Tech applies for bowl-eligibility waiver
Georgia Tech believes it’s going to a bowl game. Other parts of the college football world are less confident.
In one more chapter in the strange saga that has been the Yellow Jackets season, the school faces the possibility of playing in the ACC Championship game with the most disparate of outcomes – beat Florida State and go to the Orange Bowl or lose and stay home. This scenario is far from a certainty, but is not out of the question, either.
Tech has petitioned the NCAA for a bowl-eligibility waiver in the event that it loses to the Seminoles to fall to 6-7, which would drop the Yellow Jackets below the .500 standard necessary to go to a bowl game. School, ACC and bowl officials have been confident that the NCAA will grant the waiver.
“We have full confidence that, at the end of the day, we’re going to be playing in a bowl game among the ACC selections between Dec. 27 and the first of January,” acting athletic director Paul Griffin said, “and we’re doing everything we can to be prepared to play the first of January at the Orange Bowl. Beyond that, everything else is secondary.”
Tech could receive an answer from the NCAA prior to Saturday’s game against the Seminoles. Reports have suggested pushback against Tech being granted the waiver.
Monday, NCAA spokesman Christopher Radford debunked reported claims that Tech has no chance at bowl eligibility if it loses to FSU.
“I’ve seen a couple reports out there (stating) that it’s already been decided, that they will not be eligible for a waiver, and that’s not accurate,” he said. “There has been no decision or official movement either way at this point.”
Tech’s petition will go before the concisely-named NCAA Division I Legislative Council Subcommitee for Legislative Relief. The waiver request likely makes Tech’s case on why it is deserving of eligibility. Radford said his recollection of UCLA’s petition included the argument that it was only playing in the Pac-12 Championship game, and thus putting itself at risk to fall below .500, because USC was ineligible. Tech could make the same contention, as Miami’s self-imposed postseason ban enabled the Yellow Jackets to play for the ACC title.
Tech could also offer up UCLA as a precedent case and offer the line of logic that it shouldn’t be penalized for playing in a championship game. The argument against is that there are a sufficient number of bowl-eligible teams and that one of them shouldn’t be denied a bowl spot in favor of a team that requires a waiver to be considered.
How Tech’s petition will be received by the NCAA is uncertain.
“I quit trying to guess the NCAA years ago,” Football Bowl Association executive director Wright Waters said. “If I could figure out the NCAA, I would go buy lottery tickets.”
The Tech team is proceeding with the understanding that it will be playing in a bowl game regardless, either the Orange Bowl with a victory or most likely the Sun Bowl with a loss, as the Chick-fil-A and Russell Athletic bowls would almost certainly bypass Tech at 6-7. The Sun Bowl, where Tech played last December, is contractually obligated to invite the ACC runner-up if it’s available.
“We’ll worry about (not receiving the waiver) if that happens, I guess,” coach Paul Johnson said Monday. “I just go off what our athletic director tells me. He’s usually a better source than reporters.”
Griffin said that Tech would be willing to drop down past the Sun Bowl if it made sense for all involved parties. Given that the Jackets just went to El Paso, Texas, Sun Bowl officials probably wouldn’t protest such a maneuvering around ACC bylaws. Discussions on the matter have only been internal to this point.
The Jackets, of course, can skip the waiver rigmarole easily.
Said Griffin, “We’re planning to go to the Orange Bowl.”
Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech blog
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150 comments Add your comment
Johnny
November 27th, 2012
8:29 am
This is EMBARASSING for Tech. Even if they go to a Bowl game, they will only have around 1,000 fans there. There are high school teams in this state that have more fans that attend games.
BullDogMike
November 27th, 2012
8:31 am
After witnessing first hand what GT brings to the table , I said no way they could beat FSU. After watching Gators just steamroll them Sat. niteI am changing my mind. Just how pitiful is the ACC. ? I’m wondering now if Clemson or FSU could beat Vanderbilt? Sorry, but GT just needs to go to Division 2 …
common sense
November 27th, 2012
8:33 am
Beat Florida State or stay home,
to hell with what UCLA did last season.
Billy Nole
November 27th, 2012
8:33 am
TECH KILLS THIS CONFERENCE!!! DO US A FAVOR AND LEAVE PLEASE!!!
JoeFan
November 27th, 2012
8:40 am
Tech should decline the ACCCG and the bowl game but that want happen. So decline the ACCCG and go bowling keeping the streak alive. Its ugly either way.
common sense
November 27th, 2012
8:41 am
Having the opportunity to play in the Orange Bowl is plenty reward for a 6-6 team.
A 6-7 team deserves nothing
CrαZy
November 27th, 2012
8:46 am
For a 6-6 team bowl eligibility is more than a extra game and a trip… It’s a month of extra practice time for underclassmen. And if anyone needs the extra practice time it’s a 6-6 team.
james
November 27th, 2012
8:47 am
I’m ashamed to be a Georgia Tech fan,if we lose against Florida State we don’t deserve to go to any bowl.Really what bowl in their right mind would want a team that could not even sell all their tickets for a rivalry game less than 90 miles from home.
JM
November 27th, 2012
8:47 am
Why should Ga Tech players be punished because Miami fan paid players? They are eligible now and would be eligible after Saturday if Miami had not screwed up.
Bradley
November 27th, 2012
8:50 am
Why is there no talk on here of Tech going to the Big 10? It’s all over that it’s a done deal.
DC Jacket
November 27th, 2012
8:51 am
No true tech fan would want their team to miss a bowl game. Must be a bunch of mutts posing as GT backers. Or fairweather fans, which is just as bad.
You would deny your team weeks of extra practice time? You would deny the outgoing seniors one more game? You would see the bowl streak collapse?
St. Simons
November 27th, 2012
8:52 am
BWAAAAAAHAAAAAA. Oh wait, damn.
hahahaha
November 27th, 2012
9:03 am
Boohoo! Georgie was so mean to my little yeller jackers, I hope that Crimson Tide will come fight our fight for us and get that big ol’ bully, booohoooo
Crazy Robert
November 27th, 2012
9:04 am
John, please stop insulting trailer-trash!
Heat Check: Destiny’s ‘Dogs? Bowl-less Jackets? | Mark Bradley
November 27th, 2012
9:10 am
[...] against Kent State. Seriously. Barometric reading: Then again, if Tech loses to the Seminoles, it might not grace any bowl. Tech insiders insist they’ll land in a bowl even at 6-7, but there now appears no guarantee [...]
List Mama » Georgia Tech’s turnaround began at bye – ESPN (blog)
November 27th, 2012
9:13 am
[...] Tech top rusher Orwin Smith plans to practice Tuesday, play in ACC …Washington PostTech applies for bowl-eligibility waiverAtlanta Journal Constitution (blog)Georgia Tech asks for waiver to go bowling at 6-7CBSSports.com [...]
Iluvnutella
November 27th, 2012
9:14 am
If we have become a stepping stone, then start the business model now. Keep up-and coming coaches coming through the door. you dont have to pay em much, u just need a competent AD that keeps the phone lines open and knows when NOT to get into a bidding war. My inside sources say O’Leary gave Braine the option of bidding for him to stay and Braine said just get lost.
big daddy
November 27th, 2012
9:16 am
The whole bowl structure sucks. All bowl games should have a min. of 7 wins to qualify, not 6 as the present system is. I am a Tech fan but the whole picture is out of kilter. With all of the bowls I am sure you could find enough teams that have won 7 games to qualify.
ty webb
November 27th, 2012
9:20 am
“Those kids fought hard to keep the streak alive”
Paul Johnson says otherwise with respect to last Saturday.
Tommy
November 27th, 2012
9:31 am
Could a team be bowl eligible and decline a bowl invitation and still retain the rights to continue practicing during the bowl period? Let’s face it. If GT loses to Fla State it will be hard to sell the fans on purchasing bowl tickets to anywhere but the Southeast US. That is one reason Miami declined. They can’t sell tickets at their own stadium during the regular season. GT has the same problem.
BLS
November 27th, 2012
9:32 am
does anyone really care if they’re in a bowl? No one outside of GT fans and their opponent’s fans will watch anyway.
GT coaches and athletic director want this for two simple reasons:
1. bowl payout money
2. extra practices and game that better prepares the team for next season
NCAA Waiver Board
November 27th, 2012
9:44 am
We’ve seen enough.
DENIED
NCAA Waiver Board
November 27th, 2012
9:49 am
We don’t want any more of your players to be body slammed on the turf.
It’s a safety issue.
BartBuzz
November 27th, 2012
9:51 am
I’m a die hard Tech fan. But 6-7 isn’t deserving of a bowl game. I’m sorry to see the consecutive string end but GT should have beaten Middle Tennessee State.
CrαZy
November 27th, 2012
9:53 am
I’m fine with 6-6 teams getting bowl bids…. I don’t understand people that want to eliminate bowl games. I know there’s a lot of irrelevant games played during bowl season, but I love football so I’ll take a irrelevant football game over almost anything else on TV… except Duck Dynasty!!
Coach Hewitt...
November 27th, 2012
9:56 am
GT needs to consider the ACCCG their Bowl. Lose it & go home…
Cheapest CCG tix…
$350 – SEC (Alabama vs Georgia)
$75 – Pac-12 (Stanford-UCLA)
$25 – Big Ten (Wisconsin-Nebraska)
$3 – ACC (FSU-Georgia Tech)
Georgia Tech’s turnaround began at bye – ESPN (blog) | Blog Mas Rifky
November 27th, 2012
9:57 am
[...] Tech top rusher Orwin Smith plans to practice Tuesday, play in ACC …Washington PostTech applies for bowl-eligibility waiverAtlanta Journal Constitution (blog)Georgia Tech asks for waiver to go bowling at 6-7CBSSports.com [...]
Raiderbeater
November 27th, 2012
10:04 am
If Tech beats FSU then the BCS should drop the ACC to the level of the WAC or MAC in power….no automatic BCS Bowl bids…..ever.
This weekends games with the SEC were pitiful to put it kindly for the ACC. Georgia Southern should have a better claim to a BCS bowl.
At least Maryland saw it coming and went into debt to get out of the ACC.
Habersham Dawg
November 27th, 2012
10:14 am
You always play the bowl game if you can. Always. Not just for the money, but for the extra game and the extra practice. And for all you fellow Georgia fans who are saying that if Tech loses it should just go into the night quietly, you wouldn’t be saying that if it was the Dawgs. So let Tech mind their bowl business while we mind ours.
Empty Seats
November 27th, 2012
10:28 am
pj cares about the bowl game. he gets a lot more money if we go. pj is not a person of character much less an adequate hc.
End this cruel thing.
Jacket Attack
November 27th, 2012
10:33 am
@ empty seats on behalf of all the real Georgia Tech fans you can koa and thats not us telling you to go camping jack!!!
The New ACC
November 27th, 2012
10:48 am
These folks on here to bash GA Tech are so silly and pitiful.
GA Tech is in the ACC Championship Game. It is not Tech’s fault that UNC is on NCAA probation. It is not Tech’s fault that Miami self-imposed a ban because of their infractions. How can either of these things be the fault of GA Tech?????
All GA Tech did was win 5 ACC regular season games. That’s it. And, that is what it took.
If you cannot understand at least that much, then you need help…. and a lot of it!
dwight
November 27th, 2012
10:49 am
Remember if they lose there is not time to apply for waive as bowl bids will all go out this weekend. So they have no chance but apply now if they lose but hope and plan to win and not need it.
Pesonally I would rather see requiremnet for bowl changed to winning records so we don’t have any teams who play in bowl end up with losing record.
The New ACC
November 27th, 2012
10:51 am
These folks on here to bash CPJ are so silly and pitiful.
His “system” is the offense. The offense has been outstanding every season at GA Tech. There is nothing at all wrong with the offense.
There is certainly something wrong with the defense and special teams. If there is fault with CPJ, it isn’t his offense at all. So, for you idiots that come here simply to bash GA Tech, picking on his offense is stupid – you need to pick on the defense and special teams.
As the head coach, CPJ is responsible for at least finding the right coaches and the right recruiters to vastly improved the defense and special teams. THERE is where the fault lies!
The New ACC
November 27th, 2012
10:53 am
Raiderbeater – You are certainly not knowledgeable about football. FSU was the better team and certainly should have beated Florida. Florida was lucky to win.
Please stop wasting your time on this blog with your silliness.
Jacket Nation Deflation
November 27th, 2012
11:14 am
We are going to play in the “Pepto-Bismol Waiver Bowl”. It is a bowl game for two losing teams that specialize in “Upsets” of the stomach.
JAcket Hater
November 27th, 2012
11:34 am
Tech people kill me! Tech can’t beat Georgia so they immediately start saying “I hope BAMA destroys the Dogs!” Always have to live through someone else in order to celebrate a victory. Sad, sad, sad.
blazer
November 27th, 2012
11:34 am
Please don’t mention Bill Lewis name!!
Rick James
November 27th, 2012
11:48 am
If the waiver is granted Paul Johnson’s bonus should be given to charity…
Jacket Attack
November 27th, 2012
11:49 am
I don’t think were living through anyone else! I was in athens saturday you ugag fans won so be happy. I also heard you all chant you want bama! Well now you got them and good luck to you because I think you all know whats about to happen! If I remember right 2 years ago you all were screaming for Richt to be fired???? Now all you want to do is place a statue of him in front of that cesspool you call sanford stadium. I just wonder after Saturday if we win and you all lose and you fall to a second tier bowl if those yaps will be flapping? So like I told you before you and the rest of your ugag gang can KOA and we dont mean go camping jack!
David S.
November 27th, 2012
11:52 am
What a joke! No way in hell we should be going to a bowl game… Even if FSU throws up on theirselves in this ACC (All Cupcake Conference) championship game, TECH should do the honorable thing and not go to that… Just a thought, cause it damn sure want happen… I’m so sick of this CPJ and his entire damn staff… Is there anyone there at TECH with at least one hair on there butt, that will fire this arrognant PRICK…
Jacket Attack
November 27th, 2012
11:58 am
David you a funny guy! There should be no we in your blog entry! Your not we because a true fan supports there team no matter what! David I would dare to say your on break using the free wifi again at work on your phone you worked overtime and didn’t pay your bills so you could buy that phone. Here is a little tidbit of advice for you If you got season tickets next year dont buy them so I can upgrade mine. As far as pj being a arrognant prick maybe he is or maybe he isnt or maybe he just dont like ugag fans because we all know there the part of the donkey thats located under the tail!
David S.
November 27th, 2012
12:01 pm
JAcket Hater… I’m actually pulling for the Dogs… For nothing more the Coach Richt… Soooo many times the Dog nation wanted him gone, and he usually wins at a good level…. I’ve been a Tech fan for 38 years, my life and have never rooted for the Dogs, but Richt deserves this, especially with all the crap he has to put up with from the average Dog fan… I’m not one that calls for people to be axed from jobs very often, but with CPJ, its about as bad from the friggin days of Bill Lewis…
David S.
November 27th, 2012
12:06 pm
Jacket Attack–you’re a blind fan… Don’t question my loyality to the Jackets… However, I tend to always keep the ability to reason with facts…. Twist it however you may, but facts are in the W’s & the L’s….
David S.
November 27th, 2012
12:07 pm
Jacket Attack— I’m not at work today, I have the day off you sick elitist jerk
The New ACC
November 27th, 2012
12:11 pm
So many Jacket haters on this blog. Glad you guys have the time. No job?
The New ACC
November 27th, 2012
12:13 pm
David S. – GA Tech should go the bowl if invited. We have a nice long streak of years going to a bowl. Why should the school break the streak?
roughrider
November 27th, 2012
12:29 pm
Some of the Tech posters amaze me.It’s obvious that they do not realize that proud , native Georgians also pull for Tech and all other Georgia schools. As a UGA alum , I love my Dawgs but also pull for Tech in the rest of the games. Same for Ga Southern. I hope Tech can win the ACC championship, which would be a morale booster and also help recruiting. Good luck and remember to keep it positive.
bag over my jacket
November 27th, 2012
12:29 pm
I love how tech prepares for losing! Pitiful that you can go to your championship game and not even have a chance to play in a bowl game. Get rid of Johnson and this high school offense!
Matthew
November 27th, 2012
12:31 pm
Some (most) of the analogies you guys are posting aren’t even remotely the same. It’s funny that in the same breadth, you’ll mention Tech being embarrassing while at the same time posting something that embarrasses yourself.