Boston College Football Countdown: 59 Days to Go
By Joe Micik
The Boston College Eagles football countdown has slipped into the 50s, as there are now less than two months to go until the start of the season. Today’s article is brought to you by the number 59.
Who Wears 59 Now
Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY SportsAndy Gallik, center, junior
Gallik evolved into the starting center for Boston College by sometime around the end of his freshman season, carrying over into the start of his sophomore year. After the Eagles moved Ian White back to guard, the job directly in front of Chase Rettig belonged all to this young man from Illinois.
ESPN named Gallik their spring football MVP for the Eagles, which is good news because the young center has had his share of difficulties anchoring the offensive line in his underclassman years. Nevertheless this will almost certainly be Gallik’s starting job again in 2013, and if he has improved as noted, then things could get a little better for the offense’s ability to work.
Notables Who Wore 59
• Mike Mamula, DE, 1991-94. One of the all-time greats at defensive end for BC.
• Ken Dudnick, K, 1999-2002. Another Eagle who beat cancer.
• Chris Gildea, NG, 1985-89. Now a teacher and coach.
More on Mamula
Mike Mamula was one of the more significant defensive players to come through Boston College in the last 20 years. As such, he was inducted into the BC Varsity Club Hall of Fame last year. His career highlights include:
• Tied for school record for most sacks in a game (3.5)
• Tied for school record for most sacks in a season (13)
• Two of his seasons are top five in program history in sacks (T-1st with 13; T-5th with 11)
• Second all-time in program history in sacks (24)
Making the Stop
59 happens to be the number of tackles registered by Kasim Edebali during his eleven games playing in the 2012 season. That number was fifth on the team.
A Hall of Famer Departs
Mike Holovak, who now sits in the College Football Hall of Fame, played for Boston College and eventually coached for the Eagles. ’59 was his last year patrolling the Eagles’ sideline, and BC went 5-4.