Gunnell Is Perfect Fit To Lead BC Into Bowl Season
December 10, 2019 | Football, #ForBoston Files
Maroon and gold runs through the blood of this BC legend.
A football team undergoing a coaching change endures an understandably awkward time period. An overarching vision rockets forward with intense velocity, but there's still a churning behind the scenes towards the end of the present tense. There's a strong appeal to talk about the future, but it comes with the risk of overlooking the present. It creates a delicate balance where executing an overall plan occasionally feels like it is in contrast with wanting to do right by those still here, operating through the remainder of this season.
Steering through those stormy waters is why the time period is awkward, but it's why the interim head coach is so important. The position requires a critical understanding and passion for both the university and the team because everyone still wants to win that last game. For Boston College, the athletics department had no problem finding a perfect candidate in Rich Gunnell, an Eagle assistant coach who embodies the statement, "Once an Eagle, Always an Eagle."
"He's incredibly talented," athletic director Martin Jarmond said of Gunnell. "I'm excited about Rich. He's an Eagle. He's played here. He understands (Boston College). He's the right person to lead our young men to go get a seventh win."
Gunnell is a legend within the Boston College football program because his four-year exploits remain part of program folklore. Statistically, he exploded onto the national scene in 2007 when his 64 catches and 931 yards pushed the Eagles to the top of the ACC's Atlantic Division, becoming Matt Ryan's most-trusted receiver as just a sophomore. He matched it two years later when he had 60 catches as a senior, and he scored seven touchdowns in both seasons. Over his career, he broke Pete Mitchell's longstanding career receiving yardage record, ensconcing him as one of BC's most prominent football players.
Off the field, Gunnell's impact reverberated for years. His 16-yard touchdown catch against Virginia Tech in 2007 helped the undefeated Eagles infamously rally from down 10-0 in a Thursday night game at Lane Stadium, a moment further ensconced by its degree of difficulty. Three weeks later, he helped BC rally from consecutive defeats by catching the game-winning touchdown in a wild fourth quarter against Clemson, and he caught two touchdown passes in the Eagles' victory over Michigan State in the Champs Sports Bowl.
It etched his name into the annals, but he went into another stratosphere two years later following a loss at Notre Dame. Gunnell was electric in the game, catching 10 passes for 179 yards and a touchdown as the Fighting Irish struggled to cover him. It ratcheted up the intensity of the game, and the rivalry spilled over into a postgame interview opportunity. Gunnell immediately poked a finger at Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen, and the two exchanged words. It was a rare moment in the Holy War rivalry when heightened passion spilled over into a defense of the helmet and logo.
"As a prideful, proud BC man, I'm just going to continue to preach what we're all about," Gunnell said. "That's toughness and faith and all those good things with high character guys. Moving forward, I'm just focused on winning this game. That's the most important thing to me right now, keeping these kids together."
In terms of coaching, Gunnell possesses mature experience for a young coach. He's less than 10 years removed from the end of his playing career, but transitioned to the sidelines with ease as a position coach at Tufts in 2011. He returned to BC for a first time in 2012 as a graduate assistant, moving on after obtaining his masters degree to become the head coach of Marian High School in Framingham, Massachusetts. In 2016, he returned to The Heights for a third time as Steve Addazio's receivers coach.
He quickly became an accomplished assistant, overseeing the development of Jeff Smith and Michael Walker into NFL-ready receivers. Both came to BC as high school quarterbacks without any receiving experience, but Gunnell helped convert both into speedy specialists. This past offseason, both signed as undrafted free agents - Smith with the New York Jets and Walker with the Jacksonville Jaguars. By midseason, one had been promoted to a starting role, with Walker returning punts in Duvall County and catching his first professional pass in Week 13 against Tampa Bay.
In the same breath, Gunnell oversaw the development of the receiving group as a multipurpose unit. Kobay White has 10 touchdown receptions over three seasons, just outside the BC record book listings, and Zay Flowers is a new, speedy weapon who exploded in the early part of the season. But the entire group is capable of playing out of the backfield or making blocks on running plays, a testament to the constant learning and tinkering by a coach.
"You want to continue to develop that talent moving forward," Gunnell said. "That's my job, to keep these guys together, keep them focused at the task at hand, and that's just to win this bowl game."
Gunnell is now trusted with providing a steady hand at a time of acceptable uncertainty. There are long-term, stated goals to break this program through a perceived glass ceiling, and discussion forums are all pointing at who will ultimately lead the Eagles into the future.
But the current roster is still trying to win its bowl game and exit the season with seven wins. It's a stated, dual-focus by the athletic director, and the singular, sole goal of the current roster and coaching staff. Changing a head coach always weighs a nod to the future, so it requires the right person to maintain balance because of a passion for the football program, its fans, its alumni and, most importantly, its university.
That's where Jarmond is placing full trust in Gunnell. Similar situations play out every season, and personalities steeped in university pride guide a team into a late-season surge or bowl game win. It's why Florida State, for example, turned to Odell Haggins, who ironically led the Seminoles to a win over BC in his first game as interim head coach. It's what Gunnell saw first-hand when defensive coordinator Frank Spaziani steered the Eagles to a Meineke Car Care Bowl (now Belk Bowl) win over Navy in 2006 after Tom O'Brien departed for NC State.
Boston College entered the Pittsburgh game with a mantra of using one more opportunity to gain one more opportunity. It was the last chance for the Eagles to earn a bowl game, which represented one more game together as a team. Winning that game earned two weeks' worth of development and one more chance to put on the pads in a team-based setting. For Gunnell, that's always been at the forefront of his mission as a Boston College man.
Steering through those stormy waters is why the time period is awkward, but it's why the interim head coach is so important. The position requires a critical understanding and passion for both the university and the team because everyone still wants to win that last game. For Boston College, the athletics department had no problem finding a perfect candidate in Rich Gunnell, an Eagle assistant coach who embodies the statement, "Once an Eagle, Always an Eagle."
"He's incredibly talented," athletic director Martin Jarmond said of Gunnell. "I'm excited about Rich. He's an Eagle. He's played here. He understands (Boston College). He's the right person to lead our young men to go get a seventh win."
Gunnell is a legend within the Boston College football program because his four-year exploits remain part of program folklore. Statistically, he exploded onto the national scene in 2007 when his 64 catches and 931 yards pushed the Eagles to the top of the ACC's Atlantic Division, becoming Matt Ryan's most-trusted receiver as just a sophomore. He matched it two years later when he had 60 catches as a senior, and he scored seven touchdowns in both seasons. Over his career, he broke Pete Mitchell's longstanding career receiving yardage record, ensconcing him as one of BC's most prominent football players.
Off the field, Gunnell's impact reverberated for years. His 16-yard touchdown catch against Virginia Tech in 2007 helped the undefeated Eagles infamously rally from down 10-0 in a Thursday night game at Lane Stadium, a moment further ensconced by its degree of difficulty. Three weeks later, he helped BC rally from consecutive defeats by catching the game-winning touchdown in a wild fourth quarter against Clemson, and he caught two touchdown passes in the Eagles' victory over Michigan State in the Champs Sports Bowl.
It etched his name into the annals, but he went into another stratosphere two years later following a loss at Notre Dame. Gunnell was electric in the game, catching 10 passes for 179 yards and a touchdown as the Fighting Irish struggled to cover him. It ratcheted up the intensity of the game, and the rivalry spilled over into a postgame interview opportunity. Gunnell immediately poked a finger at Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen, and the two exchanged words. It was a rare moment in the Holy War rivalry when heightened passion spilled over into a defense of the helmet and logo.
"As a prideful, proud BC man, I'm just going to continue to preach what we're all about," Gunnell said. "That's toughness and faith and all those good things with high character guys. Moving forward, I'm just focused on winning this game. That's the most important thing to me right now, keeping these kids together."
In terms of coaching, Gunnell possesses mature experience for a young coach. He's less than 10 years removed from the end of his playing career, but transitioned to the sidelines with ease as a position coach at Tufts in 2011. He returned to BC for a first time in 2012 as a graduate assistant, moving on after obtaining his masters degree to become the head coach of Marian High School in Framingham, Massachusetts. In 2016, he returned to The Heights for a third time as Steve Addazio's receivers coach.
He quickly became an accomplished assistant, overseeing the development of Jeff Smith and Michael Walker into NFL-ready receivers. Both came to BC as high school quarterbacks without any receiving experience, but Gunnell helped convert both into speedy specialists. This past offseason, both signed as undrafted free agents - Smith with the New York Jets and Walker with the Jacksonville Jaguars. By midseason, one had been promoted to a starting role, with Walker returning punts in Duvall County and catching his first professional pass in Week 13 against Tampa Bay.
In the same breath, Gunnell oversaw the development of the receiving group as a multipurpose unit. Kobay White has 10 touchdown receptions over three seasons, just outside the BC record book listings, and Zay Flowers is a new, speedy weapon who exploded in the early part of the season. But the entire group is capable of playing out of the backfield or making blocks on running plays, a testament to the constant learning and tinkering by a coach.
"You want to continue to develop that talent moving forward," Gunnell said. "That's my job, to keep these guys together, keep them focused at the task at hand, and that's just to win this bowl game."
Gunnell is now trusted with providing a steady hand at a time of acceptable uncertainty. There are long-term, stated goals to break this program through a perceived glass ceiling, and discussion forums are all pointing at who will ultimately lead the Eagles into the future.
But the current roster is still trying to win its bowl game and exit the season with seven wins. It's a stated, dual-focus by the athletic director, and the singular, sole goal of the current roster and coaching staff. Changing a head coach always weighs a nod to the future, so it requires the right person to maintain balance because of a passion for the football program, its fans, its alumni and, most importantly, its university.
That's where Jarmond is placing full trust in Gunnell. Similar situations play out every season, and personalities steeped in university pride guide a team into a late-season surge or bowl game win. It's why Florida State, for example, turned to Odell Haggins, who ironically led the Seminoles to a win over BC in his first game as interim head coach. It's what Gunnell saw first-hand when defensive coordinator Frank Spaziani steered the Eagles to a Meineke Car Care Bowl (now Belk Bowl) win over Navy in 2006 after Tom O'Brien departed for NC State.
Boston College entered the Pittsburgh game with a mantra of using one more opportunity to gain one more opportunity. It was the last chance for the Eagles to earn a bowl game, which represented one more game together as a team. Winning that game earned two weeks' worth of development and one more chance to put on the pads in a team-based setting. For Gunnell, that's always been at the forefront of his mission as a Boston College man.
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