Boston College Athletics
Football Prepares for Central Michigan
September 26, 2002 | Football
Sept. 26, 2002
The Boston College football team will wrap up a week of practice Friday afternoon in preparation for Saturday's Parents' Weekend matchup against the Central Michigan Chippewas. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:05 p.m. in Alumni Stadium.
The Eagles are coming off a 38-6 loss to top-ranked Miami in the Orange Bowl last Saturday night. The Chippewas also began the season 3-0 and lost their first game this past Saturday, 39-29 to Indiana, in a game they led 29-16 early in the third period. BC's defense will face a unit averaging more than 472 yards per game; Central Michigan ranks eighth in the nation in total offense.
"We understand the challenge ahead of us," BC Coach Tom O'Brien says. "Central Michigan has won a lot of football games. They've had an excellent program throughout the years. Their offense is among the top 10 in the nation. But I have been pleased with the way our team responded after the Miami game and the way we've practiced this week."
Exercising excellent ball control, the Eagles held Miami scoreless in the first quarter of last Saturday's game and took a 3-0 lead early in the second quarter - the first time Miami had trailed at home since 2000. The Eagle defense held a Miami team that had been averaging 28.7 points in the first half to 10 points at the break, seven of those coming from a Willis McGahee touchdown with :28 remaining in the half. Prior to McGahee's touchdown, Miami had not scored an offensive touchdown against the Eagles for six straight quarters, dating back to the third quarter of the Nov. 25, 2000 game.
The Eagles trailed only 17-6 and were driving as they headed into the fourth quarter, but the drive came up empty. Miami's Ken Dorsey and McGahee connected on a 77-yard pass play three plays later that set up a Miami score. The 'Canes then capitalized on two late BC turnovers to send the game to the final 38-6 score.
Central Michigan is also a team coming off a tough loss. The Chippewas held a 26-16 lead over Indiana at the half and had the ball on the Hoosier nine with a 29-16 lead in the third period before fumbling. Indiana then scored 23 unanswered points to take the win.
"You're going to have two football teams trying to regroup," CMU coach Mike DeBord says. "Which one does the best job will be the key."
Ledbetter quits; Brokaw suspended
O'Brien announced Thursday afternoon that he has suspended sophomore running back Brandon Brokaw for one game for violation of an unspecified team rule and that senior linebacker Jerome Ledbetter has quit the team.
Brokaw carried the ball five times vs. Connecticut and Stanford and had his best game of the year vs. Miami in the Orange Bowl, carrying the ball 13 times for 50 yards.
Ledbetter had been listed in a number two slot at linebacker behind Josh Ott. He missed the Connecticut game due to injury and had two tackles this past week against Miami. He will be replaced on the Eagle depth chart by redshirt freshman Jon Misiewicz.
