Knobler's 12/31/06 Gator Bowl notes

"We were going to put [Bennett] in maybe the third series and try to get a feel for how it went later," Gailey said. "After that third series we would have just tried to get a feel for what direction it should go."

West Virginia plays an unusual defense with three linemen, three linebackers and five defensive backs. "Most teams play a 4-3 or a 3-4. When you see a 3-3-5, now they've got to scramble to figure out how to block you, what scheme to use," Dykes said. "Hopefully, by that time, the game will be over." Tech's coaches have seen the 3-3-5, against BYU a few years ago and, though not this season, against Wake Forest.

Gailey on Slaton: "If he doesn't play I bet there's a good back on that team somewhere," he said. "You've still got to stop the same plays. We all expect him to be there and be, if he's not 100 percent he'll be close to it by then."

Linebacker KaMichael Hall will reunite with Tech cornerback Kenny Scott for the East-West Shrine Game on Jan. 20 in Houston, Hall's hometown. [Mike Knobler, AJC, 12/31/06]