For BC football, Red Bandanna Game vs. Michigan State will be emotional, so poise will be key

"You’re playing not only for your team, not only for BC, not only for your family. There’s one other thing that you’re playing for."

BC's Cam Arnold (right) took down Missouri tight end Brett Norfleet in last Saturday's 27-21 loss to the Tigers.

By Trevor Hass, The Boston Globe

September 20, 2024

4 minutes to read

Before the season, Boston College football coach Bill O’Brien spoke on Zoom with Alison Crowther, the mother of late hero Welles Crowther, as he immersed himself in the tradition of the Red Bandanna Game.

O’Brien heard her version of what happened on Sept. 11, 2001, and gained insight into her son’s life and legacy. Crowther, a 1999 Boston College graduate who often sported a red bandanna, saved at least a dozen people in the South Tower of the World Trade Center.

Crowther steered victims to safety, then returned into the blaze to rescue more people. He turned back up again after escorting a second group down. Since 2014, BC football has paid tribute to Crowther with its annual game to keep his heroic spirit alive.

“For us to be able to go out there and play a game in honor of him is a big deal,” O’Brien said. “I think it’s a great opportunity for Boston College to show off who we are.”

This year’s Red Bandanna Game, the 11th, pits the Eagles (2-1) against Michigan State (3-0) at Alumni Stadium Saturday at 8 p.m. The BC players and coaches are treating it like any other game from a football perspective, but they all remind themselves daily that this one carries additional weight.

“What he did was spontaneous and outstanding,” wide receiver Jaedn Skeete said. “We’re playing in regards to him. I feel like this is a very special game, probably the most important game of the season.”

Here are three reasons for optimism heading into the game:

1. This one means extra.

O’Brien knows the Eagles will bring emotion, but at the same time, it’s critical they settle in quickly and play with poise.

Defensive tackle Cam Horsley said the best approach is to channel Crowther’s heroism into the way they compete.

“How we can carry this onto the football field is I can just look my teammate in the eye and say, ‘I’ve got your back. I love you,’ ” Horsley said. “Play for one another, really love each other.”

Special teams captain Joe Marinaro, who’s playing in his fifth Red Bandanna Game, said it’s a privilege to have the entire BC community behind them.

“You’re playing not only for your team, not only for BC, not only for your family,” Marinaro said. “There’s one other thing that you’re playing for.”

2. They’re playing with poise.

BC has the sixth-fewest penalty yards per game (26) in the nation — a sign that O’Brien’s disciplined approach is paying dividends.

Even when Missouri unraveled and tried to bait BC, the Eagles stayed calm. At one point, the Tigers had an inconceivable second and 59, and BC veered away from the antics and got the necessary stop.

It’s a mature, experienced team with a no-nonsense coach.

“We’ve emphasized it,” O’Brien said. “It’s only three games, but I think that’s a big goal of ours. It’s part of our formula for winning, to not commit pre-snap penalties.”

3. They’ve shown big-play ability.

Thomas Castellanos is one of two FBS quarterbacks with nine touchdown passes and a 200-plus passing efficiency rating.

Five of those nine TDs have been 30 yards or more. Missouri was sharp defensively overall, but when lapses in coverage emerged, Castellanos made the Tigers pay.

Wide receiver Reed Harris has just three catches in three games, but he has 149 yards and two touchdowns.

Redshirt freshman Reed Harris has hauled in scoring passes of 72 and 67 yards. Graduate student Kamari Morales has scored in each of the past two games.

“Hungry dogs run faster,” Morales said. “This team is a very hungry bunch.”

…

While the BC product has been clean in many facets, there are still areas to work on. Here are three heading into Saturday:

1. Castellanos needs to take fewer risks.

Castellanos has been electric most of the season, but two costly mistakes against the Tigers proved to be pivotal.

“We didn’t execute on our behalf, and we beat ourselves,” Castellanos said.

If Castellanos can balance his playmaking ability with poise, as he did in Weeks 1 and 2, BC should be in an ideal spot.

2. They need to get back to their roots.

After a strong start in the trenches, BC struggled up front against the Tigers. Granted, Missouri is one of the most physically imposing teams in the country, but the Eagles genuinely view themselves in that same echelon.

BC totaled just 49 rushing yards and allowed 176 against Missouri. The Eagles will need to re-establish their identity against a Michigan State team with similar values.

The Spartans are first in the Big Ten with 27 tackles for loss, so preventing negative plays is a particular point of emphasis.

“We have to do a great job of communication and being on the right people,” O’Brien said.

3. Kicking and punting could play a factor.

The Eagles have yet to attempt a field goal. Part of that is due to their efficiency in the red zone, but placekicking remains a relative unknown.

O’Brien said both Luca Lombardo and Liam Connor are fully capable and it’s a luxury to have both. Lombardo has never attempted a field goal in a college game, and Connor was 11 of 14 last year.

The Eagles have had difficulty punting consistently, netting an average of just 32.9 yards (16th in the ACC). O’Brien said he has four or five punters, and they have to continue to work on technique.

“In the end, if we’re struggling to punt, we have to go for it,” O’Brien said.

Get the latest Boston sports news

Receive updates on your favorite Boston teams, straight from our newsroom to your inbox.

For BC football, Red Bandanna Game vs. Michigan State will be emotional, so poise will be key