Boston College Athletics
O'Brien: Great Opportunity For Our Football Program
October 08, 2002 | Football
Oct. 8, 2002
The Boston College football team will take on the fourth-ranked Virginia Tech Hokies at 7:45 p.m. Thursday in a nationally televised (ESPN) game at Alumni Stadium. A limited number of tickets remain available at the BC Ticket Office or by calling 617-552-GoBC.
BC coach Tom O'Brien took a few moments to comment on the game and answer media questions. A few excerpts:
TOB: "We're excited that we get a Thursday night game here in Chestnut Hill. It's great that Virginia Tech's coming to town. It's exciting for our football team. We look forward to Thursday night's battle."
Q: What type of atmosphere do you expect this upcoming week?
TOB: "I hope it's going to be a great atmosphere for college football. It's an opportunity for our fans and for our students to showcase what a great fan base we have here. Boston is a great sports town, and it's an opportunity for us to put our best foot forward. We expect our football team to rise to the occasion also."
Q: Your team has won 17 of its last 20 home games. Can you talk about what a victory in this game would mean in terms of establishing that home game advantage?
TOB: "We want to be one of the top teams in our conference, and in order to get there, you have to beat a Virginia Tech or a Miami. It would be a great step for our program if we could do it. Every time we go to Blacksburg, there's a sellout crowd, the people are so fanatical you can't hear yourself think, it's a great college atmosphere. The same thing happened when we were in the Orange Bowl. It's a great atmosphere to have in a home stadium, and we're hoping our program can rise to the level of the Virginia Techs and Miamis of the world."
Q: What are the strengths of Virginia Tech?
TOB: "It's the same Virginia Tech team you play every year. The names and numbers and faces may change, but it's the same football team. They play tremendous special teams, they play great defense, and they get the ball back for their offense. They're very sound on offense and they score points."
Q: What are you looking for out of your special teams vs. Virginia Tech?
TOB: "I think our punt protection has been fine. We have the same snapper and kicker back again, and it's been a good operation so far. That has not been a problem for us this year. The biggest problem we've had in special teams has been catching the ball in kickoff and punt return situations, so hopefully we have that ironed out."
Q: What do the Thursday night games mean to a program?
TOB: "I think they're great because it's the one night of college football that you're the only game on television. Anybody who wants to watch college football will be able to take a look at our program, and take a look at Virginia Tech's. We don't exactly starve for media attention here, but it's nice to be able to be on TV in a national setting like that."
Q: Why is Virginia Tech such a strong program?
TOB: "They play such great team football. They are the best in the country at playing team football, in that their offense, their defense and their special teams all mesh well. I don't think anybody has done a better coaching job in this country than Frank Beamer and his staff the last five to seven years."
Q: When you took this job, was it your intention to pattern your program after Virginia Tech's in some way?
TOB: "I think after Virginia Tech's and Virginia's (programs), yes, because I was part of that for such a long time. I watched when I was part of George Welsh's program at Virginia, and I've been a great admirer of what Frank Beamer has done at Virginia Tech."
Q: Frank Beamer has one of the best records in college football over the last decade. Does it seem to you he is overlooked or underrated?
TOB: " I don't think so, not in the coaching profession. We all want to be judged by our peers, and I think if you asked any football coach to name the top five coaches in the country, his name would be among the top two or three on the list."
Q: Some coaches have indicated this Virginia Tech defense appears faster than previous editions. Have you picked that up?
TOB: "Yes, they seem to have another gear, they're playing a little bit like Miami does, where all of a sudden they can turn it up a notch."
Q: Can you talk a little about the personnel involved in their running game?
TOB: "Suggs is a great runner, with breakaway speed. Jones is a very shifty runner with breakaway speed. It's nice to know that, whatever tailback is in there, you don't have to change anything you do with your offense. You have two guys who are probably equal as starters. I don't think they look at one as the starter and one as the backups. They're co-tailbacks, and they do a great job."
Q: What have you seen in (Virginia Tech quarterback Bryan) Randall?
TOB: "What's impressive is that he has gotten better each and every week. It seems that they have done more in their passing game each week to help with their running game. He's very dangerous when he gets on the perimeter, whether it's in the option or the play-action pass, because he can pull it down and run with it. He gives them another running back, and that's always dangerous."
Q: Since leaving Virginia to go to BC, have you been surprised at the success Virginia Tech has had?
TOB: "No, because I think they have made a commitment to be a top-level football program. Each time you go down there you see new facilities being built, whether it's a weight room, or meeting rooms, or a stadium expansion. They've made the commitment to play at the highest level. They have a great coach and a great coaching staff. So it hasn't surprised me in the least."
