» Georgia Tech feels disrespected by berth in Quick Lane bowl,

More desirable games go to teams that Tech beat.

Coach Paul Johnson’s final game as Georgia Tech coach will be played far from the Yellow Jackets’ fan base in a bowl that has left players feeling slighted.

Tech was selected Sunday to play in the Quick Lane Bowl in Detroit on Dec. 26 against Minnesota. The initial reaction from Jackets players on Twitter was displeasure over being sent to the bowl with the eighth pick of ACC teams (not including Clemson), despite Tech having fin- ished the season strong (four wins in final five games), tied for the fourth- best league record (5-3) and beaten three teams ahead of them in the bowl lineup —Virginia (Belk), Miami (Pinstripe) and Virginia Tech (Military).

Quarterback TaQuon Marshall: “I’m baffled at this bowl game.”

Safety Tariq Carpenter: “No respect.”

N ose tackle Br a ndon Adams: “The disrespect.”

A-back Qua Searcy: “How do we finish FOURTH in the ACC and get the lowest bowl in the ACC !!!! HOW !!!!! ”

Offensive lineman Scott Morgan: “Feels like a slap in the face.”

Searcy later tweeted: “We’re excited to play in Detroit, it’s just disappointing to see our hard work is being overlooked.”

The Belk seemed like a logical destination for the Jackets, as the Charlotte, N.C., bowl game is close to the Tech fan base and one that Tech has never played. Jackets fans may well have been eager to see their team play an SEC team (South Carolina) and witness John- son’s final game. Further, the motivation of Virginia fans to travel would seem questionable, given the Cavaliers’ three losses in their final four games, including one to Tech on Nov. 17. But the Belk and Virginia were consistently linked in the week leading up to Sunday’s announcement.

The Pinstripe would also have been a favorable destination, a trip to New York to play in Yankee Stadium. However, Miami, another team that Tech beat, nabbed that spot.

The Military Bowl (Annapolis, Md.) was another cruel rejection; Virginia Tech lost at home to the Jackets and squeaked into bowl eligibil- ity at 6-6. However, Virginia Tech has tens of thousands of alumni in the Washington area, making the Hokies a seemingly easy decision for Military Bowl officials.

This week, after Johnson’s decision to step down became public, the bowl considered the opportu- nity to grant him a sendoff at the Naval Academy stadium where he coached for six seasons prior to coming to Tech. Ultimately, the Mil- itary Bowl decided to stick with the Hokies.

The Military’s selection of Virginia Tech is indicative of the factors at play that go beyond a team’s merit in selecting bowls. Geor- gia Tech’s fan base has not traveled well in recent sea-

sons, and the home attendance average this season (43,087) was the lowest since 2001, before Bobby Dodd Stadium’s capacity was expanded.

It will be Tech’s first bowl game outside of the Southeast or Texas since playing in the Humanitarian Bowl in 2007 in Boise, Idaho. It will also be the Jackets’ first game against Minnesota (6-6 overall, 3-6 in Big Ten play).