By LEWIS SHAINE
Associated Press Writer
Thursday, Dec. 27 ESPN Georgia Tech (7-5) vs. No. 11 Stanford(9-2), 4 p.m. Line: Stanford by 3. Series Record: Georgia Techleads 1-0. Last Meeting: 1991, Georgia Tech 18-17. Career BowlRecords: Georgia Tech 19-10, Stanford 9-9-1. Last Bowl Appearance:Georgia Tech lost to Louisiana State 28-14 in the 2000 Peach Bowl,Stanford lost to Wisconsin in the 2000 Rose Bowl. Common OpponentsThis Season: None. Coaches: Mac McWhorter, interim at Georgia Tech (0-0, 4-7 one yearoverall), Tyrone Willingham, seventh season at Stanford (44-35-1).
Scouting Report
Georgia Tech-The Yellow Jackets are led by fifth-year senior QB George Godsey (3,085 yards passing, 18 TDs), and junior TB Joe Burns (1,165 yards rushing). Junior DE Greg Gathers is the ACC’s sack leader (10).
Stanford-Cardinal efforts depend on a successful running game. Senior G Eric Heitmann, a third team All-American, leads an experienced offensive line for senior QB Randy Fasani, back from a knee injury, and senior RB Brian Allen. Senior LB Coy Wire and senior S Tank Williams, a third team All-American, are the strengths on defense.
Streaks, Stats and Notes
This is the first Seattle Bowl. … The bowl was moved to the Pacific Northwest after three years as the Oahu Bowl in Hawaii. … This is the first non-baseball sporting event held at Seattle’s Safeco Field, home of MLB’s Mariners. … The schools meet for the second time with the only other meeting a 18-17 Georgia Tech win in the 1991 Aloha Bowl. … Georgia Tech, which boasts the third-winningest bowl percentage (.651), makes its fifth straight bowl appearance. … Georgia Tech was the only team in the nation to lose two games in overtime this season and lost a third by one point. … Mac McWhorter, the offensive line coach, was elevated to interim coach following the resignation of George O’Leary on Dec. 9. … Burns, who led the ACC with 15 TDs, is GT’s fifth 1,000-yard rusher and the first since 1995. … Godsey completed 64.8 percent of his passes. … Junior PK Luke Manget, the ACC’s scoring leader (97 pts.), has extended his ACC record for consecutive PATs to 131. … Stanford won nine games for just the second time in the last 50 years. … The Cardinal are ranked 10th in the nation in total offense (451.6 ypg.) and ninth in scoring (37.1 ppg.). … Junior WR-KR Luke Powell is second in the nation in punt returns (16.0 ypr.).
