Football Notes

BOWL SYSTEM PROVES WORTH FOR ANOTHER YEAR


PAC-MAN JONES

Since the day he signed his letter-of-intent to play for the Mountaineer football team, junior Adam "Pac Man" Jones has done things in a flamboyant manner.


Wednesday was no different.
In an emotion-packed address, the College Park, Ga., native announced that he was foregoing his senior season at West Virginia and turning professional.


"After carefully reviewing my decision with my family and coach Rodriguez, I have decided to make myself available for the upcoming NFL draft," said Jones.


It seemed like just yesterday when the Westlake High School phenom surprised a packed auditorium-which included some stunned Georgia Tech assistants-and signed to attend West Virginia University.

FORMER NFL COACHES IN COLLEGE

And word has gotten around. This season, there were 10 former NFL head coaches running college programs. Four of them — Al Groh (Virginia), Chan Gailey (Georgia Tech), June Jones (Hawaii) and Carroll — coached their teams to bowl games.

NAVY COACH NAMED BOBBY DODD COACH OF YEAR


WHERE ARE THEY NOW: BILL LEWIS


RATING THE BOWLS

22. Champs Sports Bowl — Georgia Tech 51 Syracuse 14 — Only one team bothered to show up, which always ensures a lopsided snoozer. Until he sprained his knee in the second quarter, Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson made the game entertaining, but by the second half, most remotes were getting a workout. With a swarm of Jackets returning next year, chalk it up to an early opportunity to scout one of next year's trendy picks for surprise team of 2005.

RECRUITING: JACKETS ADD ANOTHER WR

Douglass’ Greg Smith, a 6-foot-4, 195-pound wide receiver, committed to Georgia Tech this week. Smith picked Georgia Tech over Connecticut, Duke, Clemson and North Carolina. Smith, who had 35 receptions for 755 yards and five touchdowns, is the second receiver that Georgia Tech has received a commitment from as the Yellow Jackets try to find a bookend receiver to play opposite Calvin Johnson. Martin Frierson, of Columbia (S.C.) Irmo, a 6-2, 185-pound receiver, has also committed to the Yellow Jackets.

FULL COMMITTMENT LIST


ESPN ALL-BOWL TEAM

Brad Honeycutt, Georgia Tech
Offensive tackle
The junior led the Yellow Jackets with eight knockdown blocks as they rushed for 286 yards and allowed no sacks of quarterback Reggie Ball in the 51-14 rout of Syracuse in the Champs Sports Bowl.