Boston College Athletics
BC Football Hosts No. 4 Virginia Tech On CBS
September 25, 2000 | Football
Sept. 25, 2000
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Boston College (2-1) vs. No. 4/4 Virginia Tech (3-0)
Date: Saturday, September 30, 2000
Time: 3:30 p.m. EDT
Site (Capacity): Alumni Stadium, Chestnut Hill, Mass. (44,500)
Television: CBS regional game (split national feed along with Florida vs. Mississippi State, exact regional breakdown TBA) -- (Verne Lundquist, play-by-play, Todd Blackledge, color, Jill Arrington, sideline), locally on WBZ-TV.
Radio: Boston College Football Radio Network (John Rooke, play-by- play, Peter Cronan, color) -- local coverage in Boston on WRKO-680 AM and internet broadcast on www.bceagles.com, Boston College student radio station WZBC-90.3 FM also provides coverage
THE GAME
Boston College returns to the BIG EAST portion of its schedule this week as it plays host to Virginia Tech in a CBS-televised game at Alumni Stadium. The Eagles sport at 2-1 record coming into the game with wins over Army (55-17 on Sept. 9) and last week vs. Navy (48-7) in the home opener. The Eagles began the season with a 34-14 BIG EAST loss at West Virginia.
Virginia Tech enters the game ranked fourth in the country in both the latest Associated Press and CNN/ESPN polls and is 3-0 on the season (1-0 BIG EAST) with wins over Akron (52-23), at East Carolina (45-28) and Rutgers (49-0). The Hokies were idle last week.
Senior quarterback Tim Hasselbeck (Norfolk, Mass.) is one of three captains for the Eagles this year and is 48 of 74 in the air this year for 730 yards, six touchdowns and four interceptions. Last week against Navy, Hasselbeck threw for a career-high 355 yards on a 20-for-28 effort with two TD passes.
Senior tailback Cedric Washington (Holyoke, Mass.) is the leading rusher with 52 carries for 238 yards and two touchdowns and has rushed for 100 yards of more in seven career games, including the last two. Sophomore running back William Green (Atlantic City, N.J.) is the second-leading rusher with 175 yards on 39 carries with four touchdowns. Junior wide receiver Dedrick Dewalt (Chicago, Ill.) has 11 receptions for 261 yards and four touchdowns -- two each vs. Army and Navy.
Virginia Tech has outscored its opponents this year by a 146-51 margin and has 888 yards of rushing offense, compared to their opponents 306. Quarterback Michael Vick is 26-for-44 in the air for 412 yards and four touchdowns and has rushed the ball 25 times for 219 yards and four touchdowns. Running back Lee Suggs is the top rusher on the team with 41 carries for 288 yards and seven TDs while wide receiver Andre Davis leads the way with nine receptions for 116 yards and one TD.
HEAD COACH TOM O'BRIEN
Boston College head coach Tom O'Brien (Navy '71) enters his fourth season in charge of the Eagle program and has an overall record of 18-19 at the school. Last year, Boston College posted an 8-4 mark and played in the Insight.com bowl - the first postseason appearance for the Eagles since the 1994 season.
The Eagles were the third-most improved team in NCAA Division I-A football last season.
O'Brien came to Boston College after spending 15 years as an assistant coach at Virginia - the final six as offensive coordinator.
THE SERIES
The game will mark the eighth meeting between Boston College and Virginia Tech and the Hokies lead the series by a 5-2 count with all the contests being played since 1993. Boston College won in 1993 and 1995, but Virginia Tech has won the past four meetings in the series, outscoring the Eagles by a 117-28 margin in those contests, including a 17-0 shutout in Alumni Stadium in `98. Boston College head coach Tom O'Brien is 0-3 as a head coach vs. Virginia Tech.
Last year, Virginia Tech scored 24 unanswered points in the first half enroute to a 38-14 win over the Eagles on Nov. 26, 1999, in Blacksburg. The Eagles did receive 105 rushing yards on 16 carries from running back Cedric Washington, but Michael Vick rushed for 74 yards and one TD and passed for 290 yards and three TDs for the win.
AGAINST RANKED TEAMS
The last time Boston College beat a ranked team in the Associated Press poll was on Sept. 7, 1995, a 20-14 win over Virginia Tech, which was ranked 20th in the country at the time. Since that game, the Eagles have lost 16-straight games to opponents ranked in the top 25.
VIRGINIA TECH CONNECTIONS
There are three players on the Boston College roster from the state of Virginia -- Robert Bennett (Fairfax), Kevin Kiley (Fairfax Station) and J.D. Schmidt (McClean).
Before coming to Boston College as head coach, Tom O'Brien annually faced Virginia Tech as O'Brien served as an assistant coach at Virginia from 1982-96. In that time, Virginia had a 7-8 record against the Hokies.
In addition to O'Brien the following Boston College assistants also coached at Virginia and faced Virginia Tech each year: Jerry Petercuskie, Don Horton, Bob Shoop and Frank Spaziani.
INJURY REPORT
OUT - LB Scott Bradley, medial collateral ligament sprain in left knee versus Navy, LB Ryan Burch, medial collateral ligament sprain in right knee versus Navy.
QUESTIONABLE - LB Jerome Ledbetter, torn lateral meniscus in right knee with focal articular cartilage damage (had arthroscopic surgery), DL Antonio Garay, left knee medial collateral ligament sprain versus West Virginia.
RECAPPING ARMY AND NAVY
The 55-17 win by Boston College over Army on Sept. 9 marked a number of milestones for the Eagles:
EXPERIENCED ON "O", YOUNG ON "D"
The Eagle offensive starting unit against West Virginia in the season-opener was an experienced one as it consisted of seven seniors, two juniors and two sophomores. These 11 players combined for 65 starting nods during the 1999 regular season among five players, including four who started all 11 games -- senior tackle Michael Cook (Walpole, Mass), senior guard Paul LaQuerre (West Barnstable, Mass.), senior offensive guard Paul Zukauskas (Weymouth, Mass) and Washington.
Conversely on defense, the Eagles had just three senior starters on defense, along with four juniors, three sophomores and a redshirt freshman. The defense had 42 starts from last year returning with three 11-game starters -- junior linebacker Scott Bradley (Hanover, Mass.), senior free safety RaMon Johnson (Warrensville Heights, Ohio) and junior cornerback Jonathan Ordway (Seffner, Fla.).
EAGLES AND BIG EAST LEADERS
Here's where the Boston College team and individual players stand in BIG EAST statistics this week:
Team:
Pass Offense: 1st at 292.0 yards per game
Total Offense: 1st at 472.7 yards per game
Pass Defense: 1st at 156.7 yards per game
Punting: 1st at 38.2 yards per punt
Opp. Third Down Conversions: 1st at 20.8 (10 of 48)
Passing Efficiency: 2nd at 153.8 rating points
Passing Defense Efficiency: 2nd at 153.8 rating points
Third Down Conversions: 2nd at 48.8 (20 of 41)
First Downs: 3rd at 72
Scoring Offense: 3rd at 39.0 points per game
Kickoff Returns: 3rd at 24.8 yards per return
Opponent First Downs: 4th at 56
Total Defense: 4th at 310.7 yards per game
Rushing Offense: 5th at 180.7 yards per game
Individual:
Cedric Washington: 6th in rushing at 79.3 yards per game
William Green: 9th in rushing at 58.5 yards per game
3rd in kickoff returns at 27.3 yards per return
4th in all-purpose yards at 119.3 yards per game
Tim Hasselbeck: 2nd in passing yards per game at 243.3 ypg
5th in passing efficiency at 155.3 rating points
1st in total offense at 261.0 yards per game
Dedrick Dewalt: 3rd in receiving yards per game at 87.0
6th in all-purpose yards at 107.7 yards per game
Kevin McMyler: 4th in punting at 38.9 yards per punt
Mike Sutphin: Tied for 4th in scoring at 8.7 points per game
Tim Hasselbeck's 362 yards of total offense vs. Navy is the most by a BIG EAST player this year while his 355 passing yards vs. the Mids is also the most.
EAGLES AND NATIONAL LEADERS
Here's where the Boston College team and individual players stand in the NCAA statistics this week:
Team:
Rushing Offense: 33rd at 180.67 yards per game
Passing Offense: 12th at 292.00 yards per game
Total Offense: 8th at 472.67 yards per game
Scoring Offense: 10th at 39.00 points per game
Rushing Defense: 66th at 154.00 yards per game
Pass Efficiency Defense: 15th at 155.67 rating points
Total Defense: 36th at 310.67 yards per game
Scoring Defense: 45th at 19.33 yards per game
Net Punting: 24th at 38.20 yards per punt
Punt Returns: 60th at 9.13 yards per return
Individual:
Cedric Washington: 44th in rushing at 79.33 yards per game
Tim Hasselbeck: 6th in passing efficiency at 155.28 rating points 16th in total offense at 261.00 yards per game
Dedrick Dewalt: 25th in receiving yards per game at 87.00
Williams Green: 15th in kickoff returns at 27.33 yards per return
IN THE RED ZONE
Here's a look at what the Boston College football team and its opponents have done this year in the red zone (20-yard line and in).
| Game | BC | Opp. | |
| West Virginia | 2 (2 TDs) | 5 (2 TDs, 2 FG, 1 FGM) | |
| Army | 6 (4 TDs, 2 FG) | 3 (2 TDs, 1 FG) | |
| Navy | 7 (4 TDs, 1 FG, 1 int., 1 loss on downs) | 1 (1 TD) | |
| BC | Opp. | ||
| 15 | Times In Red Zone | 9 | |
| 13 | Time Scored | 8 | |
| 86.7% | Scoring Percentage | 88.9% | |
| 10 | Touchdowns Scored | 5 | |
| 66.7% | Touchdown Percentage | 55.6% |
CAPTAINS ANNOUNCED
The Boston College football team elected Hasselbeck, Johnson and senior offensive lineman Paul Zukauskas (Weymouth, Mass.) as team captains for the 2000 season.
Hasselbeck completed 145 of 160 pass attempts last season for 1,940 yards and 11 touchdowns. Johnson played in all 12 games last season, starting 11 of them, and made 59 tackles -- 41 unassisted -- with three sacks. Zukauskas has started every game for Boston College over the past two seasons.
WASHINGTON ON WALKER WATCH LIST
Washington is one of 35 candidates for the 2000 Doak Walker Award presented by Vectrix. The award is given annually to the nation's top college running back by the Southwestern Bell-SMU Athletic Forum in Dallas.
Washington was a first team all-BIG EAST selection last year as he rushed for 1,122 yards on 222 carries for seven touchdowns. He became just the 13th player in Boston College history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season.
The Southwestern Bell Athletic Forum Board of Directors will select eight semifinalists on November 8, and the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee will vote on the winner in late November. The National Selection Committee consists of former all-pro and All-America running backs, media members and selected special representatives.
The winner will be announced live on ESPN's College Football Awards Show Thursday, Dec. 7. The presentation banquet will be January 31, 2001, at the Fairmont Hotel in Dallas.
Last season, former Wisconsin running back Ron Dayne won the award after becoming the NCAA's career rushing leader with 6,397 yards.
Washington joins an impressive list of candidates from around the country including Maryland senior LaMont Jones, the nation's leading returning rusher with 3,227 career yards, TCU senior LaDainian Tomlinson, who was tops among Division I-A runners in 1999 with 1,850 yards and Texas senior Hodges Mitchell, a 1999 Doak Walker Award finalist.
Other candidates from schools on the 2000 BC schedule are: Tony Fisher of Notre Dame and James Jackson of Miami.
McMYLER ON GUY WATCH LIST
Boston College sophomore punter Kevin McMyler (Dallas, Texas) is one of 32 punters on the first Ray Guy Award watch list as announced last Tuesday by the Greater Augusta Sports Council. Last season as a freshman, McMyler averaged 37.2 yards per punt, including a career-long 61-yard punt in his collegiate debut against Baylor.
The Ray Guy Award will be awarded to the Nation's best punter as determined by a committee made up of sports writers, college football coaches, former punters and members designated by the Greater Augusta Sports Council. The winner will display leadership, self-discipline, and have a significant positive impact on the team's success.
The National Selection Committee will choose the 10 semifinalists who will be announced by November 8, 2000. That same national body will then vote for the three finalists who will be announced November 30, 2000.
The award is named after the greatest punter of all time, Ray Guy who attended Southern Mississippi and then was drafted in the first round by the Oakland Raiders. Guy was an integral part of the Raider's successful years between 1973-1986.
The Greater Augusta Sports Council will present the Ray Guy Award in December at a combined awards dinner with the Greater Augusta Medal For Excellence in Sports Awards for high school students in the Augusta metro area.
BOSTON COLLEGE IN THE POLLS
Boston College was in the "also receiving votes" category in the 2000 preseason Associated Press poll with three points, which was released on Aug. 5. 2000. Eagle opponents in the poll were Virginia Tech (No. 11), Syracuse (also receiving votes) and Notre Dame (also receiving votes).
In the preseason USA Today/ESPN coaches poll, which was released on August 10, Boston College also received three votes. Virginia Tech was ranked 10th while Syracuse and Notre Dame also received votes.
Boston College also received votes in the first weekly edition of both polls, which were released on Aug. 29.
EAGLES TABBED FOURTH IN BIG EAST
Boston College was picked fourth in the official BIG EAST Conference preseason poll - a selection voted upon by media representatives who cover the league on a regular basis. Boston College finished fourth with 109 points while Miami was first (183 points with 15 first place votes) followed by Virginia Tech (177 points with nine first place votes) Syracuse (134 points). Following the Eagles were Pittsburgh (100 points), West Virginia (85 points), Temple (48 points) and Rutgers (28 points).
BC AND PRESEASON PICKS
The Boston College football team and individual performers have been mentioned in several preseason publications this year:
Team: 29th in country by The Sporting News (Third in the BIG EAST)
QB Tim Hasselbeck:
15th in country among quarterbacks by The Sporting News
Preseason all-BIG EAST second team by The Sporting News
TB Cedric Washington:
10th in country among running backs by The Sporting News
Preseason honorable mention All-America by Street & Smith's/Walter Camp
Preseason all-BIG EAST first team by The Sporting News
Preseason all-BIG EAST first team by Street and Smith's
G Paul Zukauskas:
16th in country among guards by The Sporting News
Preseason honorable mention All-America by Street & Smith's/Walter Camp
Preseason all-BIG EAST first team by The Sporting News
Preseason all-BIG EAST first team by Street and Smith's
DT Antonio Garay:
Preseason all-BIG EAST first team by The Sporting News
Preseason all-BIG EAST first team by Street and Smith's
BC Offensive Backfield:
10th in country by The Sporting News
DE Sean Guthrie:
Preseason all-BIG EAST second team by The Sporting News
CB Jonathan Ordway:
Preseason all-BIG EAST second team by The Sporting News
ALL 11 GAMES ON TELEVISION
Boston College will be one of the most televised teams in the country this season as all 11 games will be available on television. Here's an updated look at the 2000 Eagle schedule with television plans. Note that two game times are not set definitely and will depend on the television origination.
| Date | Opponent> | Time/Result | Television |
| Sept. 2 | * at West Virginia | L, 14-34 | ESPN |
| Sept. 9 | at Army | W, 55-17 | Fox Sports Net |
| Sept. 23 | NAVY | W, 48-7 | ESPN Regional |
| Sept. 30 | * VIRGINIA TECH | 3:30 p.m. EDT | CBS |
| Oct. 7 | CONNECTICUT | 12:00 p.m. EDT | NESN |
| Oct. 14 | * SYRACUSE | 12:00 p.m. EDT | ESPN Regional |
| Oct. 21 | * at Pittsburgh | 12:00 p.m. EDT | ESPN Regional |
| Oct. 28 | * RUTGERS | 12:00 p.m. EDT | ESPN Regional |
| Nov. 4 | * TEMPLE | 12:00 p.m. EST | ESPN Regional |
| Nov. 11 | at Notre Dame | 3:30 p.m. EST | NBC |
| Nov. 24 | * at Miami | 3:30 p.m. EST/7:30 p.m. EST | CBS/ESPN |
EAGLE OPPONENTS
Here's a look at how BC's 2000 opponents have faired this year:
| Opp. | Last Week | This Week | Overall |
| West Virginia | L 47-10, Miami (Fla.) | at Temple (9/28) | 2-1 |
| Army | L 26-16, Memphis | Off | 0-4 |
| Navy | L 7-48, Boston College | vs. TCU | 0-3 |
| Virginia Tech | Off | at Boston College | 3-0 |
| Connecticut | L 27-35, Northeastern | at Louisville | 2-2 |
| Syracuse | L 17-34, East Carolina | vs. BYU | 1-2 |
| Pittsburgh | W 29-17, Rutgers | Off | 4-0 |
| Rutgers | L 17-29, Pittsburgh | vs. Miami | 2-2 |
| Temple | W 49-40, Eastern Michigan | vs. WVU (9/28) | 3-1 |
| Notre Dame | L 21-27, Michigan State | vs. Stanford | 2-2 |
| Miami (Fla.) | W 47-10, West Virginia | at Rutgers | 2-1 |
Overall record of Boston College opponents (not including games vs. BC): 20-16
EAGLES IN THE NFL A total of 19 former Boston College football players were listed on active National Football League rosters for the opening weekend of the NFL season. They are:
| Doug Flutie | QB | Buffalo Bills |
| Daryl Porter | DB | Buffalo Bills |
| Tim Morabito | DL | Carolina Panthers |
| Stalin Colinet | DL | Cleveland Browns |
| Tom Nalen | OL | Denver Broncos |
| Bill Romanowski | LB | Denver Broncos |
| Stephen Boyd | LB | Detroit Lions |
| Matt Hasselbeck | QB | Green Bay Packers |
| Darnell Alford | OL | Kansas City Chiefs |
| Mike Cloud | RB | Kansas City Chiefs |
| Chris Hovan | DL | Minnesota Vikings |
| Damien Woody | C | New England Patriots |
| Pete Mitchell | TE | New York Giants |
| Ron Stone | OL | New York Giants |
| Doug Brzezinski | OL | Philadelphia Eagles |
| Mike Mamula | DL | Philadelphia Eagles |
| Chris Sullivan | DL | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| Pete Kendall | OL | Seattle Seahawks |
| Frank Chamberlin | LB | Tennessee Titans |
The 19 Eagles on opening day rosters ranks Boston College 25th in the country along with Stanford and LSU. Florida State leads the way with 38. The Eagles' 19 players are second in the BIG EAST to Miami with 34.
BOSTON COLLEGE ON THE RADIO
Once again this season, Boston College games will be broadcast on two of Boston's most powerful radio stations - WEEI-850 AM or WRKO-680 AM (depending on conflicts with Boston Red Sox games). John Rooke returns for his second season as the play-by-play announcer while former Boston College All-American lineman Peter Cronan provides color.
Others stations on the Boston College radio network are: WHYN-560 AM in Springfield, Mass., WSAR-1480 AM in Fall River/New Bedford, Mass., WTAG-580 AM in Worcester, Mass., WGIR-610 AM in Manchester, N.H., WTMN-1380 AM in Portsmouth, N.H., WLPZ-1440 AM in Portland, Maine, WNRI-1380 AM in Woonsocket, R.I.
EAGLES HAVE NEW LOGOS
The new millennium has brought a new look at Boston College athletics. A new series of Boston College logos were unveiled at a media and corporate partner event on July 26 and was the conclusion of a 24-month process. A study and a logo redesign for the athletic department will broaden the base of athletics-related design concepts and bring all Boston College athletic teams under the umbrella of one branded look and feel. A color match for maroon and gold has been carefully researched and gives BC teams the opportunity to put a consistent look on its 34 varsity sports.
FIVE EAGLES NAMED TO BIG EAST ANNIVERSARY TEAM
Five former Boston College football players were named to the BIG EAST Conference 10th Anniversary team. Named to the squad from Boston College were offensive lineman Doug Brzezinski (1995-98), offensive lineman Pete Kendall (1992-95), tight end Pete Mitchell (1991-94), defensive lineman Chris Hovan (1996-99) and defensive lineman Mike Mamula (1993-94).
The five selections from Boston College were tied for second among league schools behind Miami with seven. West Virginia and Syracuse also had five each while Virginia Tech had four and Pittsburgh three.
Brzezinski was an anchor on the Boston College offensive line for four seasons as he started 46-straight games in his career. He earned first team all-BIG EAST in both his senior and junior years. He was a first team all-East pick after his senior year.
Kendall was a four-year starter for the Eagles on the offensive line and earned all-BIG EAST honors twice on the first team - in 1994 as a tackle and in 1995 as a guard. He was a two-time all-East pick.
Hovan was named first team all-BIG EAST for three consecutive years at Boston College and was a first team All-America pick in 1999 by the American Football Coaches Association and second team by the Football Writers Association of America. He made a total of 245 tackles in his career and registered 20.5 sacks.
Mitchell earned all-BIG EAST first team honors as a tight end in his junior and senior seasons. He led Boston College in receptions for three seasons with 40 in 1992, 66 in 1993 and 55 in 1994. He was a consensus first team All-America pick in 1994.
Mamula registered 13 sacks for Boston College in his final year of 1994 and was fourth on the team in tackles with 73. He was a first team all-BIG EAST pick in 1994.
BOSTON COLLEGE ON THE WEB
For information on all 34 of Boston College's athletic teams, please go to the internet at www.bceagles.com. This site underwent a redesign this past summer in conjunction with the logo redesign.
