ON THE SIDELINES : WVU May Take Gator Bowl Berth

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia University will play in the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Fla., on Dec. 30, with Clemson as the Mountaineers’ likely opponent, a newspaper reported today.

The Times-West Virginian of Fairmont, quoting “reliable sources,” said WVU (7-2-1) wanted to play in the Hall of Fame Bowl in Tampa, Fla., on New Year’s Day but went with the Gator Bowl when the Hall of Fame wouldn’t commit.

West Virginia Athletic Director Ed Pastilong told the paper he could neither confirm nor deny the report.

“We haven’t locked anything up yet,” said Gator Bowl President Charles Hughes. “West Virginia is certainly high on our list. So are Penn State and a Big 10 team.”

However, “I think something along those lines (a West Virginia-Clemson game) could happen,” Gator Bowl Executive Director John Bell told the Florida Times-Union in Jacksonville.