Boston College Athletics
Football Prepares for Game #2 Versus Rutgers
June 21, 1999 | Football
September 7, 1998
GAME TWO BOSTON COLLEGE (1-0) VS. RUTGERS (1-0) Date: Saturday, Sept. 12, 1998 Time: Noon EDT Site: Chestnut Hill, MA Stadium/Capacity: Alumni Stadium (44,500) Television/Radio: WCVB-TV; BC Radio Network (Sean Grande/Peter Cronan)
The Coaches
Boston College's Tom O'Brien is 5-7 as head coach of the Eagles and overall...A three-year starter at defensive end from 1968-70 at the U.S. Naval Academy, O'Brien was named BC's 32nd head football coach after 15 years on the staff of the University of Virginia, the last six as coordinator of UVA's record-setting offense. O'Brien also was an assistant at Navy for seven years.
Terry Shea is in his third year as the head coach at Rutgers, where he has compiled a 3-20 record. A former head coach at San Jose State, he compiled a 15-6-2 record in two seasons, and led the 1990 team to the Big West Championship. In 1991, he led the Spartans to a share of the Big West Championship. Prior to being named head coach at Rutgers in 1995, he served as the associate head coach and offensive coordinator on Bill Walsh's staff at Stanford from 1992-94. Coach Shea's record against Boston College is 0-2.
The Series
Saturday's game will mark the 20th meeting between Boston College and Rutgers. The Eagles lead the all-time series, 12-6-1, including a 35-21 victory last season at Rutgers Stadium in Piscataway, N.J. Since Rutgers became a full member of the BIG EAST Conference in 1995, Boston College has won all three games in the series. Rutgers' last victory in the series was on August 31, 1991, when the Scarlet Knights defeated the Eagles 20-13 in Rutgers Stadium.
Injury Update
Out: RB Greg Bartlett (torn ACL/MCL); OG Matt Knapp (fractured left foot); OG Paul LaQuerre (fractured left fibula); DB Marco Williams (osteochondral defect, right knee); OL Matthew Desmarais (herniated disk, lower back).
How they stack up
Statistical Comparison
BC Rutgers
Points 41.0 7.0
Total Yards 491.0 243.0
Rushing Attempts 52.0 39.0
Rushing Yards 271.0 123.0
Yards Per Carry 5.2 3.2
Passing Attempts 26.0 12.0
Passing Yards 220.0 120.0
Yards Per Completion 13.8 15.0
Points Allowed 31.0 6.0
Total Yards Allowed 392.0 274.0
Rushing Yards Allowed 165.0 217.0
Yards Per Carry 4.2 4.4
Passing Yards Allowed 227.0 57.0
Yards Per Completion 15.1 8.1
Comparing Statistical Leaders
BC Rushing Att. Yds. Avg. TD LG
M. Cloud 34 200 5.9 2 27
Q. Lee 9 47 5.2 0 9
S. Mutryn 7 24 3.4 2 13
BC 52 271 5.2 4 27
Opponents 39 165 4.2 2 58
Rutgers Rushing Att. Yds. Avg. TD LG
D. Thomas 16 80 5.0 1 26
J. Crooks 7 43 6.1 0 11
G. Fauntleroy 10 26 2.6 0 7
RU 39 123 3.2 1 26
Opponents 49 217 4.4 0 14
BC Receiving Rec. Yds. Avg. TD LG
R. Tardio 6 52 8.7 1 15
A. DiCosmo 3 92 30.7 0 66
J. Walker 2 30 15.0 0 25
BC 16 220 13.8 1 66
Opponents 15 227 15.1 2 36
Rutgers Receiving Rec. Yds. Avg. TD LG
C. Hutton 3 34 11.3 0 18
B. Powell 2 55 27.5 0 30
A. Holland 2 16 8.0 0 11
RU 8 120 15.0 0 30
Opponents 7 57 8.1 0 20
BC Passing Comp. Att. Yds. TD Int.
S. Mutryn 16 26 220 1 0
BC 16 26 220 1 0
Opponents 15 29 227 2 1
Rutgers Passing Comp. Att. Yds. TD Int.
M. McMahon 8 12 120 0 2
RU 8 12 120 0 2
Opponents 7 16 57 0 0
BC Punting No. Yds. Avg. LG
J. Malecki 4 190 47.5 53
BC 4 190 47.5 53
Opponents 4 164 41.0 52
Rutgers Punting No. Yds. Avg. LG
C. Titus 4 173 43.3 52
RU 4 173 43.3 52
Opponents 6 210 35.0 43
Eagles on the radio
Once again this season, BC games will be broadcast on two of Boston's most powerful radio stations - WEEI (850 AM) or WRKO (680 AM), depending upon conflicts with Boston Red Sox games. BC's game with Rutgers will be heard on WRKO, as well as WHYN in Springfield (560 AM), WSAR in Fall River/New Bedford (1480 AM); WTAG in Worcester (580 AM); WGIR in Manchester, N.H. (610 AM), WTMN in Portsmouth, NH (1380 AM); WLPZ in Portland, Maine (1440 AM), and WNRI in Woonsocket, RI (1380 AM). BC radio broadcasts are handled by announcer Sean Grande and expert analyst Peter Cronan. The game also will be heard on BC student station WZBC (90.3 FM).
A good start
BC opened its season for the fifth consecutive year away >from Chestnut Hill...If the Eagles win Saturday, it will mark the first 2-0 start since the 1992 season, when BC began with a 7-0-1 mark.
The Eagles went down to Georgia...
Behind an impressive performance by the offensive line, BC racked up 491 yards total offense en route to an impressive 41-31 victory over Georgia Tech on a sweltering Saturday in Atlanta. The 41 points were the most scored by a BC team in a season opener since the 1984 Eagles defeated Western Carolina 44-24, and the most scored by the Eagles in a season opener on the road since 1968, when BC defeated Navy 49-15.
Senior running back Mike Cloud (5-11, 201, Portsmouth, RI) rushed for 200 yards and two touchdowns, while senior quarterback Scott Mutryn (6-3, 212, Middleburg Heights, OH) completed 16 of 26 passes for 220 yards and one TD. Mutryn also rushed for two touchdowns.
Cloud's bright day marked the ninth time in his BC career that he has rushed for 100 or more yards. The 200-yard performance was the second-best in his career (he rushed for 211 vs. West Virginia last season). Mutryn passed for more than 200 yards for the second consecutive year against Georgia Tech (he recorded 202 against Tech in his only start last season).
Defensively, junior nose guard Chris Hovan (6-3, 285, Rocky River, OH), making his 22nd start as an Eagle, had an outstanding game with 8 tackles (4 unassisted), including an eight-yard sack on Georgia Tech quarterback Joe Hamilton. The Eagles held the Jackets to 165 yards on the ground.
Code RED
BC is off to a red-hot start in the "Red Zone" - seven-for-seven (five TDs, two FGs).
The Knights Hit The Heights
The Scarlet Knights enter Saturday's game with a 1-0 record after defeating the University of Richmond, 7-6, on Sept. 5. Rutgers' victory snapped a 14-game losing streak that included all 11 games of the 1997 season. The season-opening game marked the first victory for the Scarlet Knights since defeating Temple, 28-17, on October 26, 1996.
Sophomore quarterback Mike McMahon leads the offense that returns eight starters from a year ago. McMahon started the last five games in 1997 and set the Rutgers all-time freshmen passing yardage record with 1,259 yards. In the win over Richmond, he passed for 120 yards, completing eight of 12 attempts. Sophomore running back Dennis Thomas led the Scarlet Knights in the season opener with 80 yards rushing on 16 carries, and scored on a 26-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Thomas missed the entire 1997 season with a shoulder injury. Senior Bill Powell led Rutgers in receiving with two receptions for 55 yards in the win over Richmond.
Rutgers changed its defensive scheme this past spring to a 4-3-4 set after allowing an average of 479.3 yards and 45 points per game in 1997. Senior linebacker Aaron Brady is the top returning tackler with 100 tackles a year ago, and is one of the Scarlet Knights' top candidates for post-season honors.
New Jersey's team...
Rutgers is the state university of New Jersey.
...vs. the team in new jerseys
BC will be wearing its brand-new Reebok jersies for the first time in Saturday's game vs. the state university of New Jersey.
Nine New Jersey players will wear BC's new jerseys...
There are nine New Jersey residents on the Boston College roster, including three true freshmen (Antonio Garay, Jerome Ledbetter and Todd McKniff).
...and New York's Maye,
who played in New Jersey, also will play in a new jersey Linebacker Brian Maye - while a resident of New York state - was an All-State linebacker at Montvale (NJ) High School in 1992. He, too, will be playing in a new jersey this Saturday.
FRANKly, Scarlet Knights...
Junior inside linebacker Frank Chamberlin (6-0, 239, Mahwah, NJ) was credited with seven stops (three solo) in the season opener at Georgia Tech. But, Chamberlin also lined up in his old position - as a fullback - and made two carries in short-yardage situations. Last year, Chamberlin gained 18 yards on seven rushes while serving as the team's lead blocker.
Amazing Grace
Sophomore defensive tackle Adam Grace (6-3, 272, Kings Park, NY) made seven tackles (three solo) in the season opener vs. Georgia Tech, half the number of tackles he recorded in 11 games last fall.
For safeties' sake
Junior safeties Pedro Cirino (5-11, 191, Jersey City, NJ) and George White (6-1, 200, North Royalton, OH) each chipped in six tackles in the win at Georgia Tech. Cirino led BC and finished second in the BIG EAST last fall with 130 tackles. White was tied for second on the team in 1997 with 91 stops.
Last year vs. Rutgers, Cirino and White each registered five stops against Rutgers in 1997. Cirino also had two interceptions - both in the fourth quarter (one each off Brendan Edwards and Mike McMahon).
He did it...Ordway
Redshirt freshman cornerback Jonathan Ordway (5-10, 176, Seffner, FL) wasted no time in letting his coaches - or his opponents - know he could handle his starting job in the defensive backfield. Ordway finished with seven tackles, including a team-high six solo stops, at Georgia Tech.
Tardio - right on time
Senior tight end Rob Tardio (6-5, 245, Wyckoff, NJ) was right on time for the Eagles vs. Georgia Tech, hauling in a 15-yard touchdown catch from Scott Mutryn with 21 seconds remaining in the first half of Saturday's win at Georgia Tech. Tardio finished the game with six catches for 52 yards. nKeep an eye on these Eagles
Doug Brzezinski
The standout left guard was part of the reason BC racked up 491 yards in total offense vs. Georgia Tech this past Saturday. The 1998 team co-captain (along with Brian Maye), BC's coaches call Brzezinski a "prototypical BC-type lineman," a blue-collar player. His knowledge, skills, work ethic and "coachability" make him one of the cornerstones of BC's offensive line. Brzezinski added 10 pounds of muscle over the winter to help further his success in the trenches.
Pedro Cirino
Cirino was credited with six tackles (four solo) in Saturday's game vs. Georgia Tech, including one for a loss. Making the switch to free safety last fall, the junior made his presence felt immediately. He finished the season as the BIG EAST's second-leading tackler, making 130 tackles (73 solo) in 11 games. He added two interceptions, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. At year's end, he captured All-Conference second team accolades. A talented athlete who has great range, Cirino improved his speed and increased his size in the off-season to become an anchor in the secondary.
Mike Cloud
Cloud may have caused some shockwaves last week when he told several members of the news media his goal was to reach 2,000 yards this season, but he then reeled off the second-best game of his career with 200 yards vs. Georgia Tech. That performance marked the ninth time in his career Cloud has rushed for 100 or more yards and the second time he has rushed for 200 or more.
Cloud's Top Games Game Date Rushes Yds. TDs West Virginia 9/13/97 24 211 2 Georgia Tech 9/5/98 34 200 2 Rutgers 9/20/97 35 166 3 Miami 10/18/97 19 157 1 Rutgers 11/24/95 26 122 0 Pittsburgh 11/1/97 13 117 2 Syracuse 11/18/95 10 113 1 Miami 11/11/95 12 109 0 Rutgers 10/19/96 14 104 1
Anthony DiCosmo
The senior established himself as BC's "big-play" wide receiver last year, averaging a team-high 15.1 yards per catch, and he did nothing to diminish that reputation in the Georgia Tech game, hauling in three passes for 92 yards for an average of 30.7 per catch, including a 66-yarder that nearly resulted in a touchdown. An outstanding track athlete as well, DiCosmo finished sixth in the triple jump (48-feet, 9.50 inches) at the BIG EAST Outdoor Track and Field Championships in May, 1998.
Chris Hovan
The junior All-America candidate led the Eagles with eight tackles (four solo) in the season opener. Included among his totals are a shared quarterback sack (for minus-eight yards) and one tackle for loss (for minus-four yards). He was also credited with one quarterback pressure. With 2w career starts to his credit, the 6-3, 295-lb. Hovan brings great strength and a ferocious attitude to the front line. An All-BIG EAST and All-ECAC selection in 1997, he finished with 58 tackles, four sacks and six quarterback pressures in his 11 starts. In his true freshman season, he made 31 stops in 10 starts, becoming one of only six true freshmen to earn The Sporting News All-Rookie Team honors.
Brian Maye
Maye made his third career interception in the Eagles' win at Georgia Tech. The interception, which came in the final minute of the first half and set up a BC touchdown, was Maye's first since picking off a Rutgers pass on October 19, 1996. His other interception came in the 1996 season opener at Hawaii. Maye is a rare "sixth-year" senior for the Eagles. Dogged by injuries for the past three years, the NCAA granted him an extension to complete his final year of eligibility. In his first five seasons (he saw some game action in four), Maye played in two bowl games (1993 Carquest and 1994 Aloha) and been part of winning teams.
George White
White was credited with six tackled (3 solo) in BC's win vs. Georgia Tech. Like his fellow safety Cirino, White returns for the 1998 season with better size and speed than last fall. One of the team's better athletes, White played in all 11 games as a sophomore and finished second on the team with 91 tackles. White is also a key member of the BC track team. In 1997-98, he placed - and scored points - in the long jump in both the New England and BIG EAST Championship meets.
Damien Woody
One of the nation's best centers, Woody is a legitimate All-America candidate. He won the starting position as a freshman, and added 30 pounds of muscle to his body in off-season conditioning. Strong and fast, Woody is a powerful blocker and an outstanding pass protector.
Short Takes
Three true freshmen - Andy Romanowsky, Scott Bradley and DuJuan Daniels - saw action in Saturday's game vs. Georgia Tech...If defensive lineman Mike Willetts and linebacker Brian Maye "share" a tackle in the Rutgers game, it won't be the only thing they share. The two defensive stalwarts are also roommates in BC's Rubenstein Hall.
BC offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski took time from two-a-days to be with his wife, Lisa, for the birth of the couple's fourth child, Jacquelyn, who was born August 26...BC video coordinator Bill Toof's son, Sean Toof, is a walk-on receiver for the Eagles...Since 1992, BC has appeared on regional or national television 58 times...Former BC athletes competed in the 1998 Super Bowl, NBA Championship Finals and Stanley Cup Finals.
Class Act
Boston College's record in the classroom speaks for itself. In the past 12 years, the Boston College football team has won the American Football Coaches' Association (formerly CFA) Academic Achievement Award three times and finished as an honorable mention selection eight times, including 1998. Dr. Kevin M. Lyons, Director of Learning Resources for Student-Athletes, was this year's recipient of the Lan Hewlett Award for outstanding performance as an academic advisor for athletics. BC has one of the nation's highest graduation rates for all varsity athletes. That figure averaged 87 percent over the last 10 years.
Ever to Excel
Boston College is ranked among the top 40 national universities by U.S. News and World Report...There are some 120,000 living Boston College graduates, the largest alumni body of any Catholic university in the world...Boston College's endowment of $792 million is ranked among the 40 largest of any college or university in the world...In 1998, there were more than 16,000 applications for some 2,200 freshman seats...Noteworthy BC alumni include actor Chris O'Donnell, sportswriter Mike Lupica and ABC/ESPN's Lesley Visser.
