeated Hawaii. They were SEC East co-champions. The win-streak is the second longest active streak among Division IA teams and includes a victory against Florida for only the third time since 1990.

Men's Basketball

Not even a tornado could keep Georgia (17-17, 8-13 SEC) from earning its way into the NCAA Tournament for the first time in six years. After compiling the SEC's fewest wins during the regular season, Georgia stormed through the conference tournament to earn an automatic berth. They pulled off two overtime victories and survived a double-header after a tornado damaged the Georgia Dome to knock off Arkansas for the crown. The Bulldogs bowed out in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Women's Tennis

The Bulldogs (22-5, 9-2 SEC) upset Florida to win their second-consecutive SEC Tournament championship and reached the NCAA Round of 16 for the ninth time in 10 years. Coach Jeff Wallace earned his 500th win. Sophomore Naoko Ueshima tied former player Shadisha Robinson for the most doubles victories in one season (33).

Swimming and Diving

Both the men's and women's teams placed seventh at the NCAA championships. Men's coach Dan Laak was selected as the National Coach of the Year while coaching swimmers Sebastien Rouault and Gil Stovall and diver Chris Colwill to four individual national titles at the NCAAs. The women's team had a No. 1 ranking during the season with their ninth undefeated year (12-0) in school history.

Soccer

The Bulldogs (18-4-2, 8-1-2 SEC) posted their best regular season in school history with 15 wins, including a victory over No. 9 Tennessee. That win tied the mark for the highest-ranked opponent Georgia had ever defeated. The Bulldogs reached the finals of the SEC Tournament for the second time in school history. Georgia set or tied several school records, including: most wins in a season (18), fewest losses in a season (4) and third-fewest total goals allowed (19).

Softball

The Bulldogs (46-24, 14-14 SEC) advanced to just their second-ever NCAA Super Regional with an 18-player roster that featured 12 underclassmen. The Bulldogs earned their first-ever win over a No. 1 ranked opponent when they defeated Alabama on May 4.