Georgia Tech to play Utah in Emerald Bowl

<p>For the fourth time in five years, Georgia Tech is headed west for a bowl game after accepting an invitation Sunday to play Utah in the Dec. 29 Emerald Bowl game in San Francisco.</p><p>The No. 24 Yellow Jackets fell to rival Georgia 14-7 to finish the regular season at 7-4, spoiling hopes to earn a bowl bid to a game closer to Atlanta.</p><p>Following the loss to Georgia, Tech was thought to be in position for an invitation to the Music City Bowl in Nashville, Tenn. Instead, the Music City Bowl issued a bid to a 6-5 Virginia team.</p><p>Another 6-5 Atlantic Coast Conference team, North Carolina State, will play in the Meineke Car Care Bowl in Charlotte, N.C.</p><p>The trip to San Francisco will add to Tech's recent history of long travel to bowl games. Tech capped the 2001 season with a win over Stanford in the Seattle Bowl, followed by a loss to Fresno State in the 2002 Silicon Valley Classic in San Jose, Calif. Tech beat Tulsa in the Humanitarian Bowl in Boise, Idaho after the 2003 season. The Yellow Jackets beat Syracuse in the Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando last season.</p><p>The Emerald Bowl is in its fourth season. Navy beat New Mexico in last year's game.</p><p>Utah finished 6-5, capping its regular season with a 41-34 overtime victory over rival Brigham Young to become bowl-eligible.</p><p>The Utes are coached by Kyle Whittingham, hired after Urban Meyer moved to Florida following the 2004 season. Meyer and quarterback Alex Smith led Utah to an undefeated regular season last year and a spot in the Fiesta Bowl.</p><p>"Utah in the Emerald Bowl is a perfect fit for us," said Utah director of athletics Chris Hill. "San Francisco is close enough to Salt Lake City that our fans will easily be able to make the trip. We also have a large alumni base in the Bay Area, and we look forward to seeing many of them as well."</p>

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