Boston College Football Countdown: 80 Days to Go

One-fifth of the Boston College football countdown is now over. Can you feel the excitement? If not, just give it a couple weeks. Once training camp opens, you’re really going to get the itch.

Who Wears 80 Now

Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY SportsBrian Miller, TE, sophomore

Miller is a local product who played his redshirt freshman year in 2012. The Andover native played in eight games in his first season on the Heights, making a total of four catches for 43 yards.

He was one of the more highly regarded recruits in his class, and certainly near the top of the local talent heap that the Eagles brought in (though nobody needs to be told that the recruiting wall around Massachusetts back then was more like a chicken-wire fence with a few poles missing). Miller also played basketball back in high school.

Notables Who Wore 80

• Johnathan Coleman, WR, 2010-12. Wore 80 before switching to 14.
• Ryan Purvis, TE, 2005-08. Another ex-Eagle who ended up on New York Giants.
• Bob Watts, TE/LB, 1973-76. BC Varsity Club hall of famer.
• Bill Cronin, E, 1963-64. 1964 team captain; spent 2 seasons in NFL.
• Mike Guazzo, TE/WR, 1996-2000. Switched from TE to WR and back.

The End of Ed

’80 was Ed Chlebek’s final season as Boston College football coach. He presided over the worst season in Eagles history in 1978 (0-11) but managed to get this 1980 team to a much more respectable 7-4 performance. It was still not enough and he was replaced the following season by Jack Bicknell, who would coach at BC for almost a decade.

As it turns out, Chlebek went on to have another 0-11 season: Kent State, 1982.

And Mike

’80 was the senior year of defensive standout Mike Mayock, who football fans may now see evaluating draft choices and occasionally losing his voice on NFL Network.

And Now, A Flutie Mention

Doug Flutie was still home in Natick in 1980, but “80” does play some small role in his Boston College career: his longest passing play as an Eagle was an 80-yarder, in 1982. It was caught by Jon Schoen against Holy Cross.

Doug Wasn’t The Only One

There was another 80-yard passing play in Boston College football history. This one came decades earlier in 1953 from quarterback Jim Kane against Xavier; Francis Marr caught the pass.

Life of Brian

1980 was the freshman year of Brian Brennan, a name that’s not heard too much around these parts anymore but stands in the record books as one of the best Eagle receivers ever. He set the standard for Boston College receivers in his time and would go on to a 2,180-yard career. That still ranks fourth all-time on the BC list.

Must Have Gotten A Favorable Bounce

The longest punt ever in Boston College history came in 1980: a 77-yarder. That’s one way to flip the field.

On The Comeback Trail

1980 saw what was at the time the Eagles’ biggest-ever fourth-quarter comeback. Down 26-14 at Holy Cross with 12 minutes to go, BC won 27-26. That record has since been tied.

Jumping the Route

Last season, Boston College had a total of 80 interception return yards (off of 10 picks).