Zodiac and Georgia Bulldogs: Difference between pages

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{{Infobox college athletics
{{otheruses}}
|name = Georgia Bulldogs
[[Image:Beit Alpha.jpg|thumb|280px|right|Wheel of the zodiac: This 6th century mosaic pavement in a synagogue incorporates Greek-Byzantine elements, Beit Alpha, Israel]]
|logo = UGA$!logo.png
[[Image:Ecliptic path.jpg|280px|thumb|The Earth in its orbit around the Sun causes the Sun to appear on the celestial sphere moving over the ecliptic (red), which is tilted on the equator (blue).]]
|university = The University of Georgia
'''Zodiac''' denotes an annual cycle of twelve stations along the [[ecliptic]], the apparent path of the sun across the heavens through the [[constellation]]s that divide the ecliptic into twelve equal zones of [[celestial longitude]]. The zodiac is recognized as the first known celestial coordinate system. [[Babylonian]] astronomers developed the zodiac of twelve signs.{{Fact|date=July 2008}} The etymology of the term ''zodiac'' is that it comes from the [[Latin language|Latin]] ''zōdiacus'', from the [[Greek language|Greek]] {{Unicode|ζῳδιακός [κύκλος]}}, meaning "[[circle]] of animals", derived from {{Unicode|ζῴδιον}}, the diminutive of {{Unicode|ζῷον}} "animal". However, the classical Greek zodiac also includes signs (also constellations) that are not represented by animals (e.g., Aquarius, Virgo, Gemini and for some Libra). Another suggested etymology is that the Greek term is cognate with the Sanskrit ''sodi'', denoting "a path", i.e., the path through which the Sun travels.''' {{Fact|date=February 2008}}<ref>The Witness of the Stars by E.W. Bullinger
|conference = Southeastern Conference
Philologos Edition: Apr2701 introduction[http://philologos.org/__eb-tws/intro.htm</ref>
|division = Division I
|director = [[Damon Evans]]
|city = Athens
|state = Georgia (U.S. state)
|stateabb = GA
|teams = 19
|stadium = [[Sanford Stadium]]
|arena = [[Stegeman Coliseum]]
|mascot = [[Uga (mascot)|Uga VII]]<br>[[Hairy Dawg]]
|nickname = Bulldogs, 'Dawgs
|fightsong = [[Glory, Glory (fight song)|Glory, Glory]]
|color1 = Red
|color2 = Black
|hex1 = FF0000
|hex2 = 000000
|pageurl = http://www.georgiadogs.com/
|pagename = GeorgiaDogs.com
}}
The '''Georgia Bulldogs''' are the athletic teams of [[The University of Georgia]]. The Bulldogs compete in the [[Southeastern Conference]]. All Georgia athletic teams are known as the Bulldogs, and [[Uga (mascot)|Uga the Bulldog]], of whom Uga VII is the latest in a much-beloved lineage, is the official school mascot. They also have a costumed mascot, [[Hairy Dawg]].


Bulldog legends [[Vince Dooley]], [[Dan Magill]], [[Wally Butts]], [[Howell Hollis]], [[Forrest Towns|Forrest "Spec" Towns]], [[Herman Stegeman]], [[Herschel Walker]], and [[Fran Tarkenton]], along with current coaches [[Mark Richt]], [[Andy Landers]], [[Suzanne Yoculan]], [[Manuel Diaz]], and [[Jack Bauerle]], are all considered to be among the best in their respective sport. They are currently ranked #10 in the 2008-2009 NCAA Football Polls.
The zodiac also means a region of the celestial sphere that includes a band of eight arc degrees above and below the ecliptic, and therefore encompasses the paths of the [[Moon]] and the [[naked eye planets]] ([[Mercury (planet)|Mercury]], [[Venus]], [[Mars]], [[Jupiter]], and [[Saturn]]). The classical astronomers called these planets [[wandering star]]s to differentiate them from the fixed stars of the celestial sphere (Ptolemy). Astrologers understood the movement of the planets and the Sun through the zodiac as a means of explaining and predicting events on Earth.


{{see also|Georgia Bulldog Champions}}
==Zodiac in astrology==
[[Astrology|Astrologers]] use astronomical observations of the movements of the night sky for [[divination|divinatory]] purposes. The zodiac remains in use in modern astrology, though the issue of [[tropical astrology]] (used mainly by Western astrologers) and [[sidereal astrology]] (used mainly by Indian astrologers) is central. At issue in the debate is whether the signs should be defined in terms of zones derived from nodal points defined by Earth's motion during a [[Year#Tropical year|tropical year]], or whether the signs should be defined in terms of signs roughly aligned with the constellations of the same name (for sidereal astrologers). This matters because of an astronomical phenomenon called the [[precession of the equinoxes]], whereby the position of the stars in sky has changed over time. Therefore, over the centuries the twelve zodiacal signs in Western astrology no longer correspond to the same part of the sky as their original constellations, or their Indian counterparts. In effect, in Western astrology the link between sign and constellation has been broken, whereas in Indian astrology it remains of paramount importance.


==Overview==
===Western zodiac===
The University sponsors nineteen sports - baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, women's equestrian, football, men's and women's golf, women's gymnastics, women's soccer, softball, men's and women's swimming and diving, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's track, and women's volleyball. Those 19 teams have won a combined 31 team national championships and 127 [[Southeastern Conference]] championships as of the conclusion of the 2006-07 academic year.
[[Image:Astro signs.gif|250px|thumb|right|The symbols used in Western astrology to represent the astrological signs]]


The first mention of "Bulldogs" in association with Georgia athletics occurred on [[November 28]], [[1901]], at the Georgia-Auburn football game played in Atlanta. The Georgia fans "had a badge saying 'Eat `em Georgia' and a picture of a bulldog tearing a piece of cloth";<ref name=Stegeman>{{cite book | last = Stegeman | first = John F. | title = The Ghosts of Herty Field: Early Days on a Southern Gridiron | origyear = 1966 | publisher = [[University of Georgia Press]] | location = [[Athens, Georgia]] | id = {{LCCN|66|0|27606}} | pages = p.59 }}</ref> however, it was not until 1920 that the nickname "Bulldog" was used to describe the athletic teams at the University of Georgia. Traditionally, the choice of a Bulldog as the UGA mascot was attributed to the alma mater of its founders and first president, who graduated from [[Yale University]].<ref>http://www.secsportsfan.com/georgia-bulldogs-football-history.html</ref> On [[November 3]], [[1920]], Morgan Blake, a [[sportswriter]] for the [[Atlanta Journal]] wrote a story about school nicknames for football teams and proposed:
{{main|Western astrology}}
<blockquote>''The Georgia Bulldogs would sound good because there is a certain dignity about a bulldog, as well as ferocity.''<ref name=Blake>{{cite web|url=http://www.georgiadogs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=46724&SPID=3571&DB_OEM_ID=8800&ATCLID=526232|title=Georgia Traditions from Georgiadogs.com|accessdate=2007-03-29}}</ref></blockquote>
Shortly thereafter, another news story appeared in the [[Atlanta Constitution]] in which the name "Bulldogs" was used several times to describe the Georgia football team and the nickname has been used ever since then.


The athletic department suffered through several controversies in the early 2000s, including a major scandal within the men's basketball program. In 2003, a power struggle between University President [[Michael F. Adams|Michael Adams]] and athletic director and beloved Bulldog legend [[Vince Dooley]] stole headlines across the country when Adams refused to renew Dooley's contract, effectively firing him. The battle became one painted as academics versus athletics, though this idea was rejected when the University's [[Franklin College of Arts and Sciences]] faculty issued a vote of "no confidence" on Adams' leadership in 2004.
The modern longitudes for each sign of 30° longitude. In terms of:


The firestorm has calmed slightly since then, however, largely due to the success of Dooley's successor, [[Damon Evans]]. In 2006, the Bulldogs recorded the highest profit margin of any athletic program in the country (according to the EADA report<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ope.ed.gov/athletics/|title=Equity in Athletics Data Analysis Cutting Tool Website|accessdate=2007-03-29}}</ref>), pulling in [[United States Dollar|USD$]]23.9 million, and also recorded another highly-successful year on the field.
* the sidereal zodiac described [[Zodiac#Sidereal versus tropical|here]] in this article the longitudes are calibrated by treating the star Aldebaran as 45° and Antares as 235°
* the tropical zodiac, the longitudinal calibration is set according to the position of the Sun along the ecliptic at the moment of the vernal equinox each year


For the sidereal zodiac, the movement of the Sun through each sign corresponds roughly with the constellation of the same name. For the tropical zodiac the movement of the Sun through each sign corresponds roughly to the same days of the [[Gregorian Calendar]] each year (precisely the same days relative to the time of the vernal equinox).


*[[Aries (astrology)|Aries]] (0°) ([[Ram (sheep)|The Ram]])
*[[Taurus (astrology)|Taurus]] (30°) ([[Bull (mythology)|The Bull]])
*[[Gemini (astrology)|Gemini]] (60°) (The [[Twin]]s)
*[[Cancer (astrology)|Cancer]] (90°) (The [[Crab]])
*[[Leo (astrology)|Leo]] (120°) (The [[Lion]])
*[[Virgo (astrology)|Virgo]] (150°) (The [[Virgin]])
*[[Libra (astrology)|Libra]] (180°) ([[Weighing scale|The Scale]] or [[Weighing scale|The Balance]])
*[[Scorpio (astrology)|Scorpio]] (210°) (The [[Scorpion]])
*[[Sagittarius (astrology)|Sagittarius]] (240°) (The [[Archer]])
*[[Capricorn (astrology)|Capricorn]] (270°) (The Horned [[Goat]])
*[[Aquarius (astrology)|Aquarius]] (300°) (The [[Water]]-bearer)
*[[Pisces (astrology)|Pisces]] (330°) (The [[Fish]])


===Indian zodiac===
==Tennis==
===Men's Tennis===
Traditional [[Hindu astrology]] has a sidereal coordinate zodiac system with twelve signs. The names of the Hindu zodiacal signs, or ''{{IAST|rāśi}}''s, are similar to Graeco-Babylonian signs:
Under the direction of college sports legend [[Dan Magill]] from 1954 to 1988 and his successor (and current head coach) [[Manuel Diaz]], the Georgia Men's Tennis program ranks among the nation's best. The team has won a total of eight [[NCAA Men's Tennis Championship|tennis national championships]] in 1985, '87, '99, 2001, '06 (indoor), 07 (indoor and NCAA Division I), and 2008. The Bulldogs' six NCAA team championships rank second all-time behind [[Stanford University|Stanford]], who has won the team title 15 times. The 2007 indoor championship made Georgia only the sixth team in history to successfully defend the ITA Indoor title. <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ncaasports.com/tennis/mens/story/10015223 |title=UGA repeats as indoor champs |date=[[February 22]], [[2007]] |publisher= NCAA|accessdate=2008-01-12}}</ref>
"MESH" (Aries)
"VRISABH" (Taurus)
"MITHUN" (Gemini)
"KARK" (Cancer)
"SINGH" (Leo)
"KANYA" (Virgo)
"TULA" (Libra)
"VRUSHCHIK" (Scorpion)
"DHANU" (Sagittarius)
"MAKAR" (Capricornus)
"KUMBH" (Aquarius)
"MEEN or MATSAYA" (Pisces)


The squad has won 24 Southeastern Conference championships, including four since 2001.
This "Hindu zodiac" (''{{IAST|adhvan}}'', ''{{IAST|rāśi}}'') thus has similarities to Greek zodiac. The Graeco-Babylonian system of twelve signs overlays the native Hindu system of nine [[grahas]] or planets.


The NCAA Men's Tennis Championship has been held in Athens 24 times in the past 35 years, including consecutively from 1977-1989 and in 2007. All but one (2008) of UGA's NCAA team championships have been won in Athens.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ncaasports.com/tennis/mens/recaps/0522_uga_illini_recap/2007 |title=Georgia 4, Illinois 0s |date=[[May 22]], [[2007]] |publisher= NCAA|accessdate=2008-01-12}}</ref>
===Chinese zodiac===
{{main|Chinese Zodiac}}


===Women's Tennis===
[[Chinese astrology]] also has a system of twelve signs sometimes also referred to as "zodiac". This does not necessarily imply a common origin, since the number of twelve naturally suggests itself from the number of [[synodic month]]s in a year; in other words, the extent of a zodiacal sign corresponds to the path covered by the Sun between two new moons. Like its Western counterpart, the Chinese zodiac features animals. However, the Chinese zodiac associates each animal with both one month and one solar year. Thus the signs repeat themselves every twelve year cycle. The animals of the Chinese Zodiac are: '''rat, ox, tiger, rabbit (or hare), dragon, snake, horse, sheep (or goat), monkey, rooster, dog, and pig (or boar)'''. For a list of how these animals map to the [[Chinese Astrology#The months|months]] and [[Chinese Astrology#Table of the lunar calendar and zodiac|years]] see [[Chinese astrology]]. Formerly, these animals were also used in the naming of the [[Chinese hour]], where the day is divided into 12 hours. There is also a Chinese lunar zodiac composed of twenty-eight lunar "mansions", each corresponding to a [[Chinese constellation]].
UGA alum [[Jeff Wallace]] has coached the Georgia Women's Tennis program since 1985, and is currently the winningest active NCAA women's tennis coach. His teams have won two [[NCAA Women's Tennis Championship|NCAA team championships]] (1994 and 2000), three ITA Indoor Championships (1994, 1995 and 2002) and seven SEC titles.


The NCAA Women's Tennis Championship has been held in Athens 3 times.
===Maya zodiac===
The Maya possessed a zodiac of some kind, which has been preserved in the Paris Codex (around 1200 A.D.), and includes constellations such as 'Peccary' (possibly corresponding to Gemini) and 'Turtle'. <ref> Michael D. Coe, 'The Maya', pp227 - 229, Thames and Hudson, London, 2005 </ref> Other evidence suggests Incan and Aztec cultures of the Western hemisphere also noted celestial events along the zodiac.


===Other Zodiacs===
==Women's Gymnastics==
{{main|Georgia Gym Dogs}}
In [[New Age]] or [[Occult]]ist movements there are sometimes claims of even other systems such as a "Celtic zodiac"<ref>[http://www.shadowdrake.com/zodiac.html House Shadow Drake - Celtic Zodiac<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://www.shadowdrake.com/zodiac.html House Shadow Drake - Celtic Zodiac<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> based on the lunisolar [[Celtic calendar]], or a "Galactic zodiac".<ref>[http://www.geocities.com/astrologyzodiacs/index.htm Zodiacs - © Dr Homer Simpson<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
No Bulldog team has dominated its sport as much in the past 20 years as the [[Georgia Gym Dogs]], under the direction of [[Suzanne Yoculan]].


Since 1986, the Gym Dogs have brought home 9 [[NCAA Women's Gymnastics championship|gymnastics national championships]] (1987, '89, 1993, '98, '99, 2005, '06, '07, '08)<ref name=UGA2007>{{cite web |url=http://www.georgiadogs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=44931&SPID=4004&DB_OEM_ID=8800&ATCLID=878225|title=Gym Dogs Win Third Straight NCAA Championship |accessdate=2007-04-28 |work=GeorgiaDogs.com |publisher=University of Georgia Athletics Association}}</ref> and 16 Southeastern Conference titles.
==Zodiac in astronomy==
[[Image:Jewellery fameo pendant.jpg|thumb|right|Reversible pendant mimics the constellations representing a star map of the zodiac signs.]]
In astronomy the zodiacal constellations are a convenient way of marking the [[ecliptic]] (the sun's path across the sky). The zodiac is also a way for astronomers to mark the path of the [[moon]] and [[planet]]s , as their movements also remain within these constellations. Apart from this role, the zodiacal constellations have no extra significance to astronomers than any other constellation.


The Gym Dogs consistently draw upwards of 10,000 fans to their meets, ranking them second only to football in average attendance among Georgia sports.
Unlike the zodiac signs in astrology, which are all thirty degrees in length, the astronomical constellations vary widely in size. The boundaries of all the constellations in the sky were set by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in 1930. This was essentially a mapping exercise to make the work of astronomers more efficient, and the boundaries of the constellations are not therefore in any meaningful sense an 'equivalent' to the zodiac signs. Along with the twelve original constellations, the boundaries of a thirteenth constellation, [[Ophiuchus]] (the [[serpent]] bearer), were set by astronomers within the bounds of the zodiac.


On October 18, 2007, Yoculan announced that she will retire as head coach after the 2009 season.<ref name=RETIRE>{{cite web|url=http://media.www.redandblack.com/media/storage/paper871/news/2007/10/18/Sports/Yoculan.To.Retire.After.2009.Season-3039574.shtml|title=Yoculan to Retire After 2009 Season |accessdate=2007-10-21 | |publisher=University of Georgia Athletics Association}}</ref> Longtime assistant Jay Clark will succeed Yoculan as head coach.
==Table of constellations vs. zodiac signs==
[[Image:zodiac woodcut.png|thumb|right|300px|European zodiac signs, 16th century, [[medieval]] [[woodcut]]s ]]
This table provides a comparison between the dates the Sun enters and passes away from the zodiac signs and constellations as defined by various specifications.


==Golf==
Note the ecliptic passes through a thirteenth constellation (or more, depending upon the opinions of astronomers of any given century), [[Ophiuchus]] (the serpent bearer), as already recognized in [[Ptolemy]]'s [[Almagest]], often represented by the [[rod of Asclepius]]<ref>[http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/ophiuchus.htm Star Tales – Ophiuchus]</ref>. Notably, Ophiuchus occupies an honored place along the zodiac: amidst the cluster of dust and clouds looking toward the center of the Milky Way galaxy; although not part of the constellation, [[Barnard's Star]] is located within [[Ophiuchus]] (this is one of the [[list of nearest stars|nearest stars]] to the [[Solar System]], and it has the largest known proper motion of any star relative to the [[Sun]]).
===Men's Golf===
From 1946-70, Howell Hollis built the Georgia men's golf team into a conference power, claiming 13 SEC titles and laying the groundwork for the team's future successes.


Current coach Chris Haack has led the team to two [[NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championships|golf national titles]] (1999, 2005) and keeps them in contention for the crown each year.
The following table compares the [[Gregorian calendar|Gregorian]] dates on which the sun enters
*a sign in the Ptolemaic [[tropical astrology|tropical]] zodiac;
*a sign in the [[Jyotisha|Hindu]] [[sidereal astrology|sidereal]] system; note that the sidereal system of [[Cyril Fagan]], introduced in 1944, is again different, with Aries beginning on April 30.
*the astronomical constellation of the same name as the sign, with constellation boundaries as defined in 1930 by the [[International Astronomical Union]].


Overall, the men's golf team leads all Georgia sports with 26 conference championships, including four since 2000.
The dates can vary by as much as 2 days from year to year, depending on the cycle of leap years.


===Women's Golf===
{| class="wikitable"
First organized by women's athletics pioneer [[Liz Murphey]], the Georgia women's golf team is a fixture among the nation's top finishers. [[Todd McCorkle]] coached the Georgia women's golf team from 2001 to 2007, when he abruptly resigned before the NCAA Women's Golf Championship under a cloud of sexual harassment allegations.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://onlineathens.com/stories/051507/golf_20070515042.shtml |title=Alleged sexual comments led to McCorkle's resignation}}</ref> His inaugural UGA team won the [[NCAA Women's Golf Championship|national championship]]. UGA's sixth place tie at the 2006 national event marks the seventh top-10 final ranking in the last nine years. The progam has won ten SEC titles. Former players include [[Vicki Goetze]], now on the [[LPGA Tour]].
|- align="center"
! rowspan="2" | Constellation
! rowspan="2" | Astrological sign
! colspan="4" | Dates of Sun's presence
! rowspan="2" | Solar stay in constellation
! rowspan="2" | Brightest star in constellation
! rowspan="2" | Astrological birthstone<ref>[http://www.astrologycom.com/gemstones.html Zodiacal Table of Gemstones] Retrieved August 11, 2008</ref>
|- align="center"
! Astrological tropical zodiac<ref>[ephemerides in book Astrology by Julia & Derek Parker]</ref>
! Astrological duration (in days)
! Astrological [[Sidereal zodiac|sidereal]] ([[Jyotisha]]) zodiac
! Astronomical observations<ref>[http://asa.usno.navy.mil/SecC/Section_C.html Astronomical Almanac Online!(subscribers) U.S. Naval Observatory 2008]</ref> <ref>[[International Astronomical Union|IAU]] concluded in 1977</ref>
|- align="center"
| align="left" | [[Aries (constellation)|Aries]]
| align="left" | [[Aries (astrology)|Aries]] [[Image:Aries.svg|20px|Aries]]
| March 21 &ndash; April 20<ref>Sources differed, but now don't differ on whether April 20 should be associated with Aries or Taurus. I.e. [http://www.12astrologyzodiacsigns.com/zodiacsigns/astrologyzodiacsigns.shtml Astrology.Com.AU (Taurus)] or [http://www.astrology-online.com/persn.htm Astrology Online (Aries)] The Sun changes signs at different times each year, with enough variation to occur on different dates. Consult an ephemeris to determine on which date a sign begins/ends for a particular year.</ref>
| 30
| April 14 &ndash; May 14
| [[Aries (constellation)|Aries]], April 18 &ndash; May 13
| 25.5 days
| [[Alpha Arietis]]
| [[diamond]]
|- align="center"
| align="left" | [[Taurus (constellation)|Taurus]]
| align="left" | [[Taurus (astrology)|Taurus]] [[Image:Taurus.svg|20px|Taurus]]
| April 20 &ndash; May 21
| 31
| May 15 &ndash; June 14
| [[Taurus (constellation)|Taurus]], May 13 &ndash; June 21
| 38.2 days
| [[Aldebaran]]
| [[emerald]]
|- align="center"
| align="left" | [[Gemini (constellation)|Gemini]]
| align="left" | [[Gemini (astrology)|Gemini]] [[Image:Gemini.svg|20px|Gemini]]
| May 21 &ndash; June 21
| 31
| June 15 &ndash; July 16
| [[Gemini (constellation)|Gemini]], June 21 &ndash; July 20
| 29.3 days
| [[Pollux (star)|Pollux]]
| [[Chrysoberyl#alexandrite|alexandrite]]
|- align="center"
| align="left" | [[Cancer (constellation)|Cancer]]
| align="left" | [[Cancer (astrology)|Cancer]] [[Image:Cancer.svg|20px|Cancer]]
| June 21 &ndash; July 23
| 32
| July 17 &ndash; August 16
| [[Cancer (constellation)|Cancer]], July 20 &ndash; August 10
| 21.1 days
| [[Beta Cancri]]
| [[pearl]]
|- align="center"
| align="left" | [[Leo (constellation)|Leo]]
| align="left" | [[Leo (astrology)|Leo]] [[Image:Leo.svg|20px|Leo]]
| July 23 &ndash; August 23
| 31
| August 17 &ndash; September 16
| [[Leo (constellation)|Leo]], August 10 &ndash; September 16
| 36.9 days
| [[Regulus]]
| [[peridot]], [[ruby]]
|- align="center"
| align="left" | [[Virgo (constellation)|Virgo]]
| align="left" | [[Virgo (astrology)|Virgo]] [[Image:Virgo.svg|20px|Virgo]]
| August 23 &ndash; September 23
| 31
| September 17 &ndash; October 17
| [[Virgo (constellation)|Virgo]], September 16 &ndash; October 30
| 44.5 days
| [[Spica]]
| [[sapphire]]
|- align="center"
| align="left" | [[Libra (constellation)|Libra]]
| align="left" | [[Libra (astrology)|Libra]] [[Image:Libra.svg|20px|Libra]]
| September 23 &ndash; October 23
| 30
| October 18 &ndash; November 16
| [[Libra (constellation)|Libra]], October 30 &ndash; November 20
| 21.1 days
| [[Beta Librae]]
| [[opal]]
|- align="center"
| align="left" | [[Scorpius (constellation)|Scorpius]]
| align="left" | [[Scorpio (astrology)|Scorpio]] [[Image:Scorpio.svg|20px|Scorpio]]
| October 24 &ndash; November 22
| 30
| November 17 &ndash; December 15
| [[Scorpius]], November 20 &ndash; November 29
| 8.4 days
| [[Antares]]
| [[topaz]]
|- align="center"
| align="left" | [[Ophiuchus (constellation)|Ophiuchus]]
| <small>not recognized in astrology</small>
| n/a
| n/a
| n/a
| [[Ophiuchus]], November 29 &ndash; December 17
| 18.4 days
| [[Alpha Ophiuchi]]
| n/a
|- align="center"
| align="left" | [[Sagittarius (constellation)|Sagittarius]]
| align="left" | [[Sagittarius (astrology)|Sagittarius]] [[Image:Sagittarius.svg|20px|Sagittarius]]
| November 23 &ndash; December 21
| 30
| December 16 &ndash; January 14
| [[Sagittarius (constellation)|Sagittarius]], December 17 &ndash; January 20
| 33.6 days
| [[Epsilon Sagittarii]]
| [[turquoise]]
|- align="center"
| align="left" | [[Capricornus (constellation)|Capricornus]]
| align="left" | [[Capricorn (astrology)|Capricorn]] [[Image:Capricorn.svg|20px|Capricornus]]
| December 22 &ndash; January 20
| 29
| January 15 &ndash; February 12
| [[Capricornus]], January 20 &ndash; February 16
| 27.4 days
| [[Delta Capricorni]]
| [[garnet]]
|- align="center"
| align="left" | [[Aquarius (constellation)|Aquarius]]
| align="left" | [[Aquarius (astrology)|Aquarius]] [[Image:Aquarius.svg|20px|Aquarius]]
| January 20 &ndash; February 19
| 30
| February 13 &ndash; March 14
| [[Aquarius (constellation)|Aquarius]], February 16 &ndash; March 11
| 23.9 days
| [[Beta Aquarii]]
| [[amethyst]]
|- align="center"
| align="left" | [[Pisces (constellation)|Pisces]]
| align="left" | [[Pisces (astrology)|Pisces]] [[Image:Pisces.svg|20px|Pisces]]
| February 19 &ndash; March 21
| 30
| March 15 &ndash; April 13
| [[Pisces (constellation)|Pisces]], March 11 &ndash; April 18
| 37.7 days
| [[Eta Piscium]]
| [[aquamarine]]
|}


==Basketball==<!-- This section is linked from [[Georgia Bulldogs basketball]] -->
==Precession of the equinoxes==
===Women's Basketball===
{{Main|Precession of the equinoxes}}
{{main|Georgia Lady Bulldogs basketball}}
The signs of the zodiac do not necessarily coincide with the actual [[constellation]]s for which they are named. Because of the division of the zodiac into 12 signs of 30° each; due to various specifications for the boundaries of the constellations; and especially due to the [[precession of the equinoxes]] for the tropical system of coordinates, the constellations should not be confused with zodiac signs. As described [[#Sidereal verses tropical|above]], due to precession the tropical signs have moved away from their corresponding ''constellations'', so that today, the beginning of the tropical ''sign'' of Aries (defined as the position of the Sun on the [[vernal equinox]]) lies somewhere within the ''constellation'' Pisces.
Coach [[Andy Landers]], a pioneer in the sport, has coached the Lady Bulldogs since 1979, leading them to seven regular-season SEC titles, four SEC tournament championships, twenty 21-win seasons (an average of 24.4 wins per season), 23 [[NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship|NCAA tournaments]], and five Final Fours. Landers currently stands as the winningest women's college basketball coach not to have won the national championship. The Lady Dogs' all-time AP ranking stands at 4th as of 2005.
It is not entirely clear how ancient astronomers responded to this phenomenon of precession once they discovered it. Today, some read [[Ptolemy]] as dropping the concept of a fixed celestial sphere and adopting what is referred to as a tropical coordinate system instead: in other words, one fixed to the cycle of the Earth's seasonal cycle rather than its orbital cycle. Such a view is consistent with the reading of Ptolemy as a [[geocentric|geocentrist]]. The geocentrist view understands the motion of celestial objects in strict relation to the Earth as a fixed frame of reference. This view understands the [[celestial sphere]] as rotating around the Earth like the spheres of the other planets and the moon: only more slowly. The Earth is the center of everything and is fixed in the same frame of reference as the Universe. The stars precess in relation to the Earth not the other way around. Modern astronomers typically read such a view in Ptolemy who writes: "the sphere of the fixed stars also performs a motion of its own in the opposite direction to the revolution of the universe, that is [the motion of] the great circle through both poles, that of the equator and that of the ecliptic." By "revolution of the universe", Ptolemy refers to the daily cycle that [[heliocentric|heliocentrists]] understand as the rotation of the Earth. However, one also finds evidence in Ptolemy's [[The Almagest]] that he expresses a view of a fixed celestial sphere; or at least that he understands the difference between the relative motions of each. After cataloguing over 1,000 stars he describes a method for constructing a model of the stars:"Since it is ''not reasonable'' to mark the solstitial and equinoctial points on the actual zodiac of the globe (for the stars depicted [on the globe] do not retain a constant distance with respect to these points), we need to take some fixed starting-point in the delineated fixed stars" (emphasis added; brackets are translator's insertions). So Ptolemy's response to the issue of precession is that the zodiac moves through the equinox and also he makes it clear he understands that the equinox moves through the zodiac.


The Lady Dogs have also produced two U.S. Olympians who have combined to earn six Gold Medals ([[Teresa Edwards]] and [[Katrina McClain Johnson]]), 16 former players who have continued to the WNBA (second-most nationally), and six WNBA first-round draft picks in the past five years (second-most nationally). There were eight Lady Bulldogs on WNBA rosters in 2006: [[Kara Braxton]], [[Detroit Shock]]; [[Kedra Holland-Corn]], [[Detroit Shock]]; [[Deanna Nolan]], [[Detroit Shock]]; [[Kelly Miller (basketball player)|Kelly Miller]], [[Phoenix Mercury]]; [[Coco Miller]], [[Washington Mystics]]; [[Christi Thomas]], [[Los Angeles Sparks]]; [[Sherill Baker]], [[New York Liberty]]; and [[Keisha Brown]], [[New York Liberty]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.georgiadogs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=8800&KEY=&ATCLID=501748&SPID=3594&SPSID=46742|title=Georgiadogs.com listing of WNBA players|accessdate=2007-03-29}}</ref>
The zodiacal signs remain in use as the basis of an [[ecliptic coordinate system]], though modern astronomers tend to use an [[equatorial coordinate system]]s since [[Early Modern]] times. One can see the use of the sidereal coordinate system as late as 1,000 AD from [[Hermannus Contractus]] in his ''de mensura astrolabii liber'' who gives the locations of stars in [[stereographic projection]] for the construction of an [[astrolabe]], There he gives the zodiac coordinate of Antares as ''14. Scorpius'', equaling a J2000.0 ecliptic longitude of 224° (the 14th degree from the beginning of Scorpius at 210°).


===Men's Basketball===
The zodiacal symbols are [[Early Modern]] simplifications of conventional pictorial representations of the signs, attested since Hellenistic times. The symbols are encoded in [[Unicode]] at positions U+2648 to U+2653.
{{main|Georgia Bulldogs men's basketball}}
While often overshadowed by the accomplishments of the Lady Dogs, Georgia's men's basketball program has enjoyed several impressive seasons, including a run to the [[2008 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament|2008 SEC Championship]] and berth in the [[2008 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament|NCAA tournament]] under current head coach [[Dennis Felton]].


While [[Dominique Wilkins]] is considered the greatest player in school history<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-1973|title=UGA Men's Basketball|work=[[New Georgia Encyclopedia]]|accessdate=2008-01-12}}</ref>, the team's most successful season came one year after his graduation. The Bulldogs made their first NCAA appearance in [[1983 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament|1983]] - which would have been Wilkins' senior year had he not opted for the NBA. That team advanced to the Final Four before falling to eventual national champion [[North Carolina State University|NC State]].
==Zodiac celestial coordinate systems ==<!-- This section is linked from [[Ecliptic]] -->
Any [[sphere|spherical]] [[celestial coordinate system]] must define a [[Fundamental plane (spherical coordinates)|fundamental plane]] and designate a prime meridian: in other words an origin or zero degree mark for [[longitude]]. From these definitions, longitudinal [[Meridian (geography)|meridian]]s [[perpendicular]] to the fundamental plane meet at the north and south poles of the celestial sphere enabling the specification of precise coordinates for any position on the sphere.


Since making its first postseason tournament in 1980, Georgia has received 21 postseason invitations under coaches [[Hugh Durham]], [[Tubby Smith]], [[Ron Jirsa]], [[Jim Harrick]], and [[Dennis Felton]], including 10 trips to the [[NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament|NCAA tournament]].
The zodiac coordinate system designates the [[ecliptic]] as its fundamental plane<ref>For a thorough discussion of the construction and use of the zodiac system of coordinates see Ptolemy’s ''Almagest''</ref>. Like the equator in the Earth’s spherical coordinates, the ecliptic serves as the fundamental plane for the zodiac's coordinate system. The ecliptic is aligned with the Earth's orbital plane with the Sun rather than the equator that is perpendicular to Earth’s axis of rotation. The Earth tilts at an angle of approximately 23° with respect to the orbital plane. This tilt is related to the Earth's [[precession]] as it [[gyration|gyrates]] and rotates on its axis — completing a cycle through its four seasons slightly before it has reached the completion of an orbital cycle. This gyration contributes to the divergence between a [[tropical year]] and a [[sidereal year]].


==Women's Swimming and Diving==
Second, the zodiac system of coordinates specifies a different prime meridian for the tropical and the sidereal systems of coordinates. For the tropical system of coordinates the prime meridian is the position of the Sun at the Vernal Equinox in the epoch of Hipparchus. This prime meridian leads to the fixity of the system with respect to the Earth: in other words the stars of the celestial sphere slowly rotate around the earth over the course of thousands of years. For the sidereal system of coordinates, Ptolemy specified zodiac signs using two bright stars near the ecliptic and opposite each other to serve as equatorial nodes: [[Aldebaran]] and [[Antares]] in the constellations [[Taurus (constellation)|Taurus]] and [[Scorpius]] respectively. These stars served rather well because not only were they on opposites sides of the ecliptic, but they also fell very near the center of their constellations and were therefore designated as Taurus 15 and Scorpius 15, meaning the middle 15° points within those signs. From these two stars then the remaining equatorial boundaries of the 12 signs of the zodiac follow.<ref>see Powell 2004</ref> Therefore, even in the sidereal system of coordinates the 12 signs only roughly correspond to the 12 constellations from which they take their name, though they are in the same general region of one another. For the sidereal system the selection of two relatively stable stars (in other words their [[proper motion]] is relatively small), leads to a system of coordinates that treats the celestial sphere as fixed and the position of the Sun at Earth’s equinox as moving through the celestial sphere.
{{main|Georgia Bulldogs swimming and diving}}
In his 27th year with the Georgia Swimming and Diving program, Coach [[Jack Bauerle]] has placed the women's program among the nation's elite. In the past eight years, the team has taken four [[NCAA Women's Swimming and Diving Championships|national championships]] (1999, 2000, '01, '05) and posted four national runner-up finishes (2002, '03, '04, '06). The Lady Bulldogs have also brought home six SEC team championships (1997, '98, '99, 2000, '01, '06) in the past ten years. Bauerle has coached 11 female Olympians and 88 SEC individual champions. Graduates of the Georgia Swimming and Diving program include three individual recipients of the [[NCAA Woman of the Year Award]]: [[Lisa Coole]] in 1997, [[Kristy Kowal]] in 2000 and [[Kim Black]] in 2001.


==Baseball==
===Sidereal versus tropical ===<!-- This section is linked from [[Zodiac]] -->
{{main|Georgia Bulldogs baseball}}
The celestial coordinate system described above is what astronomers call a sidereal system of coordinates. In other words it defines the coordinates in relation to what ancient astronomers called the [[fixed star]]s (as opposed to the [[planet]]s other than Earth which were called wandering stars). One could also call this a celestially centered system of coordinates. In time the ancient astronomers such as [[Hipparchus]] discovered these fixed stars were not fixed relative to the Earth's [[Year#Tropical year|tropical year]]. Due, in part, to the [[precession]] of the Earth discussed above, the Earth completed its orbit after it has already completed the tropical cycle: for example: for the cycle of the Sun starting directly over the [[Tropic of Cancer]] then to the [[Tropic of Capricorn]] and return to the Tropic of Cancer again. Or as another example consider the motion of the Sun from one vernal equinox to the next; the Earth would complete such a cycle shortly before it completed an entire orbit around the Sun. (24 minutes and 20 seconds before). The difference is very subtle, but as astronomers found archival records to compare their sightings with sightings of previous astronomers, the discrepancy thus became apparent. Some estimates of the rate of precession suggest that over a period of 27,000 tropical years, the Earth will have orbited the Sun only 26,999 times. That Hipparchus in the second century BC could recognize and document such a subtle process which is now known as the [[precession of the equinoxes]] could be considered remarkable.


The Georgia Baseball team has seen most of its success in recent years, including winning the [[1990 College World Series]], as well as making the trip to [[Omaha, Nebraska|Omaha]] in [[1987 College World Series|1987]], [[1990 College World Series|1990]], [[2001 College World Series|2001]], [[2004 College World Series|2004]], [[2006 College World Series|2006]], and [[2008 College World Series|2008]]. The ''Diamond Dawgs'', as they are called, are coached by [[David Perno]].
Some modern astronomers began to mark the stars according to a tropical zodiac (or other tropical coordinate systems such as the [[equatorial coordinate system]]). This tropical zodiac system of coordinates designates the origin of the longitude of the celestial sphere as the first point in Aries. The term may be derived from the constellation of Aries, but this point instead marks the position of the Sun at the time of the vernal equinox for a specified [[Epoch (astronomy)|epoch]]. Among other things, this ''epoch'' specifies the first point in Aries and establishes a unique fixed reference point for the tropical system of coordinates.
The use of the phrase "[[first point in Aries]]" causes some confusion when considering sidereal versus tropical systems of coordinates. The first point in Aries in the sidereal system of coordinates, would be the first star in the Aries sign or perhaps the boundary of that sign. Whereas in tropical coordinates, the vernal equinox defines this point. During the time of [[Ptolemy]]'s observations and cataloguing of stars the sidereal and tropical longitudinal origins differed by a magnitude of perhaps less than 2°. The close convergence of these two systems of coordinates &mdash; combined with the varied interpretations of the phrase "first point in Aries" &mdash; makes it difficult to discern Ptolemy's longitudinal origin (see Peters and Knobel 1915).


In its history, the team has claimed five [[Southeastern Conference]] tournament titles, in 1933, 1954, 1955, 2001, and 2004, and five regular season conference titles, in 1933, 1953, 1954, 2004, and 2008.
More recently, in 2000 AD for example, the first point in Aries and the boundary of the sign of Aries &mdash; based on the specification of zodiac signs above &mdash; diverged by about 25°. In terms of the tropical system, this places the first point in Aries (in other words, the [[vernal equinox]]) in the [[Pisces (constellation)|Pisces]] constellation, near the projection of the [[New General Catalogue|NGC]] 7787 spiral galaxy. Other specifications of zodiac signs (whether sidereal or tropical) choosing different fixed points (in the celestial sphere for sidereal or in relation to Earth's seasonal cycle for tropical) would result in a different divergence either greater than or less than 25°. For example [[Cyril Fagan]]'s sidereal zodiac is offset from the J2000.0 tropical zodiac by greater than 39° (as of 1977). This difference between the position of fixed stars in the tropical and sidereal coordinate systems is called the [[Ayanamsa]].


The program dates back to 1886 and, according to former Sports Information Director [[Dan Magill]], was once the most popular sport on campus. However, from the mid-1950s to the late-1980s, and then through most of the 1990s, there were only scattered bright spots as the team managed only a modicum of success.
=== The equinox moving through the sidereal signs === <!-- this was edited by Matt Thomas Maybury, Connecticut -->
Below are several images depicting how the [[vernal equinox]] precesses through the celestial sphere from 1500 BC through AD 2500 (projected). The brightest star you see in the images is the Sun. For a tropical zodiac the first point in Aries and consequently the beginning of the tropical sign of Aries is defined as the position of the Sun's center at the moment of the astronomical vernal equinox. For comparison the constellations are shown with stick labeled figures. Also the planets are labeled that lie near the vernal equinox for that year. Finally, the stars that lie near the outer boundaries of the sidereal signs of Aries (HIP16641) and Pisces (14 Piscium/HIP116323) as well as the dividing point between the two (HIP7243) are marked to provide some sense of where the first point in Aries (the start of the sign of Aries in terms of a tropical zodiac) lies in relation to the sidereal sign of Aries.
Click on any image to see a larger view.


Since 2001, however, the program has enjoyed quite a resurgence, winning three championships in the perennial stalwart [[Southeastern Conference]] and participating in the [[College World Series]] four times in those seven seasons.
{|
|- valign="top"
|<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:VernalEquinox1500BC.png|center|thumb|200px|'''Position of vernal equinox in 1500 BC.''' Note that the vernal equinox lies roughly between the ''constellations'' of Taurus, Aries and Cetus. However, it is solidly in the sign of Aries, precessing only about one-quarter of the way through as of 1500 BC.]] -->
|<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:VernalEquinox150BC.png|center|thumb|200px|'''Position of the vernal equinox in 150 BC''' around the time Hipparchus catalogued the stars.]] -->
|<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:VernalEquinox150AD.png|center|thumb|200px|'''Position of vernal equinox in 150 AD.''' Ptolemy completed The Almagest in this year as both the tropical and sidereal "first point in Aries" came into close alignment (as the vernal equinox neared the star HIP7243).]] -->
|- valign="top"
|<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:VernalEquinox2000AD.png|center|thumb|200px|'''Position of vernal equinox in 2000 AD.''' The tropical first point in Aries is firmly in the ''sidereal sign'' of Pisces.]] -->
|<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:VernalEquionox2500AD.png|center|thumb|200px|'''Position of vernal equinox in 2500 AD.''' Here the tropical first point of Aries (the vernal equinox) is nearing the sidereal sign of Aquarius as it approaches the star 14 Piscium (HIP116323).]] -->
|}


The Georgia-Georgia Tech baseball rivalry is one of the South's most fierce, and the teams' annual Spring Baseball Classic at [[Turner Field]] draws some of the largest crowds in college baseball (the 2004 game was seen by 28,836 spectators, the second-largest crowd in college baseball history).
=== Comparison to modern systems ===
Though perhaps as old as 10,000 years, the zodiac coordinate system boasts advantages over its more common modern counterparts. Since the coordinate system is celestially entered, it is insulated from the many eccentricities of Earth's motion: including its rotation, intricacies of Earth time, precession, nutation and its elliptical and perturbed orbit around our Sun. To use the zodiac coordinate system all one has to know is where to find one of the nodal constellations that include the fixed reference points for the system: Taurus and Scorpio. Since those constellations are located on opposite sides of the ecliptic along the zodiac, one should always be visible in the night sky. Also. these constellations are both located within the prominent band of cloud and dust of the Milky Way. From these constellations astronomers can orient themselves for locating any point in the coordinate system.


The team has seen several of its former players move on to successful professional careers, most notably former [[New York Yankees]] pitcher [[Spud Chandler]]. Also, [[St. Louis Cardinals]] pitcher [[Cris Carpenter]] (not to be confused with Cardinals pitcher [[Chris Carpenter]]), pitcher [[Derek Lilliquist]], [[Seattle Mariners]] pitcher [[Dave Fleming]], and Georgia high school football coaching legend Billy Henderson played for the Bulldogs.
The modern, commonly used tropical systems require an observer to know the current mean sidereal time, the observer's terrestrial longitude and latitude, and the epoch the observer wishes to utilize, and to account for other peculiarities of Earth's motion. Of course, modern astronomical computers handle most of the tasks for observers, but it involves a large effort by many different astronomers behind the scenes.


The Bulldogs play in the 3,291-seat [[Foley Field]] stadium.
In addition, much of the motion of the stars in modern tropical coordinate systems can be attributed wholly to these peculiarities of Earth's motion. Astronomers make the distinction between the proper motion of a star (typically relatively subtle), from the other motion that arises totally from the designation of a tropical rather than sidereal coordinate system. One example where this exhibits itself is in the constellation boundaries drawn up by the IAN. The neat constellation boundaries drawn in 1933 exhibit increasingly distorted boundary lines over time. This may seem like something of little consequence, but why bother drawing neat boundaries around constellations if they inherently become erratic in the dominant coordinate system in use then and now.


==Equestrian==
Finally, since the zodiac system uses the ecliptic rather than the terrestrial equator for its equatorial plane it is not susceptible to the drifting of stars across the celestial equator as in the commonly used equatorial coordinate system (right ascension, declination). In The Almanack Ptolemy criticizes [[Hipparchus]]’ use of an equatorial plane in some of Hipparchus’ variously specified coordinate systems for this very reason (Ptolemy 1999).
UGA's newest varsity team first competed in the 2002-2003 season. Head coach [[Meghan Boenig]]
guided the team to a national championship in the Varsity [[Equestrianism|Equestrian]] National Championships (VENC) that year as well as a repeat national championship the following year (2003-2004). After a series of runner-up finishes, the team reclaimed the top spot in 2007-2008.


==Other sports==
These advantages make the zodiac coordinate system a very efficient coordinate system, requiring little labor to use and maintain, issues particularly important to early astronomers, often working in isolation from one another.
Other notable sports teams include the perennial power men's [[swimming]] team. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-2790 |title=UGA Swim and Dive Teams|work=New Georgia Encyclopedia|accessdate=2008-01-12}}</ref> Notable track and field athletes include Olympic gold medalists [[Forrest Towns]] and [[Gwen Torrence]] as well as bronze medalist [[Debbie Ferguson]].

The key disadvantage of a zodiac system of coordinates will manifest as a problem, if the nodal stars that serve as its fixed reference points for the system exhibit significant proper motion so that within the system of coordinates every other star appears to move dramatically in unison. In other words, selecting a star that has eccentricities compared to the other stars undermines the usefulness of the system of coordinates. For example the inadvertent selection of an asteroid or an entire galaxy outside our Milky Way would lead to this condition. The reason for this is that celestial objects outside our galaxy revolve around our galaxy in a period of about 200 million years, at least in terms of a frame of reference affixed to our Sun and its neighboring stars. The only other sidereal coordinate system in common use today (that shares many of the zodiac’s advantages) is the [[galactic coordinate system]]. In galactic coordinates, the plane of the Milky Way and its own axial center serve as the fixed referents. These are fairly logical reference points for a coordinate system, though of course they cannot be located with the naked eye.

Another disadvantage relates to the apparatus required for orienting one to the coordinate system. Using geocentric coordinates astronomers can easily calibrate their instruments to the fixed reference point. As long as astronomers can obtain an accurate compass reading, they can orient themselves to a geocentric coordinate system (such as ecliptic or equatorial coordinates). Using zodiac coordinates requires an astronomer to locate the correct star, whether Antares or Aldebaran, and the correct constellation- Scorpio or Taurus respectively- and make an accurate reading of the position of that star and accurately orient that star to the ecliptic. This may take more skill than a mere compass reading: especially for amateur astronomers.

==Mnemonics for the zodiac==
A traditional [[mnemonic]]:<ref>[http://www.gutenberg.org/files/17282/17282.txt Project Gutenberg ebook] "An Alphabet Of Old Friends"; see Z for Zodiac.</ref>
: ''The Ram, the Bull, the Heavenly Twins,
: ''And next the Crab, the Lion shines,
: ''The Virgin and the Scales.
: ''The Scorpion, Archer, and the Goat,
: ''The Man who holds the Watering Pot,
: ''And Fish with glittering scales.''

A less poetic, but succinct and perhaps more memorable, mnemonic is the following:<ref>Rey, H.A. (1952). ''The Stars'', Houghton Mifflin.</ref>
:''The Ramble Twins Crab Liverish;
:''Scaly Scorpions Are Good Water Fish.''
(Ram-Ble = Ram, Bull; Twins = Twins; Crab = Crab; Li-Ver(ish) = Lion, Virgin; Scaly = Scale; Scorpion = Scorpio; Are = Archer; Good = Goat; Water = Water Bearer; Fish = Fish)

==See also==
{{portal|Astrology|Astrology Project.gif}}
*[[History of astronomy]]
*[[History of astrology]]
*[[Astrological sign]]
*[[Chinese Zodiac]]
*[[Elements of the zodiac]]
*[[Babylonian influence on Greek astronomy]]
*[[Astronomical symbols]]
*[[Astrology and alchemy]]
*[[Esoteric cosmology]]
*[[Zodiacal constellation]]
*[[Zodiacal light]]
*[[Zodiacal dust]]
*[[Cusp (astrology)]]
*[[Sefer Raziel HaMalakh]]
*[[Circle of stars]]
*[[Alexander A. Gurshtein]]


==References==
==References==
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==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.georgiadogs.com/ Official University of Georgia Athletics site]
{{Commons|Zodiac}}
* [http://www.olympicstarsign.com/ Olympicstarsign.com]
*[http://www.dawgs.com/ Georgia Bulldog Fan Forum and Official Team Merchandise]

* {{Harvard reference | Surname1=Ptolemy | Given1=Claudius | Authorlink=Ptolemy | Title=The Almagest | Publisher=Princeton University Press | Place=Princeton, NJ | Year=1998 | ISBN=069100260 }} Translated and annotated by G.J. Toomer ; with a foreword by [[Owen Gingerich]].

*[http://www.allthesky.com/constellations/zodiac.html Photos of the Zodiac Constellations]
{{UGA Navbox}}
*[http://www.rodurago.de/en/index.php?site=correspondence&link=zodiacs#zodiacs The Zodiacs]
{{Southeastern Conference}}
*[http://www.astrologer.com/aanet/pub/transit/jan2005/babylonian.htm Powell, Robert (2004). The Definition of the Babylonian Zodiac] PhD thesis, entitled "The Definition of the Babylonian Zodiac and the Influence of Babylonian Astronomy on the Subsequent Defining of the Zodiac".
*[http://www.skyscript.co.uk/sidereal2.html Tropical v Sidereal debate] First published in The Traditional Astrologer magazine, (Ascella), Issue 14, May 1997, pp.23-27
* Peters, Christian Heinrich Friedrich and Edward Ball Knobel. [http://hbar.phys.msu.ru/gorm/almagest/Peters.htm Ptolemy's Catalogue of Stars: a revision of the Almagest]. (1915). Publishers, Carnegie Institution of Washington.
*[http://www.terrynazon.com/index.html 12 Sun Signs Explained]--Complete Guide to Explaining the Zodiac Signs
*[http://www.johnpratt.com/items/docs/sidereal/sidereal.html Coordinates for the Constellations] (provides a comparison between tropical and sidereal systems)
*[http://www.lunarcalendar.cz/Calendar.aspx Online Lunar Calendar - Current position of Moon in the Zodiac, ...]


[[Category:University of Georgia|Athletics, UGA]]
==Charts==
[[Category:College athletic programs]]
{{WesternZodiac}}
[[Category:Southeastern Conference]]
{{Zodiac}}
[[Category:University and college sports clubs]]
{{Greek astronomy}}
[[Category:Astrology]]
[[Category:University of Georgia athletic teams]]
[[Category:Celestial coordinate system]]
[[Category:University of Georgia athletics personnel]]
[[Category:Ancient astronomy]]
[[Category:History of astrology]]
[[Category:Astrological signs|+]]
[[Category:Constellations]]
[[Category:Early scientific cosmologies]]


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Revision as of 20:03, 11 October 2008

Georgia Bulldogs
Logo
UniversityThe University of Georgia
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
DivisionDivision I
Athletic directorDamon Evans
LocationAthens, Georgia (U.S. state)
Varsity teams19
Football stadiumSanford Stadium
ArenaStegeman Coliseum
MascotUga VII
Hairy Dawg
NicknameBulldogs, 'Dawgs
Fight songGlory, Glory
ColorsRed and Black
   
Websitewww.georgiadogs.com

The Georgia Bulldogs are the athletic teams of The University of Georgia. The Bulldogs compete in the Southeastern Conference. All Georgia athletic teams are known as the Bulldogs, and Uga the Bulldog, of whom Uga VII is the latest in a much-beloved lineage, is the official school mascot. They also have a costumed mascot, Hairy Dawg.

Bulldog legends Vince Dooley, Dan Magill, Wally Butts, Howell Hollis, Forrest "Spec" Towns, Herman Stegeman, Herschel Walker, and Fran Tarkenton, along with current coaches Mark Richt, Andy Landers, Suzanne Yoculan, Manuel Diaz, and Jack Bauerle, are all considered to be among the best in their respective sport. They are currently ranked #10 in the 2008-2009 NCAA Football Polls.

See also: Georgia Bulldog Champions

Overview

The University sponsors nineteen sports - baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, women's equestrian, football, men's and women's golf, women's gymnastics, women's soccer, softball, men's and women's swimming and diving, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's track, and women's volleyball. Those 19 teams have won a combined 31 team national championships and 127 Southeastern Conference championships as of the conclusion of the 2006-07 academic year.

The first mention of "Bulldogs" in association with Georgia athletics occurred on November 28, 1901, at the Georgia-Auburn football game played in Atlanta. The Georgia fans "had a badge saying 'Eat `em Georgia' and a picture of a bulldog tearing a piece of cloth";[1] however, it was not until 1920 that the nickname "Bulldog" was used to describe the athletic teams at the University of Georgia. Traditionally, the choice of a Bulldog as the UGA mascot was attributed to the alma mater of its founders and first president, who graduated from Yale University.[2] On November 3, 1920, Morgan Blake, a sportswriter for the Atlanta Journal wrote a story about school nicknames for football teams and proposed:

The Georgia Bulldogs would sound good because there is a certain dignity about a bulldog, as well as ferocity.[3]

Shortly thereafter, another news story appeared in the Atlanta Constitution in which the name "Bulldogs" was used several times to describe the Georgia football team and the nickname has been used ever since then.

The athletic department suffered through several controversies in the early 2000s, including a major scandal within the men's basketball program. In 2003, a power struggle between University President Michael Adams and athletic director and beloved Bulldog legend Vince Dooley stole headlines across the country when Adams refused to renew Dooley's contract, effectively firing him. The battle became one painted as academics versus athletics, though this idea was rejected when the University's Franklin College of Arts and Sciences faculty issued a vote of "no confidence" on Adams' leadership in 2004.

The firestorm has calmed slightly since then, however, largely due to the success of Dooley's successor, Damon Evans. In 2006, the Bulldogs recorded the highest profit margin of any athletic program in the country (according to the EADA report[4]), pulling in USD$23.9 million, and also recorded another highly-successful year on the field.


Tennis

Men's Tennis

Under the direction of college sports legend Dan Magill from 1954 to 1988 and his successor (and current head coach) Manuel Diaz, the Georgia Men's Tennis program ranks among the nation's best. The team has won a total of eight tennis national championships in 1985, '87, '99, 2001, '06 (indoor), 07 (indoor and NCAA Division I), and 2008. The Bulldogs' six NCAA team championships rank second all-time behind Stanford, who has won the team title 15 times. The 2007 indoor championship made Georgia only the sixth team in history to successfully defend the ITA Indoor title. [5]

The squad has won 24 Southeastern Conference championships, including four since 2001.

The NCAA Men's Tennis Championship has been held in Athens 24 times in the past 35 years, including consecutively from 1977-1989 and in 2007. All but one (2008) of UGA's NCAA team championships have been won in Athens.[6]

Women's Tennis

UGA alum Jeff Wallace has coached the Georgia Women's Tennis program since 1985, and is currently the winningest active NCAA women's tennis coach. His teams have won two NCAA team championships (1994 and 2000), three ITA Indoor Championships (1994, 1995 and 2002) and seven SEC titles.

The NCAA Women's Tennis Championship has been held in Athens 3 times.

Women's Gymnastics

Main article: Georgia Gym Dogs

No Bulldog team has dominated its sport as much in the past 20 years as the Georgia Gym Dogs, under the direction of Suzanne Yoculan.

Since 1986, the Gym Dogs have brought home 9 gymnastics national championships (1987, '89, 1993, '98, '99, 2005, '06, '07, '08)[7] and 16 Southeastern Conference titles.

The Gym Dogs consistently draw upwards of 10,000 fans to their meets, ranking them second only to football in average attendance among Georgia sports.

On October 18, 2007, Yoculan announced that she will retire as head coach after the 2009 season.[8] Longtime assistant Jay Clark will succeed Yoculan as head coach.

Golf

Men's Golf

From 1946-70, Howell Hollis built the Georgia men's golf team into a conference power, claiming 13 SEC titles and laying the groundwork for the team's future successes.

Current coach Chris Haack has led the team to two golf national titles (1999, 2005) and keeps them in contention for the crown each year.

Overall, the men's golf team leads all Georgia sports with 26 conference championships, including four since 2000.

Women's Golf

First organized by women's athletics pioneer Liz Murphey, the Georgia women's golf team is a fixture among the nation's top finishers. Todd McCorkle coached the Georgia women's golf team from 2001 to 2007, when he abruptly resigned before the NCAA Women's Golf Championship under a cloud of sexual harassment allegations.[9] His inaugural UGA team won the national championship. UGA's sixth place tie at the 2006 national event marks the seventh top-10 final ranking in the last nine years. The progam has won ten SEC titles. Former players include Vicki Goetze, now on the LPGA Tour.

Basketball

Women's Basketball

Main article: Georgia Lady Bulldogs basketball

Coach Andy Landers, a pioneer in the sport, has coached the Lady Bulldogs since 1979, leading them to seven regular-season SEC titles, four SEC tournament championships, twenty 21-win seasons (an average of 24.4 wins per season), 23 NCAA tournaments, and five Final Fours. Landers currently stands as the winningest women's college basketball coach not to have won the national championship. The Lady Dogs' all-time AP ranking stands at 4th as of 2005.

The Lady Dogs have also produced two U.S. Olympians who have combined to earn six Gold Medals (Teresa Edwards and Katrina McClain Johnson), 16 former players who have continued to the WNBA (second-most nationally), and six WNBA first-round draft picks in the past five years (second-most nationally). There were eight Lady Bulldogs on WNBA rosters in 2006: Kara Braxton, Detroit Shock; Kedra Holland-Corn, Detroit Shock; Deanna Nolan, Detroit Shock; Kelly Miller, Phoenix Mercury; Coco Miller, Washington Mystics; Christi Thomas, Los Angeles Sparks; Sherill Baker, New York Liberty; and Keisha Brown, New York Liberty.[10]

Men's Basketball

Main article: Georgia Bulldogs men's basketball

While often overshadowed by the accomplishments of the Lady Dogs, Georgia's men's basketball program has enjoyed several impressive seasons, including a run to the 2008 SEC Championship and berth in the NCAA tournament under current head coach Dennis Felton.

While Dominique Wilkins is considered the greatest player in school history[11], the team's most successful season came one year after his graduation. The Bulldogs made their first NCAA appearance in 1983 - which would have been Wilkins' senior year had he not opted for the NBA. That team advanced to the Final Four before falling to eventual national champion NC State.

Since making its first postseason tournament in 1980, Georgia has received 21 postseason invitations under coaches Hugh Durham, Tubby Smith, Ron Jirsa, Jim Harrick, and Dennis Felton, including 10 trips to the NCAA tournament.

Women's Swimming and Diving

Main article: Georgia Bulldogs swimming and diving

In his 27th year with the Georgia Swimming and Diving program, Coach Jack Bauerle has placed the women's program among the nation's elite. In the past eight years, the team has taken four national championships (1999, 2000, '01, '05) and posted four national runner-up finishes (2002, '03, '04, '06). The Lady Bulldogs have also brought home six SEC team championships (1997, '98, '99, 2000, '01, '06) in the past ten years. Bauerle has coached 11 female Olympians and 88 SEC individual champions. Graduates of the Georgia Swimming and Diving program include three individual recipients of the NCAA Woman of the Year Award: Lisa Coole in 1997, Kristy Kowal in 2000 and Kim Black in 2001.

Baseball

Main article: Georgia Bulldogs baseball

The Georgia Baseball team has seen most of its success in recent years, including winning the 1990 College World Series, as well as making the trip to Omaha in 1987, 1990, 2001, 2004, 2006, and 2008. The Diamond Dawgs, as they are called, are coached by David Perno.

In its history, the team has claimed five Southeastern Conference tournament titles, in 1933, 1954, 1955, 2001, and 2004, and five regular season conference titles, in 1933, 1953, 1954, 2004, and 2008.

The program dates back to 1886 and, according to former Sports Information Director Dan Magill, was once the most popular sport on campus. However, from the mid-1950s to the late-1980s, and then through most of the 1990s, there were only scattered bright spots as the team managed only a modicum of success.

Since 2001, however, the program has enjoyed quite a resurgence, winning three championships in the perennial stalwart Southeastern Conference and participating in the College World Series four times in those seven seasons.

The Georgia-Georgia Tech baseball rivalry is one of the South's most fierce, and the teams' annual Spring Baseball Classic at Turner Field draws some of the largest crowds in college baseball (the 2004 game was seen by 28,836 spectators, the second-largest crowd in college baseball history).

The team has seen several of its former players move on to successful professional careers, most notably former New York Yankees pitcher Spud Chandler. Also, St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Cris Carpenter (not to be confused with Cardinals pitcher Chris Carpenter), pitcher Derek Lilliquist, Seattle Mariners pitcher Dave Fleming, and Georgia high school football coaching legend Billy Henderson played for the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs play in the 3,291-seat Foley Field stadium.

Equestrian

UGA's newest varsity team first competed in the 2002-2003 season. Head coach Meghan Boenig guided the team to a national championship in the Varsity Equestrian National Championships (VENC) that year as well as a repeat national championship the following year (2003-2004). After a series of runner-up finishes, the team reclaimed the top spot in 2007-2008.

Other sports

Other notable sports teams include the perennial power men's swimming team. [12] Notable track and field athletes include Olympic gold medalists Forrest Towns and Gwen Torrence as well as bronze medalist Debbie Ferguson.

References

  1. ^ Stegeman, John F. The Ghosts of Herty Field: Early Days on a Southern Gridiron. Athens, Georgia: University of Georgia Press. pp. p.59. LCCN 66-0 – 0. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  2. ^ http://www.secsportsfan.com/georgia-bulldogs-football-history.html
  3. ^ "Georgia Traditions from Georgiadogs.com". Retrieved 2007-03-29.
  4. ^ "Equity in Athletics Data Analysis Cutting Tool Website". Retrieved 2007-03-29.
  5. ^ "UGA repeats as indoor champs". NCAA. February 22, 2007. Retrieved 2008-01-12. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ "Georgia 4, Illinois 0s". NCAA. May 22, 2007. Retrieved 2008-01-12. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ "Gym Dogs Win Third Straight NCAA Championship". GeorgiaDogs.com. University of Georgia Athletics Association. Retrieved 2007-04-28.
  8. ^ "Yoculan to Retire After 2009 Season". University of Georgia Athletics Association. Retrieved 2007-10-21. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  9. ^ "Alleged sexual comments led to McCorkle's resignation".
  10. ^ "Georgiadogs.com listing of WNBA players". Retrieved 2007-03-29.
  11. ^ "UGA Men's Basketball". New Georgia Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2008-01-12.
  12. ^ "UGA Swim and Dive Teams". New Georgia Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2008-01-12.

External links


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