Bill Shanks: Holiday wishes for the new year
It's the day before Christmas Eve, which means it is time for us to provide some Christmas wishes for our sports figures and teams in the state of Georgia.
For new Georgia coach Kirby Smart: Plenty of five-star prospects and the chance to see them realize their potential. It also wouldn't hurt if Smart got a large box of patience from his fan base.
For new Georgia quarterback Jacob Eason: A huge offensive line to protect him for the next three years. Eason likely will be Georgia's best recruiting coordinator in this dead period as he looks for new teammates.
For Georgia athletics director Greg McGarity: A good relationship with Florida athletics director Jeremy Foley, just in case he needs to rejoin his former boss in Gainesville if this Athens gig doesn't work out.
For Georgia fans: An angst-free season without turmoil or disagreements in who should be the head coach (for a change). The debate is over. Move on and support the new head coach.
For Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson: A healthy team in 2016 to see his Yellow Jackets bounce back after a disastrous 2015. If not, Georgia Tech will be looking for a new head coach next Christmas.
For Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank: A new general manager, as Thomas Dimitroff's time is up. The Falcons started over at head coach last year, and now it's time Blank cleans out the front office.
For Falcons head coach Dan Quinn: A new pass rusher. The offense needs help, but when will this team get a legit pass rusher?
For Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan: A new offensive coordinator. Ryan better hope a new offensive boss gets him on track next season, or if not Blank's next present may be Ryan's successor.
For the Hawks: Wait ... are they playing again? Maybe they need a big dose of relevance in their stocking. They are slipping ... again. Get our attention!
For Georgia basketball head coach Mark Fox and Georgia Tech hoops head coach Brian Gregory: Better players. It's about talent, and they haven't had enough in their tenures at the helm.
For Mercer basketball head coach Bob Hoffman: A lifetime contract. Hey, Bill Underwood and Jim Cole, don't ever let Hoffman get away. He has made Mercer basketball the lifeblood of sports in this area.
For the Atlanta Braves: A road map of how people from south of the perimeter will get to SunTrust Park within three days from when they leave home. Please find a way to make it easy for us to get to the new stadium.
For Braves general manager John Coppolella: Two more trades. He should trade Julio Teheran and then during the season trade Freddie Freeman to complete the Braves' rebuilding project.
For Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman: A good real estate agent, just in case he has bought a house in Atlanta and needs one next year.
For Braves prospect Dansby Swanson: A new friend named Chipper Jones. The new Braves executive will shadow Swanson in the hopes he can become what Jones was for the franchise.
For the Braves' young pitching prospects: Health and great development. They won't have to be rushed, which will be huge in creating the future rotation.
For the city of Macon: A GHSA football championship. Will it ever happen in our lifetime? Will it ever happen in any lifetime?
And for all the readers of this column and the listeners of my radio show: A very Merry Christmas.
Listen to "The Bill Shanks Show" from 3-6 p.m. weekdays on WPLA Fox Sports 1670 AM in Macon and online at www.foxsports1670.com. Follow Bill at www.twitter.com/BillShanks and email him at thebillshanksshow@yahoo.com.
This story was originally published December 22, 2015 at 6:34 PM with the headline "Bill Shanks: Holiday wishes for the new year ."