Ball ineligible for Ga. Tech bowl game

ATLANTA, Dec. 21 (UPI) -- Quarterback Reggie Ball has been ruled academically ineligible for Georgia Tech's Gator Bowl date with West Virginia on New Year's Day.

The senior from Stone Mountain, Ga., finishes his career at the ACC university with 9,579 yards of total offense, including 57 touchdown passes on 8,128 passing yards.

He started 49 games, more than any other quarterback in school history, and will be joined by fellow senior Kenny Scott, a cornerback from Daytona Beach, Fla.

"You're disappointed for the young men, and you're disappointed for the team," said Coach Chan Gailey on the school's Web site when the dismissals were announced late Wednesday. "Although this 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. Hopefully, they will learn from this unfortunate experience."

Ball will be replaced by sophomore quarterback Taylor Bennett, who threw two touchdown passes in six games this season.