Boston College Football Countdown: 85 Days to Go
By Joe Micik
Just 85 days from now, you’ll be watching football. Not just any football (though you’re certainly entitled to watch just any football, because there will be a lot of games on), but Boston College football.
Who Wears 85 Now
Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Nate Freese, K, senior
Freese is entering his final year at Boston College on the verge of a record. Several of them, in fact. As of right now, he has made 50 field goals, just seven shy of tying the all-time Boston College record set by Brian Lowe. With 224 points, he needs just 66 more to tie Steve Aponavicius’s record for Eagles scoring.
This Strongsville, Ohio native has become quite the reliable kicker for the Boston College football team, though we would hope that in the near future, he’s kicking more PATs than field goals.
Notables Who Wore 85
• Peter Casparriello, TE, 1984-87. 1987 team captain; on the field for the Hail Mary play.
• Byron Hemingway, DE, 1973-76. 1977 NFL Draft pick by Tampa Bay.
• Antonio Garay, DL, 1998-2002. About to enter his 9th NFL season.
• Ryan Thompson, TE, 2005-07. Another Ohio product.
Post-Flutie Blues
The 1985 Eagles were nothing great, but of course, they did not have Doug Flutie anymore. They dropped from 10-2 to 4-8 that season, struggling to find their way all year despite some individual talent.
It Wasn’t All Bad
Especially if your name is Mike Ruth. The team captain became Boston College’s first and only winner of the Outland Trophy in ’85 — this award, of course, goes to the top collegiate lineman.
Getting the Call
It also wasn’t bad if your name was Mike Holovak. The former Boston College running back was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1985.
Throwing It Around
During the ’85 season, Boston College’s new quarterback, Shawn Halloran, was not a stranger to slinging the football. That year, by one pass, he had broken Doug Flutie’s 1984 record for completions in a single season with 234. Brian St. Pierre and Matt Ryan (twice) would go on to break it in the 2000s.
…But Not Always to Your Team
Shawn Halloran also holds a dubious record from ’85: the most interceptions in a single season in BC history with 23.
Instant Scoring
In ’85, Kelvin Martin broke off the longest punt return play in Boston College history. It was a 93-yard touchdown run against Holy Cross. In keeping with the theme, Martin also had an 85-yard run the following season against SMU.
And A Cloud of Dust
Mike Cloud’s career-long run was 85 yards, which came in Boston College’s 1998 game against Temple.
…But Not Always For Your Team
In 1985, the Eagles gave up 515 rushing yards to Army, the most they had ever allowed — until Army broke their own record against the Eagles in 2012 with 516.
Drafted in ’85
• Gerard Phelan (4th round; New England Patriots)
• Mark MacDonald (5th round; Minnesota Vikings)
• Doug Flutie (11th round; Los Angeles Rams)
• Steve Strachan (11th round; Los Angeles Raiders)
• Todd Russell (12th round; Philadelphia Eagles)