Yellow Jackets sting Stanford in the inaugural Seattle Bowl

SEATTLE -- Georgia Tech's players chanted "We want Mac! We want Mac!" as they accepted the inaugural Seattle Bowl trophy.

Their words were a statement of support for interim coach Mac McWhorter. So was their play.

George Godsey passed for a touchdown, Kelly Campbell scored twice, and the defense made an early goal-line stand as the Yellow Jackets beat No. 11 Stanford 24-14 Thursday in the Seattle Bowl.

McWhorter coached Georgia Tech on Thursday because George O'Leary left the Yellow Jackets this month to become the head coach at Notre Dame. O'Leary resigned five days later, though, because of inaccuracies on his resume.

"There had been so much negative attention given to this team," said Godsey, the senior quarterback. "We pulled together. We wanted to salvage this season."

McWhorter, O'Leary's assistant head coach and offensive line coach, appreciated the support his players showed by yelling his nickname after the game.

"That makes you feel good," he said. "There's a mutual respect for our players and this staff. Had we lost, they probably would have cheered, 'We don't want Mac!"'

Georgia Tech, which lost its final two regular-season games to Georgia and Florida State, could announce a new coach when the team returns to Atlanta. The Yellow Jackets were negotiating this week with Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Chan Gailey.

Campbell's second touchdown was a 2-yard run with 1:29 left, sealing the victory for Georgia Tech (8-5) before a crowd of 30,144 at Safeco Field, home of the Seattle Mariners. That capped a 13-play, 63-yard drive.

"When the play was called, I knew then that I was going to score," Campbell said. "I got the ball and there was nothing in front of me but the end zone."

Stanford (9-3) had drawn to 17-14 with 11:39 remaining, when backup quarterback Chris Lewis threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Teyo Johnson, then added a 2-point conversion pass.

Independence Bowl

SHREVEPORT, La. -- Special teams rescued Alabama and doomed Iowa State.

Terry Jones Jr. caught a 27-yard touchdown pass from Andrew Zow with 4:44 left -- a play set up by Waine Bacon's blocked punt -- to lift the Crimson Tide to a 14-13 victory over Iowa State in the Independence Bowl on Thursday night.

Iowa State had a chance to go ahead, but Tony Yelk's 47-yard field goal floated wide right by a few inches with 38 seconds left, his third miss of the game. Yelk and teammates began celebrating, thinking the kick went through the uprights.

The Cyclones (7-5) were trying to gain some recognition playing in back-to-back bowls for the first time in 23 years. Instead, Alabama (7-5) padded its record for bowl victories with No. 29.

-- From wire reports