ORLANDO, Dec. 21 -- Maybe Georgia Tech Coach Chan Gailey will ease up on Reggie Ball now.
Ball threw two touchdown passes, ran for another score and led the Yellow Jackets to a 51-14 victory over Syracuse in the Champs Sports Bowl on Tuesday night.
Georgia Tech has plenty to celebrate as it soundly defeats Syracuse in the Champs Sports Bowl.
(Scott Audette - AP)
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| No. 1 USC 55, No. 2 Oklahoma 19
• Southern Cal rockets past Oklahoma to ensure another national championship for Coach Pete Carroll and the Trojans.
• Michael Wilbon: USC's Leinart (above, right) is ready for the next level.
• Sooners' turnovers hamstring drive for title.
• The BCS will be a hot topic yet again. _____Audio_____
• USC quarterback Matt Leinart talks about a total team effort.
• USC running back LenDale White discusses the team's motivation.
• USC Coach Pete Carroll had a good feeling going into the game.
• Oklahoma Coach Bob Stoops credits the Trojans' preparation. _____Bowl Results_____
• Look back at the outcomes of 28 bowl games crammed into three weeks of college football.
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Gailey has been critical of his sophomore quarterback all season, and he reiterated this week that Ball will have to win back the starting job next spring.
Ball certainly stated his case against the Orange, finishing 12 of 19 for 207 yards with an interception, and had 38 yards rushing.
"I just let loose," Ball said. "I wasn't worried about proving anything. I know what I can do. I know what kind of leader I am."
Ball also got plenty of help.
P.J. Daniels ran 17 times for 119 yards and two scores, Calvin Johnson set a school record for touchdowns by a freshman with his seventh, and the defense set the tone by returning an interception for a touchdown on the second play of the game. The unit added a safety with 1 minute 42 seconds to play.
Even special teams played a role, blocking a punt in the first quarter that the Yellow Jackets (7-5) converted into a touchdown.
The loss was the worst in a bowl game for Syracuse (6-6) since the 1953 Orange Bowl, a 61-6 drubbing by Alabama. It also means more questions about the future of embattled coach Paul Pasqualoni.
Syracuse chancellor Nancy Cantor gave Pasqualoni a vote of confidence this month, saying he would be retained for a 15th season. But the school also named longtime Southern California administrator Daryl Gross the new athletic director last week. Gross replaces Jake Crouthamel, one of Pasqualoni's biggest supporters.
Gross dispelled rumors that he was already thinking about a replacement. However, he also said he would evaluate the athletic department after he completes his move in late January.
Syracuse was making its first postseason appearance since beating Kansas State in the Insight Bowl to finish the 2001 season with a 10-3 record and No. 14 ranking. Since then, the Orange have struggled to break even. It had to win three of its last four regular season games to become bowl eligible this year.
Georgia Tech's dominance Tuesday certainly won't help Pasqualoni.
Chris Reis intercepted Perry Patterson's first pass and returned it 20 yards for a touchdown.
"From the first pass of the game, things seemed to go against us," Pasqualoni said. "It was just one of those days where nothing we did went well."
