Boston College Athletics
Boston College vs. Baylor Facts
August 31, 1999 | Football
Aug. 31, 1999
BOSTON COLLEGE (4-7, 3-4*) VS. BAYLOR (2-9, 1-7*)
Date: Saturday, September 4, 1999
Time: 12:10 p.m. EDT
Site: Chestnut Hill, Mass.
Stadium/Capacity: Alumni Stadium (44,500)
Television/Radio: ESPN National (Dave Barnett, Bill Curry and Dave Ryan),
BC Radio Network (John Rooke and Peter Cronan)
*1998 Records
The Coaches
Boston College's Tom O'Brien is 8-14 as head coach of the Eagles and
overall.
A three-year starter at defensive end from 1968-70 at the U.S. Naval Academy, 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.
Kevin Steele begins his inaugural season as coach of the Baylor Bears where he is expected to unveil an I-formation offensive scheme and a 4-3 defensive line, utilizing speed at the linebacker position. Last season, Steele completed a four-year stint (1995-98) as a Carolina assistant coach, helping the Panthers to accumulate a 30-34 record and a berth in the 1996 NFC Championship game.
Regarded as one of the league's top young linebacker coaches, Steele coached Sam Mills into a Pro Bowl spot in 1995. Prior to the Panther post, he assisted Nebraska Head Coach Tom Osborne in leading the Cornhuskers to four consecutive Orange Bowl appearances (1991-94) and the '94 National Championship. Steele also enjoyed coaching stints at his alma mater (Tennessee) as well as New Mexico State and Oklahoma State.
The Series
The two teams have not seen action against one another in three
quarters of a century (76 years). BC leads the series 2-0, winning its
first meeting 23-7 on Oct. 15, 1921 at Baylor, then taking the 33-0
shutout Nov. 11 of the following year at home. During that time, the
Eagles were led by one of the program's most successful coaches ever,
Frank Cavanaugh, who totaled a 48-14-5 record (.750).
His Baylor counterpart, Frank Bridges, helmed the Bears' program from 1920-25, earning an impressive .644 winning percentage (35-18-6)
Injury Update
Out: WR Chris Barnes (torn ACL). Day-to-day: QB J.D. Schmidt (concussion in preseason practice), OL Matt Knapp (headaches).
How they stack up
Statistical ComparisonBC BU Points 24.8 17.7 Total Yards 411.5 276.8 Rushing Attempts 42.4 39.9 Rushing Yards 195.8 110.4 Yards Per Carry 4.6 2.8 Passing Attempts 27.2 26.7 Passing Yards 215.7 166.5 Yards Per Completion 13.1 12.1 Points Allowed 28.3 29.0 Total Yards Allowed 398.0 441.3 Rushing Yards Allowed 163.8 214.1 Yards Per Carry 3.8 4.8 Passing Yards Allowed 234.2 227.2 Yards Per Completion 15.0 17.0
Eagles on the radio
BC's game vs. Baylor will be heard on SportsRadio WEEI (850 AM), 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 John Rooke and expert analyst Peter Cronan.
Eagles kick off 101st season vs. the Bears
The Boston College Eagles are eager to kick off their 101st season of
intercollegiate football in a nationally televised (ESPN) game vs. the
Baylor Bears
Junior Tim Hasselbeck (6-1, 212, Norfolk, Mass.) has been named the starting signal-caller for the Eagles, edging out redshirt freshman Brian St. Pierre (6-3, 201, Danvers, Mass.) in fall drills. Hasselbeck is the brother of former BC quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, who has recently solidified his position as the number two quarterback for the Green Bay Packers
Thirteen starters return from last year's 4-7 squad (9 defense, 3 offense, 1 special teams), including All-BIG EAST defensive lineman Chris Hovan (6-3, 290, Rocky River, Ohio). Named to the 1999 Playboy All-America team, Hovan is BC's returning tackler and is looking to become the first BC player to earn All-BIG EAST First Team honors three times. Only seven players in BIG EAST history have earned first team honors three times in a career
Senior John Matich (6-2, 208, San Diego, Calif.) is among the top placekickers in BIG EAST history, ranking in the top 10 in nearly every career kicking category. He scored 65 points a year ago and was a perfect 32-of-32 in PATs.
Looking for Answers
After weeks of spring drills, a summer of anticipation, and 21 days of
preseason camp, the Eagles will take the field hoping to find answers
to several questions:
Who will step up in the offensive line?
This year's line has big shoes to fill in the middle -- Damien Woody, Doug Brzezinski and Dan Collins were wide-bodied and experienced blockers. Paul Zukauskas (6-6, 318, Weymouth, Mass.) has been moved from tackle to guard to provide some experience. But center (and offensive captain) Butch Palaza (6-4, 298, Quincy, Mass.) has never started for BC.
How will BC's players react to the new staff?
With four new faces and a major switch in assignments for one veteran, there was nearly a need for name tags as BC began spring drills. Frank Spaziani moves to the other side of the ball to take over the defense. A new offensive coordinator, Dana Bible, hopes to make his imprint, working with offensive line coach Dave Magazu and running backs coach Jason Swepson. And Bob Shoop takes over as secondary coach.
How do you replace a Mike Cloud?
You don't, at least not right away. Cloud exited as BC's all-time leading rusher and as a consensus All-American with 3,597 yards. But senior Carlton Rowe (5-10, 211, Huntington, N.Y.) and junior Cedric Washington (5-10, 201, Holyoke, Mass.) are waiting in the wings, along with a young man named William Green (6-1, 220, Atlantic City, N.J.). Which leads us to, perhaps, the most-asked question in BC football...
How long before William Green gets in the game?
Stay tuned. After earning high school All-America honors from seven media outlets, Green has done nothing to disappoint the BC coaching staff in preseason drills. In the team's final preseason scrimmage, in fact, Green led all rushers with 121 yards on 15 carries.
Bears Claw Back to Chestnut Hill
The 1999 Baylor team, while adjusting to a new head coach, will look to
improve upon a 2-9 season that featured only one win in Big 12 action.
Forty-nine lettermen return for the Bears, including seven offensive
starters and 10 more on the other side of the line.
Hoping to build upon a second-team All-Big 12 spot, Gary Baxter returns for his third season at the right cornerback position to lead the Bears' defense. His numbers in 1998 included four interceptions, one of which he returned for 29 yards, to tie him for the second most among conference defenders. He accumulated 10 tackles, six solo, against Texas in a 30-20 loss.
Baxter also showed outstanding play on special teams, blocking a 19-yard field goal against Oklahoma, but his biggest stop of the season came with four seconds left against N.C. State when he prevented a game-tying field goal.
Fellow classman Derek Lagway leads Baylor offensively from his fullback position. In 1998, Lagway's eight receptions (44 yards) vs. Notre Dame constituted a single-game best. His 27-yard TD run in the first quarter against N.C. State was named CNN's "Play of the Day" and also qualified as the longest run in his collegiate career.
Eagles in the BIG EAST (1998 statistics)
Category Statistic Rank Rushing Offense 195.8 ypg. 4th Total Offense 411.5 ypg. 4th Total Defense 398.0 ypg. 6th First Downs 236 4th 3rd Down Conv 43.1 pct. 4th Sacks Against 17/138 1st Penalties 63/544 3rd Field Goals 64.7% 6th Time of Possession 30:48 3rd
The young and the...well, young
A look at the BC roster reveals that a young bunch of Eagles will take
the field Saturday. Of note:
- Of the 44 players on the BC two-deep (offense/defense), exactly half
are either true freshmen, redshirt freshmen or sophomores.
- Of 93 scholarship players and/or walk-ons on the most recent roster,
only 29 (31.2%) are upperclassmen.
- Nearly half - 44.6% (41-93) - of the players on the roster are
freshmen or true freshmen.
- Throw in the sophomore class of 23 and a full 68.8% (64-93) of this team is either a freshman or sophomore.
Spring Fling - A Look Back
This past spring, Tim Hasselbeck completed 12 of 25 passes for 174
yards and two touchdowns to lead the white squad to a 31-14 victory
over the maroon. Hasselbeck connected with wide receiver Dedrick Dewalt
on both touchdowns.
Dewalt, a 5-9 sophomore from Chicago, led all receivers with six catches for 145 yards. Senior running back Carlton Rowe carried the ball 19 times for 89 yards and a touchdown to lead the white team in rushing.
Brian St. Pierre completed 9 of 13 passes for 101 yards and a touchdown to lead the maroon squad. Cedric Washington led the maroon squad in rushing, carrying the ball 15 times for 70 yards. Washington also was the maroon team's leading receiver with four catches for 59 yards.
Summer Sizzles - A Recap
Carlton Rowe carried the ball 11 times for 72 yards in BC's first
preseason football scrimmage. Freshman running back William Green also
gained 72 yards on the day. Green carried the ball 12 times, including
a 32-yard scamper that resulted in the only touchdown of the day.
Hasselbeck completed 14 of 26 passes for 99 yards. St. Pierre completed 14 of 24 passes for 70 yards.
Dewalt led all receivers with six catches for 51 yards.
John Matich connected on field goals of 30, 33, 39 (twice), 40, 41 and 46 yards.
St. Pierre completed 14 of 22 passes for 154 passes in the second and final preseason scrimmage. St. Pierre connected with junior wide receiver Steve Dapra (Oakmont, Pa.) for the only touchdown, a seven-yarder, in the 97-play scrimmage.
Hasselbeck was 6-14 for 58 yards on the day. Green gained 121 yards on 14 carries, including a 32-yard run.
Another freshman, Derrick Knight (Westwood, Mass.), carried seven times for 28 yards. Redshirt freshman wide receiver Jamal Burke (Brockton, Mass.) led the way with five catches for 46 yards, including a long of 16.
Senior tight end Bryan Arndt (Pittsburgh, Pa.) caught the ball twice for 40 yards, including a 28-yard reception.
Young players had a banner day on defense, too, as redshirt freshman defensive back Marco Williams (Tampa, Fla.) racked up a sack and an interception and freshman DB Willie Poole (St. Albans, N.Y.) snagged two interceptions.
Xaverian Connection
With the addition of freshmen J.P. Comella (6-1, 225, FB) and Derrick
Knight (5-8, 190, RB) and walk-on Shaun Toof (5-11, 173, WR), the BC
roster now features seven players from Westwood football power Xaverian
Brothers High School.
The Xaverian roster:
Tim Hasselbeck QB 6-1 212 Jr. Derrick Knight RB 5-9 185 Fr. J.P. Comella FB 6-1 215 Fr. Scott Bradley LB 6-1 219 So. Dan Murphy OL 6-6 268 So. Adam Newman DL 6-5 250 Sr. Shaun Toof WR 5-11 173 Fr.
Eagle Scratches
- BC Coach Tom O'Brien announced that he has offered a full scholarship to walk-on defensive back Kevin Costello (5-9, 180, Topsfield, Mass.).
- Sandro Sciortino, a 5-10, 185-pound freshman placekicker from Markham, Ontario, has joined the team as a full scholarship player.
- BC Director of Athletics Gene DeFilippo has received a five-year extension of his contract, according to an announcement from University President William P. Leahy, SJ. DeFilippo has been in charge of intercollegiate athletics at BC since 1997. His new contract will extend through the 2004-05 academic year.
Geese Buster
The latest addition to the Eagles' roster is a 9-month-old English
Setter. BC purchased the pooch to perform a wild goose chase on its
football practice field (She Field), a favorite resting (and restroom)
spot for the geese who call the Chestnut Hill Reservoir area home. The
dog - who will be named in a contest on the BC Web site - has finished
preseason training (two-a-days) and has begun chasing the feathered
tailgaters from She Field.
