THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, December 5, 1995 TAG: 9512050392
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DOUG DOUGHTY, LANDMARK NEWS SERVICE
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium: 51 lines
As he watched Georgia play Georgia Tech on Thanksgiving Day, the thought occurred to Terry Holland that the Bulldogs might make an intriguing opponent for Virginia in the Peach Bowl.
``I would have to say that the thought was very fleeting - one that I soon forgot,'' Holland, the Cavaliers' athletic director, said. ``I didn't think there was any way it could happen.''
After all, the Peach Bowl had the fourth choice of Southeastern Conference teams and there were five ranked SEC teams stacked in front of the Bulldogs, who needed to beat Georgia Tech to have the required six victories against Division I-A opposition.
However, Alabama learned last week that reduced NCAA sanctions would not make the Crimson Tide for a bowl this season. And then Western Division champion Arkansas was beaten by Florida 34-3 in the SEC championship game.
Holland was informed prior to the SEC title game Saturday night that should the Razorbacks lose, they would accept a bid to the Carquest Bowl and leave Georgia for the home-state Peach Bowl.
``I think they had a meeting of the minds and decided to do what was best for everybody concerned,'' Holland said. ``We would have been excited to play Arkansas, but I'm not sure how excited Arkansas would have been.''
Arkansas was willing to go to the Carquest Bowl in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., because a trip to the Peach Bowl would have been its second in less than four weeks to the Georgia Dome, site of its game with Florida.
Holland said he was told by Peach Bowl executive director Robert Dale Morgan that ESPN, which will televise the Peach Bowl on Dec. 30 at 8 p.m., had no problem with Georgia's 6-5 record.
``Robert Dale said ESPN felt good about the match-up because (coach) Ray Goff had become something of a folk hero because of the way he had handled his firing,'' Holland said.
The Peach Bowl committee, which has always emphasized ticket sales, is virtually ensured a large crowd at the Georgia Dome, which seats more than 70,000.
Holland said U.Va. hopes to have 20,000 supporters in attendance.
``This does not change that goal at all,'' he said. ``In fact, it's probably more important now that we have access. The only disadvantage for us is that this will become like a home game for Georgia.
``On the other hand, our football team has played well on the road all season, even in some of the games we've lost.'' by CNB