ON THE SIDELINES : Georgia Surprises Officials by Picking Peach Bowl, Paper Says

The Georgia Bulldogs have surprised bowl officials and chosen to play in the Peach Bowl instead of the new Copper Bowl, a newspaper reported today.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, quoting “various sources,” said Georgia committed to the Atlanta bowl because the players--expected to choose a plane trip to Tucson rather than a one-hour bus ride to Atlanta--wanted their families and friends to attend.

The newspaper said the Dec. 30 Peach Bowl is expected to decide between Syracuse and Arizona State as the team to oppose the Bulldogs.

Also today, the Houston Chronicle reported that the University of Tennessee has accepted a conditional invitation to play the Southwest Conference champion in the Mobil Cotton Bowl. Four teams--Texas A & M, Arkansas, Texas and Texas Tech--are still in the running for the SWC title and the host role in the Cotton Bowl at Dallas.

The Houston newspaper reported that only the remote possibility that Alabama will not wind up in the Sugar Bowl stands in the way of a Cotton Bowl berth for Tennessee.