West Virginia University has accepted an invitation to play Georgia Tech in the Toyota Gator Bowl on Jan. 1, 2007, at AllTel Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla., it was announced today.
p. West Virginia defeated Rutgers 41-39 in triple overtime on Saturday night to finish the regular season 10-2. Georgia Tech (9-4) lost to Wake Forest 9-6 in yesterdays ACC championship game in Jacksonville.

West Virginia and Georgia Tech are among the greatest football traditions in the nation. The Mountaineers and the Yellow Jackets have had great seasons and we are looking forward to a truly exciting bowl match-up between two ranked teams in Jacksonville,said Scott P. Keith, Gator Bowl Association Chairman.

It is the sixth time overall and the third time in the last four years West Virginia has been invited to play in the Gator Bowl. The Mountaineers are 0-5 in Gator Bowls, but have played in three of the Top 10 attended games in Gator Bowl history including a record 82,911 for the 1989 game against Clemson. WVU s last Gator Bowl trip came in 2005 when it lost 30-18 to Florida State before 70,112 spectators.

Georgia Tech is making its seventh trip to the Gator Bowl with its last coming in 2000 against Miami. West Virginia and Georgia Tech have played in bowl games twice previously with Georgia Tech winning both: 42-19 in the 1954 Sugar Bowl and 35-30 in the 1997 Carquest Bowl.

West Virginia has always enjoyed its association with the Gator Bowl and we look forward to another outstanding experience this year,said West Virginia University Director of Athletics Ed Pastilong.Our team has had a record-setting season, and this match-up will give Mountaineer fans and the national audience one more chance to see our exciting team in action.

West Virginia (13th AP, 12th USA Today) is making its fourth-straight New Years Day bowl appearance under sixth-year coach Rich Rodriguez.

Were very excited about returning to the Gator Bowl,Rodriguez said Sunday.Everything they do there is first class, and it is always a great experience for our team and for our great Mountaineer fans.

Georgia Tech (25th USA Today) is coming off a disappointing 9-6 loss to Wake Forest in Saturdays ACC championship game, but the Yellow Jackets have had an outstanding season producing impressive wins against Virginia Tech, Maryland and Miami.

Six-five, 215-pound wide receiver Calvin Johnson is expected to be a top NFL draft pick this spring if he chooses to come out a year early. Johnson has caught 67 passes for 1,016 yards and 13 touchdowns with six 100-yard receiving games this year.

Junior running back Tashard Choice ran for 1,304 yards and 10 touchdowns in 12 games and has run for more than 100 yards in eight of his last nine games, including a season-high 164 yards at North Carolina State.

Quarterback Reggie Ball has completed 135 of 304 passes for 1,820 yards and 20 touchdowns. Ball has also run for 354 yards and two scores.

Our coaching staff has a lot of respect for the Georgia Tech program and the success Tech has had this year in the ACC ,Rodriguez said.It should be a great ball game.

The Mountaineers have the nations second-leading rusher in sophomoreSteve Slaton, who finished the regular season with a school-record 1,733 yards after a 112-yard performance against Rutgers. Slaton averages 7.1 yards per carry and has scored 16 rushing TDs.

QuarterbackPatrick Whitewas a late scratch from Saturdays game against Rutgers with an injured ankle suffered in last weeks loss to South Florida. In 11 games, White has completed 109 of 164 passes for 1,524 yards and 11 touchdowns with seven interceptions. White has also rushed for 1,074 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Taking Whites place against the Scarlet Knights was redshirt freshmanJarrett Brown, who completed 14 of 29 passes for 244 yards and a touchdown in his first career start. Brown also ran for 73 yards. In six games this year, Brown has completed 29 of 47 passes for 384 yards and two touchdowns and run for 176 yards on 32 carries.

JuniorDarius Reynaudis West Virginias leading receiver with 39 catches for 520 yards and two touchdowns and also shows 1,458 all-purpose yards. SeniorBrandon Mylesshows 30 catches for 468 yards and a team-best seven touchdowns.

The game will kick off at 1 pm and will be televised nationally this year by CBS .

Updated ticket information will be released later this evening.