Georgia Tech loses QB
ATLANTA — Georgia Tech quarterback Reggie Ball has been ruled academically ineligible for the Gator Bowl.
Cornerback Kenny Scott also is academically ineligible, the school said Wednesday.
"You're disappointed for the young men, and you're disappointed for the team," coach Chan Gailey said. "Although this is a very, very bad ending to the careers of these two young men, we can't forget the contributions they have made to the Georgia Tech program the last four years."
Ball passed for 1,820 yards this season while starting every game. He threw for 20 touchdowns and was intercepted 14 times, but was criticized for inconsistency, especially after Tech's offense sputtered in a regular season-ending loss to Georgia and a loss to Wake Forest in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game.
The four-year starter from Stone Mountain, Ga., compiled 8,579 yards of total offense, including 8,128 passing yards with 57 touchdowns during his career.
Scott, from Daytona Beach, Fla., was a three-year starter. This season he had 50 tackles and two interceptions.
Gailey said backup quarterback Taylor Bennett would start for Tech against West Virginia in the Gator Bowl on Jan. 1 in Jacksonville, Fla., and Jahi Word-Daniels would take Scott's place at cornerback.
Bennett completed 16 of 29 passes during the season, with two touchdowns this season.
