Boston College Athletics
Football Hosts 76th Annual Scanlan Banquet
December 15, 2014 | Football
Chestnut Hill, Mass. - The Boston College football team celebrated the end of the 2014 regular season with the senior awards banquet on Sunday afternoon in BC's iconic Gasson Hall. Senior captain Josh Bordner was awarded the Scanlan Award, Boston College's highest football honor given to the senior who best embodies the ideals of Tom Scanlan, class of 1920. All 22 of Boston College's seniors were honored at the banquet.
A courageous and inspiring fullback who played both offense and defense for the Eagle teams of 1916, 1917, and 1919, forgoing the 1918 season for military service in World War I, Thomas F. Scanlan was a popular student-athlete and beloved alumnus, who was elected Varsity Club President for five years in a row (1942-1946). He was inducted into the Boston College Varsity Club Athletic Hall of Fame in 1972.
Bordner made the switch from quarterback to receiver for the 2014 season and led the Eagles with 342 receiving yards and 28.5 yards per game this fall. In his first game of the season against Massachusetts in Gillette Stadium, he caught four passes for 81 yards and scored a 43-yard touchdown to start his career at receiver. His three receiving touchdowns are tied for most on the team. In his acceptance speech, Bordner spoke of his time as the backup quarterback, deciding whether to return to The Heights for his final year of eligibility, finding a role to help the team and one of the greatest honors: being voted captain by his peers.
Graduate quarterback Tyler Murphy earned the William J. Flynn award as the team's most valuable player for his record-setting 2014 season. While breaking the ACC's single-season record for rushing yards by a quarterback (1,079), Murphy also surpassed Doug Flutie for career rushing yards by a BC quarterback. He is second in the nation for rushing yards by a quarterback and third in the Atlantic Coast Conference, only topped by two running backs.
Graduate defensive end and Dominique Williams was awarded the Jay McGillis Scholarship Award, given to a defensive back that best exemplifies the personal qualities of team dedication and leadership by example, an extraordinary competitive spirit, and personal concern for family, friends and teammates. Williams, also a captain, started all 12 regular-season games and is fifth on the defense with 55 tackles.
Senior defensive lineman Brian Mihalik and graduate offensive lineman Seth Betancourt received the Coaches' Award, decided upon by head coach Steve Addazio and his staff, while graduate offensive lineman Bobby Vardaro earned the Gridiron Club Award as the student-athlete who displays the determination, enthusiasm, and spirit expected from a Boston College football player.
Graduate center Andy Gallik, a Rimington Trophy finalist and All-ACC honoree, was awarded the Paul Cavanaugh Award given to the player who's collective on and off the field accomplishments speaks volumes about his commitment to balance, a level-headed outlook on life, and perspective on volunteerism, ethics and the community.
Graduate tight end Jarrett Darmstatter, who played in all 12 regular-season games, earned the Unsung Hero Award.
Senior defensive back Manuel Asprilla, who started every game of the 2014 season at corner back, earned All-New England honors and leads the Eagles with nine pass breakups, earned the Perseverance Award. He was voted the league's Defensive Back of the Week after recording 10 tackles in the win at Virginia Tech to make the Eagles bowl eligible.
Senior linebacker Josh Keyes received the Big Play Award for his efforts defensively. Keyes, an All-New England honoree, earned All-ACC third-team honors by the league's voting media and was named ACC Linebacker of the Week twice in 2014. He leads the Eagles with 11.5 tackles for a loss of 53 yards and four sacks for a loss of 34 yards.
Senior linebacker Sean Duggan, another BC captain, shared time at middle linebacker in 2014 and battled through injuries to play 10 regular-season games, was given the Loyalty Award.
Boston College finished the regular season with a 7-5 record, including a 4-4 mark in conference play, and will face Big Ten representative Penn State (6-6, 2-6 Big Ten) in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl on Saturday, December 27 at 4:30 p.m. at Yankee Stadium in New York City.
Overall, this will be the Eagles' 24th appearance in a bowl game. BC is 13-10 (.565) in the postseason, which is the fourth-best winning percentage among all Atlantic Coast Conference teams. Florida State leads the way with a 25-14 (.615) record.
The game will be televised on ESPN and ESPN Radio. The Boston College IMG Sports Radio Network will also carry the game.
