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
11 of 12 supersized
November 27th, 2012
12:38 pm
Pretty simple. Step up and beat a down and disappointed FSU team and you go to Miami and the orange bowl. Who wouldnt be excited about that opportunity??? I mean really that is a BCS bowl that pays millions, gives you national exposure in prime time bowl season and beats the crap out of any other bowl scenario. Good luck against the noles and enjoy it people!!
OkieDawg
November 27th, 2012
12:49 pm
This is a beyond bizarre situation. A team that is playing for the ACC Championship may end up being ineligible for a post season bowl game. That has to make the ACC higher-ups realize something has gone terribly wrong in their conference.
I will be pulling for the Jackets to win because I hate to see them petition for a rule exception to gain bowl eligibility.
brad
November 27th, 2012
12:49 pm
Realist, GEORGIA TECH HAS THE WORST GRADUATION RATE IN HTE ACC WHERE AS GEORIGA IS EITHER 1 OR 2 EACH YEAR. Look at those tough academic standards for your basketball team!! At least we don’t have MURDERERS!
bigdawg
November 27th, 2012
1:02 pm
Why does Tech always use the excuse that they can’t recruit capable student-athletes. Stanford and Notre Dame don’t seem to have a problem? And, it doesn’t matter if they are private. I believe the main reason is that with Tech running a gimmick offense, football players who aspire to play on Sunday would rather go to schools running pro-style offenses, and, thus, enhance their chances of playing in the NFL.
bigdawg
November 27th, 2012
1:04 pm
And, just so you know, I root for Tech expect when they’re playing UGA, which is my alma mater!
bigdawg
November 27th, 2012
1:05 pm
…except when..
Al Bundy
November 27th, 2012
1:09 pm
There is a good chance Johnson won’t be coaching whatever bowl game we go to. Rumor has it that if Alabama loses to UGA they will fire Saban and hire Johnson. Of course that’s if Auburn or Tennesse doesn’t get Johnson first. I’m pretty sure there are several schools after Johnson.
Al Bundy
November 27th, 2012
1:11 pm
Seriously, if we lose to FSU we should go home and stay home. If I were a betting man, I’d bet we beat FSU! Go Jackets!
Reality
November 27th, 2012
1:14 pm
bigdawg -
Nope. You are wrong about the reason in your post. Let’s look more closely at the schools that you mention….
Stanford does have problems recruiting. They are a tough academic school and really cannot recuit the same players going to your school. In addition, their conference is geared more towards speed and passing, and less towards the “big and strong”. The SEC is geared more towards the “big and strong”.
Notre Dame is not as academically rigorous as Stanford. They can recruit some players that may go to your school. In addition, Notre Dame is a national brand and is very well known throughout the Country – this is a large advantage for them. While Stanford MAY be known (the name recognized), few in the Midwest or East coast really know the place or follow their football – unlike Notre Dame.
GA Tech is a much smaller college compared to Notre Dame or your school….. much, much smaller. Unlike the other three (ND, Stanford, or uga), GA Tech does have a limited selection of majors. And, the academic rigor is more close to Standford.
CPJ triple option offense has little to do with issues at GA Tech. It is much more the defense and special teams. GA Tech has scored tons of points against more every one of their opponents throughout the tenure of Paul Johnson.
The problem is that the “big and strong” players needed for defense either cannot get into GA Tech or they would prefer to play for Notre Dame or Michigan, or Alabama (for example). This leaves GA Tech with smaller and quicker players at defense – which really doesn’t work against the larger players on teams of the SEC.
Understand now?
realistic fan
November 27th, 2012
1:14 pm
I actually hope Tech does go to a bowl game. I want to see how many fans actually travel to watch that junk. The Vegas over/under on the Sun Bowl attendance by Tech is 300.
The New ACC
November 27th, 2012
1:38 pm
Here is the real NCAA issue that does impact any conference with a championship game….
The NCAA rule is that no team with below a 0.500 record can go to a bowl. If a team wins a division in any conference with a championship game has a 0.500, they risk going below 0.500 by possibly losing in the championship game – in other words, that team is penalized for winning their division and playing in the championship game.
If that same team doesn’t go to the championship game, then they are at 0.500 and per the NCAA rules can go to a bowl game just fine.
So – should the NCAA penalize a team for winning their division and going to the conference championship game? THAT is the real issue.
And, it is not a conference specific question because ANY conference with a championship game is at risk for this.
ATLien
November 27th, 2012
1:43 pm
So much for all the Tech bloggers and their “we’re smarter than you” excuses for why their football program stinks. Supposed technical school with alleged math wizards everywhere, and they can’t figure out simple rules based on simple math. You have to be .500 to go to a bowl silly Jackets. Noone cares that half your conference is ineligible and you’re playing in a pathetic conference championship game.
Dr. Peeper
November 27th, 2012
1:50 pm
If 6-5 N.C. State can beat FSU, maybe 6-6 GT can pull the upset.
Bull
November 27th, 2012
1:54 pm
Ive been a Tech fan all of my 82 yrs and obviously Im almost spent myself but I never thought I woul say this but I am hanging up my gold and black Ive been through tough lean years and short spurts of glory but the whole school has changed no tradition no pride I saw no pride in that Georgia game. The coach sayin his players did not give it their all and he was right, but for a Tech Georgia Game my goodness forget talent what about heart. I ve seen this in other sports at Tech lately, I only pray someone will step up revitalize the program or close it down better not to have a team than to be digraced I m not talking about winning just knowing your team gave it their all. maybe before my up coming firt nap please!
ATLien
November 27th, 2012
1:55 pm
Big Dawg is right. Academics have nothing to do with Tech’s football problems. As Brad points out, Tech doesn’t graduate many athletes anyways, so academics isn’t some shining beacon of excellence at the 38th ranked academic school. It has everything to do with the coaching and the gimmick offense being ran. Chan Gailey, who was the best coach Tech could hope for, had real live football studs at Tech. Calvin Johnson and Demaryius Thomas as examples could have played anywhere in the country. Including places like UGA, Bama and LSU. Don’t see any of those types of athletes around these days.
BLACK BEE
November 27th, 2012
2:03 pm
I don’t know and have mixed feelings. For one they did it last year for UCLA but the flip side is GT is only playing in the ACC Championship because a bad Miami team declined, how much sympathy does CPJ want?
Old with a Stinger
November 27th, 2012
2:16 pm
After our team couldn’t be motivated to put out the effort against our blood rivals, we should not have accepted the opportunity to back into the Championship game. As for a bowl game, why would any bowl expect our best effort a month from now. Finally, I don’t want to see either ND or Alabama win the National Championship. In any event, all the dwag bloggers on this site can go f*ck yourselves.
damngooddawg!
November 27th, 2012
3:10 pm
If you guys want to continue to play big boy football, LOOSE THE “OUR ACADEMIC STANDARDS ARE HIGHER THAN ANYONE ELSES” mantra. I’ve seen those “academic standouts” in interviews and I ain’t buyin’ it.
damngooddawg!
November 27th, 2012
3:16 pm
Old with a Stinger, are we cross? Because I think you would find that what you request is anatomically impossible. Not that I’ve ever tried it. Maybe you have, and successfully. Anyway you are obviously way over the top. It’s just football, dilbert.
Bad Dawg
November 27th, 2012
3:40 pm
Tech had it’s bowl game and Ga wupped ‘em. If Tech gets a wavier at 6-7 ;that means every year the could go to a bowl game . For Tech fans BB season couldn’t have gotten here any faster.
fan
November 27th, 2012
3:54 pm
THese techie knotheads sneaked in to the ACC Championship Game and now they think they deserve a bowl…what a joke.THere are several high school teams in the state of Georgia that could beat tech, Georgia Southern would kill them. The techies are one haughty bunch of losers.
Georgia Tee
November 27th, 2012
4:06 pm
Think Paul Johnson might be the Dawgs all time favorite coach? Reggie has to be their all time favorite QB….maybe a Tech player is the Dawgs favorite player at every position.
bryan
November 27th, 2012
4:07 pm
I hope they won’t grant the waiver so at least our record will be 6-7 and not 6-8 with another consecutive embarrassing bowl loss to Johnson’s credit. With the way they have played this year they don’t need to be in a bowl let alone the division championship.
John G.
November 27th, 2012
4:08 pm
Would not forfeiting the ACC championship, declining an invitation to a toilet bowl and suffering another defeat, and ending this ugly season right now be a better course. A faithful but realistic and frustrated alum!
BuzzE
November 27th, 2012
4:12 pm
6-7? stay home–quit embarrassing the school with another dreadful performance. they would lose to lowly kent state.
John G.
November 27th, 2012
4:15 pm
Would not a more noble (and realistic) thing for Tech to do be to forfeit FSU game, decline invitation to another mediocre bowl (and defeat), and simply call this terribly disappointing season to an end. CPJ has a lot of work to do to survive. Asking for a waiver is humiliating, but …. money focused! Seems it should be more about quality, pride and tradition.
Atomic Dog
November 27th, 2012
4:18 pm
Tech deserves a bowl game. I am a UGA guy but if sorry Miami had not declined….tech would be 6 6
and qualified. If the NCAA allowed UCLA…then Tech deserves the same. Heck they might beat FSU.
GT Joe
November 27th, 2012
4:21 pm
Georgia Tee: Would you say Tevin Washington is a close runner up to Reggie as UGA’s favorite QB?
Rick
November 27th, 2012
4:22 pm
As a former Tech student, I’d rather they stay home if saddled with a losing record. It is tough enough already to be seen in public with Tech colors during football season.
Tech Fan
November 27th, 2012
4:24 pm
When players won’t give they’re best effort to win, it’s simply because they don’t have the level of respect for the game or their leaders (coaches/the program). As much as I love a winner, “CPJ” doesn’t get the best out of those kids. With all due respect, it seems as though his schemes and coaching style is a bit…. how do you say…out dated. Tech we have to realize that it is 2012!!! The age of forcing guys to run into brick walls with no explanation others than “becuase I said so” is over!!! Knowledge about anything is now one click away. The wing-t in DIV-1 football…. really??? How long did you all think this was gonna work at this level of football? Now lets think, how many football players with the dream of playing in the NFL are gonna be attracted to a system that is dying out EVEN ON THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL?!? Remember, the Orange Bowl a couple of years ago was played with the athletes brought in to play a pro style offense. In other words GAILEY ATTRACTED AND BROUGHT IN BETTER FOOTBALL PLAYERS! No I’m not at every practice and hell this is the first year I didn’t see every single play, but until Tech realizes that in order to compete with the best programs in the country you have to be an agile program. For some reason it seems as though Tech is always behind the top progams in the country. The indoor facility isn’t even a year old yet!!! (If so, barely LOL!) Did you see the attempt at the new uniforms this year??? Believe it or not but that’s what 17,18,19 yr old kids take into consideration when it come to which school they would like to attend. I don’t want to go to the extent of saying that Tech really doesn’t want the football program to compete with the top programs of college football, but do you all have any other explanation as to why a technical institute in the heart of DOWNTOWN ATLANTA is always a step behind when it comes to attracting the best athletes, accomidating the athletes and fans they have, and lastly (keep in mind I’m a southern gentleman and I’m all about tradition) HOW LONG BEFORE WE GET A NEW DANG-ON STADIUM??!?!?!? It just seems Tech is stuck in the late 80’s early 90’s and I really feel bad for those players. No way any team with the location Tech has shouldn’t be getting some if not most of the best players in the southeast let alone in Georgia. Just observe how many NFL players make Atlanta their home after college… c’mon Tech. Catch up!!!
killerj
November 27th, 2012
4:49 pm
Love It!,Tech wins against FSU goes to a BCS game,Georgia loses against the Jelly people and does not,”COME ON RAMBLIN WRECK MAKE MY YEAR”! 4 TO 1 BABY!
DawgNole
November 27th, 2012
5:08 pm
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.
___________________
Agreed. We had this discussion with respect to Tech a week or so ago on Ken’s blog. My contention was what bowl would want to select any losing team (not just Tech) as one of its participants? The argument was that a bowl is contractually obligated to select the ACCCG loser–regardless of record. Guess we’ll find out soon enough.
cpj
November 27th, 2012
6:05 pm
How embarassing.
DAMN GOOD JACKETS
November 27th, 2012
6:23 pm
DAMN GOOD INTERIM ATHLETIC DEPT…WE’RE GOING TO THE ORANGE BOWL….HAHA..NICE
bill
November 27th, 2012
6:46 pm
Tech playing in a Bowl is not about if they deserve it. At 6-7, they don’t. But there are circumstances here. If Miami didn’t pull itself from Bowl elgibilty, Tech would be going at 6-6. NCAA knows this with USC-UCLA precedent last year.Remember, this is about the kids getting a chance to play for a Bowl. They earned it within a terrible watered down system.
JUST hope CPJ has the kids ready. His bowl record has been a disgrace.Losing to Utah the way they did last year was inexcusable.Hope when all things get evaluated, Tech losing to FSU doesn’t negate the awful job the coaching staff has done. At least CPJ was smarter than Chan…he at least played Lee. Reggie Ball is to Chan Gailey as Tev Washington is to CPJ.
I WANT to see Lee play in a bowl game. Kid gives this program hope.
BTW, sincerely….hope UGA beats Alabama. Will only help Tech in the long run.Will make them recruit better or we will have a new coaching staff soon.Right now, it’s awful and don’t think CPJ gets how bad this is….he’s as stubborn as a man named Reid from Philly.
tampahokie
November 27th, 2012
8:26 pm
No waiver. Period. If you don’t want to be 6 – 7 GT before your bowl, you should have opt-ed out of the ACC massacre.
No dogs please
November 27th, 2012
9:20 pm
Why are there imbecilic dog fans on the Tech blog?
Stay on your on blog!
We’re not interested in what you doofus dogs have to say!
Imbeciles! Go back to you Lawn Care majors!
No dogs please
November 27th, 2012
9:25 pm
We need the bowl to have the additional practice time.
Lord knows we need it!
No worries, CPJ will be gone after next year’s loss to ugaly.
I like CPJ, but he’s to stubborn to be a BCS level coach.
Loaded FSU defense awaits Tech | Georgia Tech
November 27th, 2012
9:48 pm
[...] Tech applies for bowl-eligibility waiver [...]
Bill from Dacusville
November 27th, 2012
9:57 pm
Never did I think that the once proud program ran by Ross, Dodd, Heisman,et al would have to beg for a bowl—Hell, the Bowls used to beg Dodd to come and play—–Fire Pitiful Paul, or join the Southern Conference and come up here and play Furman!!
Centennial Rematch
November 27th, 2012
10:26 pm
Bowl Game? I’d be worried about rumblings from around Nashville that Cumberland is itching for a rematch of that 10/7/1916 222-0 barnburner on Friday night, 10/7/2016. GT’s inability to stay on field with Middle Tennessee State this year reportedly has various Cumberland groups saying “If MTSU can do it, why not….”
Old Dog
November 28th, 2012
6:44 am
Hey jacket attack……42-10….10 out of 11….there’s a comparison you can write down as FACT!
Fair n Balanced
November 28th, 2012
7:31 am
Awkward!
Fair n Balanced
November 28th, 2012
7:38 am
Really very awkward!
Dawgfan
November 28th, 2012
12:58 pm
Even this Dawg fan sees the issue here: Tech was a miserable 2-4, and rallied to finish 6-6. Not good, but better than anyone expected in mid-October.
Bowls used to be important, but with 35 of them now they are nothing but a reward trip for a season’s hard work for a majority of D1-A programs. Plus the extra few weeks of practice help too. At 6-6, the Tech kids earned a bowl trip.
Tech’s in the ACCCG because Miami and UNC cheated. That part isn’t Tech’s fault. So why should they be punished if they lose to F$U?
- Go Dwags!
Brian H.
November 28th, 2012
2:21 pm
I’ve been a Clemson fan all my life, and most seasons I defend the ACC and it’s perception of being all-inclusively weak as a conference. Sure, there are some VERY weak teams, but I’ve never really agreed with the general public about the weakness of the conference… until this year. There is no room for argument this year…the ACC sucks. What a TERRIBLE year. I cannot believe… repeat, cannot believe that Georgia Tech came out on top to play for the ACC title. Clemson had little problems with that team. I’ve watched lots of their games, and I’m telling you… the ACC better hope Ga. Tech doesn’t pull off the FSU upset (which they won’t…but stranger things have happened), because the conference doesn’t need another disaster loss in the Orange Bowl after the way my team blew it last year. Anyhow, I usually defend the conference from detractors when I can, but this year… there is no room for argument. FSU and Clemson are head and shoulders above the rest of the conference, but both teams had only ONE big-stage test against good teams (FSU – Florida, and Clemson – USC), and they both performed poorly and lost. It’s not a good year for the ACC, and for the first time, I agree wholeheartedly with the detractors this season. Good god…
rich
November 28th, 2012
4:52 pm
Give us a break CPJ and show some class…..after FSU wins, decline any bowl invitation. No 6-7 team deserves a bowl
Tech notes: Smith, Finch held out again | Georgia Tech
November 28th, 2012
8:47 pm
[...] Tech applies for bowl-eligibility waiver [...]
To waiver or not to waiver, that is the question......
November 29th, 2012
4:35 pm
[...] lower tier team to stay home even though they may have a better win/loss ratio? Go JACKETS! THWG! Tech applies for bowl-eligibility waiver | Georgia Tech Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets would need waiver for bowl if they lose to FSU Seminoles – ESPN [...]
cewbee
November 29th, 2012
6:57 pm
6-6, 6-7 Schrodinger’s Cat?