 LV Whitworth escapes tacklers as the Boston College football team squared off against itself in the annual Jay McGillis Spring Game. [Click to enlarge]
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It was rarely pretty, usually ugly, and chock full of lessons to be learned.
That was the sense that most Boston College football fans carried with them as they watched the team finish off the spring practice season and make the transition into the off-season workouts.
Coming into Saturday's game, very little had been settled. The quarterback situation was still a two-man race. Three tailbacks were looking to prove their worth in the offensive backfield, and a young offensive line was trying to find its identity among a team looking to settle some situations of personal importance.
On Saturday afternoon, in front of a crowd full of football players' families and friends, the team began to show its progress toward the 2004-05 season. It's called the Jay McGillis Memorial Football Game, but to the team, it's just the 15th spring practice.
"It's called a game, but it's really just another practice. We got 14 good days out of it," said head coach Tom O'Brien, when asked about the spring practices.
While both sides of the internecine scrimmage played sloppily on Saturday, there were positive statements and promises to improve from all involved.
On the quarterback front, Paul Peterson and Quinton Porter continued their battle for the starting position, and on this day, Porter proved to be more efficient. The junior from Maine, who began last season as the number one starter, threw for 126 yards on 15-19 passing. He also threw for one touchdown and one interception on the day.
"I knew there would be a competition coming into the spring. It was the only way I thought. It makes both of us better," said Porter.
On the other side, Peterson had a rough day for the final spring performance. He was only 5-15 for 47 yards in the air and recorded two interceptions and no touchdowns.
"Hopefully, my practices have showed it. My idea is just don't take anything for granted," said Peterson.
O'Brien said that the loser of the quarterback competition will be red-shirted, and Matt Ryan will be the backup for the upcoming season. Ryan was 7-15 for 69 yards and one interception.
Peterson called the situation a "win-win" for him and Porter. The winner will get to start in the upcoming campaign, and the red shirt will sit out this year and prepare for BC's inaugural season in the ACC.
He also said that the move will allow him to catch up completely with his academics, since not all of his credits carried over when he transferred from Snow College in Utah.
Peterson and Porter both praised the efforts of their teammates and said they were pleased with the progress made thus far in the off season.
"We've got three running backs that all bring something different to the table. One's shifty, one's speedy, and one's power," said Peterson.
Looking to fill the spot left by Derrick Knight are LV Whitworth, Andre Callender, and Jeff Ross. On Saturday, Whitworth ran for 34 yards and Callender rushed for 22 yards.
"You saw Will Blackmon come out today. He's awesome," said Peterson. Blackmon had three interceptions on the day and displayed his athleticism and return abilities on each of them. To end the first half, Blackmon picked off a pass and returned it all the way to the four-yard line as time expired.
Also on defense was JoLonn Dunbar, the red shirt freshman linebacker from Syracuse, NY, who was seemingly omnipresent on the BC Alumni Stadium turf Saturday. With former BC linebacker and team leader from last year's squad Josh Ott watching from the sidelines, Dunbar was able to hunt down tailbacks, receivers, and quarterbacks on his way to recording seven solo tackles and 15 wrap-ups overall.
For Dunbar, it was a settled feeling to find a home at the linebacker position.
"At first I came in at running back, but then I switched to linebacker as the season went on," Dunbar said afterward, when asked about the transition that he made from the offensive unit to the defensive side of the ball.
Dunbar gave credit to the linebackers from last year's squad including Brian Flores and Ott.
"I just definitely took a lot out of Josh and Brian Flores. Over the off season I asked them a bunch of times to come in and watch film with me," said Dunbar.
When asked about BC's top recruit, Brian Toal, coming into the linebacker squad, Dunbar said, "When Toal comes in, we'll teach him as much as we can. He'll make mistakes but we'll help him learn."
Spring Break
