No.24 Georgia (7-4) vs. Virginia (6-5) 
Oahu Bowl                                             8:30 pm EST
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HONOLULU, Hawaii (Ticker) -- The Oahu Bowl could just as easily
be called the Aloha Bowl as both George Welsh and Jim Donnan
will say goodbye on Christmas Eve. 

Welsh, the all-time wins leader in the Atlantic Coast
Conference, has announced his retirement after 19 seasons at
Virginia, capping what has been a turbulent year.   Rumors of
Welsh's departure have followed the Cavaliers all season after
athletic director Terry Holland said the school might consider a
timetable to find a replacement. 

It was Welsh who took the Cavaliers to their first bowl game in
1984 and the Oahu Bowl will be the school's 12th. But the
postseason has not been kind to the Cavs, who are 4-7 in bowls
and were humiliated by Illinois, 63-21, in the Micronpc.bowl
last season. 

Georgia will give Donnan a holiday trip to Hawaii before showing
him the door. Donnan was fired earlier this month, but the
school relented and allowed him to coach in Hawaii. 

"This is his team and I think he should have the opportunity to
coach the team in the bowl game," athletic director Vince Dooley
said. 

The Bulldogs were considered an outside contender for the
national title this season, but were stunned by South Carolina
early in the year and never fully recovered.  Georgia concluded
the regular season with a loss to Georgia Tech, its third
straight defeat to its intrastate rival. 

Star quarterback Quincy Carter also missed significant playing
time with a thumb injury and is considered doubtful for the Oahu
Bowl.  Sophomore Cory Phillips will likely start in Carter's
place. 

An ineffective running game was another reason for the mediocre
season.  The Bulldogs have had at least one 100-yard rushing
game in a season every year since 1972, but they needed a big
game from freshman Musa Smith on November 18 against Mississippi
to keep the streak alive. 

The Cavaliers have a solid rusher in Antwoine Womack (93.45
ypg), who struggled late in the year before responding with a
134-yard effort against Virginia Tech in the regular season
finale. 

Georgia will play without cornerback Tim Wansley, the
Southeastern Conference leader in interceptions with six. 
Wanlsey will not be permitted to play for academic reasons.

This is the second bowl meeting in three seasons between the
schools.  Georgia was a 35-33 winner in the 1998 Peach Bowl and
leads the all-time series with Virginia, 8-7-3. 

Georgia has won five of its last six bowl games. 

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