Boston College Football Countdown: 91 Days to Go
By Joe Micik
Today, the Soaring to Glory world headquarters relocates to Boston — which means breaking BC sports news will not be appreciated in any way today, so if you’re thinking of committing or transferring or whatever, wait until tomorrow.
Now that that’s out of the way, we have 91 days left until the start of the Boston College football season, or exactly 13 weeks. Today may be New STG Headquarters Day, but it’s also Kasim Edebali Day, as he wears the number of the day.
Who Wears 91 Now
Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Kasim Edebali, DE, senior
Edebali has been a mainstay on the Boston College defense for the last several years, becoming one of the more reliable faces therein. In 2012, Edebali started in each of his eleven appearances and was fifth on the team with 59 tackles. He led the team with 7.5 tackles for a loss, was second on the defense with 1.5 sacks, broke up four passes, forced a fumble, and recovered a fumble.
Despite the largely anti-sack posture of the previous defensive scheme, Edebali, the starting right end, has showed that he can stop offensive players for a loss and come up with some big plays. Being a veteran on a defensive line that had a tough 2012, the Eagles will need his aggressiveness and his leadership if they want to improve.
Notables Who Wore 91
• Michael Hemmert, TE/FB, 1995-98. Moved to fullback by TOB.
• Dan Kerr, LB, 1991-93. Starter on excellent ’93 Eagles.
• Todd McKniff, DL/C, 1999-2001. Lineman who was partial to sleeping.
• Bill Ohrenberger, DL, 1975-78. Defensive line starter during the heady days of Ed Chlebek.
A New Day in ’91
1991 was the first time in over a decade that Jack Bicknell was not patrolling the Boston College sidelines. Cowboy Jack’s time on the Heights had gotten stale and a new face came in to run the show: Tom Coughlin. ’91 was a rough rebuilding year for the Eagles, but their diligence paid off in 1992 and 1993 with two very good years.
How About 1891?
Boston College football didn’t exist yet, silly.
Former Records
Ed Walsh spent 68 years owning Boston College’s record for longest run play in program history: in 1944, he broke off a 91-yard rush against Brooklyn. This was erased last October as Andre Williams went 99 yards against Army at Michie Stadium.
Current Records
91 is the current Boston College record for fewest first downs allowed in a season. This happened in 1958, a ten-game year.
In 1991, the Eagles set a program record for fewest rushing yards allowed in a single game. They held future ACC foe Louisville to -30 yards on the ground.
Also in 1991, Tom McManus set a BC record with 25 tackles in their game against Rutgers. It has since been tied by Stephen Boyd and Frank Chamberlin.
Hello, Glenn Foley
In 1991, sophomore Boston College quarterback Glenn Foley truly burst onto the scene. In that season, he threw 21 touchdown passes, which at the time was second only to Doug Flutie’s 1984 season. Foley would later go on to beat his own personal best with 25 touchdowns in 1993. To this day, Foley’s 21 touchdowns in 1991 are the most by a BC sophomore quarterback.
An NFL Future
In 1991, Boston College had two offensive players who would later go on to respectable NFL careers: Mark Chmura and Pete Mitchell. Both would rank amongst the most productive receivers in Eagles history in the end.