ATLANTA - Georgia Tech shot down a report Tuesday that it already hired Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Chan Gailey to be the Yellow Jackets' football coach. Athletic director Dave Braine said a new coach won't be introduced until after Georgia Tech, under interim coach Mac McWhorter , plays Stanford in the inaugural Seattle Bowl on Thursday. ESPN said yesterday that Gailey, the former Dallas Cowboys head coach, already accepted the job. ''It's not true,'' Braine told The Associated Press by telephone from his Seattle hotel room. ''We've told the kids we're not going to do anything until after the game.'' Braine declined to say if an announcement was expected then, but said, ''We're coming home right after the game.'' The Telegraph in Macon cited sources close to Tech's athletic department in yesterday's editions that Gailey was close to a deal to succeed George O'Leary . The Miami Herald said in yesterday's newspaper that Georgia Tech administrators were impressed with Gailey during a recent interview and decided to offer him the job, even though Gailey insisted on finishing his second season with the Dolphins. The Dolphins, fighting for an NFL playoff spot, will be in Atlanta on Sunday to play the Falcons. Gailey, a native of Gainesville, Ga. grew up in Americus. He declined comment on the report Monday and did not immediately return a call yesterday. r Miami backup receiver Ethenic Sands of Miami was suspended for an undisclosed violation of team rules and will miss the national championship game Jan. 3 in the Rose Bowl against Nebraska. Sands, a backup at flanker to Daryl Jones and Kevin Beard , was an important part of the Hurricanes' potent passing game this season. He made 26 receptions for 385 yards and one touchdown. r Tailback Cedric Benson practiced again Monday but won't start for No. 9 Texas in the Holiday Bowl against No. 21 Washington on Friday night. Benson, a freshman who rushed for 1,053 yards this season, sustained a stinger in his shoulder-neck area in Texas' loss to Colorado in the Big 12 championship game on Dec. 1. BASEBALL In Tokyo, Hideki Matsui became the highest-paid player in Japanese baseball history, signing a one-year, $4.7 million contract yesterday. Matsui, an outfielder for the Yomiuri Giants, surpassed the mark set by Ichiro Suzuki , now with the Seattle Mariners and the American League Most Valuable Player this season. Suzuki earned $4 million with the Orix BlueWave in 2000. Matsui led the Central League this season with a .333 average and had 36 home runs and 104 runs batted in. He reportedly turned down a five-year deal. BASKETBALL Toronto Raptors assistant coach Stan Albeck was resting comfortably and remained in stable condition yesterday, two days after he had a stroke in the locker room before a game. The stroke left the 70-year-old Albeck paralyzed on the right side and ''unable to speak significantly,'' Dr. Douglas Richards , the team physician, said Monday. He said the stroke was not life-threatening. HOCKEY In Pardubice, Czech Republic, the United States defeated defending champion Czech Republic 3-1 yesterday in the opener of the world junior hockey championships on goals by Kris Vernansky , Chris Higgins and Chad LaRose . The United States next plays Sweden on Thursday.

---

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)

---