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Wednesday, December 20, 2000
Eagles land Boston College's Tom O'Brien and Virginia's George Welsh arrived well ahead of their respective football teams.
with a mission
O'Brien admits he'll meet
with Virginia officials, but
says he's focused on task in handBy Paul Arnett
Star-BulletinThey said they were here a day early for a press conference that never materialized.
But with Welsh retiring at Virginia and his former offensive coordinator currently guiding the revitalized Eagles, you can't help but wonder if the two played "secret-agent man" in Waikiki yesterday afternoon.
Virginia will play Georgia in the Oahu Bowl Sunday, and Boston College will face Arizona State in the Aloha Bowl Monday, at Aloha Stadium.
Rumors have been rampant that O'Brien will meet with Virginia officials after the Christmas bowl games to discuss the coaching vacancy created by Welsh's recent retirement.
O'Brien was at Welsh's side from 1991 to 1996, first as his quarterbacks coach, then as his offensive coordinator, before he left to become Boston College's head football coach.
O'Brien took over a program mired in a gambling scandal that forced the resignation of Dan Henning following the 1996 season.
"They hired me in December on Friday the 13th," O'Brien said last night as he waited for his team to arrive from Boston on a charter flight that took a little more than 12 hours to complete. "I'll never forget it. There was a lot of talk of just doing away with football. It was a difficult atmosphere to try to get a football program heading in a more positive direction, but I believe we've been able to do it."
His ability to turn around a dead team walking is one reason Virginia is interested in bringing O'Brien home. Also, he and Welsh worked together at the Naval Academy in the 1970s and 1980s before hooking up again at Virginia a decade later.
O'Brien engineered the third-best turnaround in NCAA history last season by guiding the Eagles to an 8-4 mark, equaling the number of victories he managed the first two years as head coach.
Boston College took a small step back this season, but O'Brien believes more big payoffs are coming in the next two campaigns.
"You have to remember, we inherited a team that was down eight to 10 football scholarships after what happened with the gambling issue," O'Brien said. "We're feeling that shortage a little bit this year, but we still managed to make it to a bowl game for a second straight season.
"I understand why people are talking about me as a possible candidate at Virginia because of my ties to Coach Welsh, who has been a tremendous influence on my life, and the fact that I coached at Virginia. I wish he had waited to retire, so I wouldn't have to deal with this right now.
"My main concern is winning a bowl game against a good Arizona State football team that has something to prove. We have something to prove ourselves after that disappointing loss at Miami. You're only as good as your last game. And I know our guys want to come out here on Monday and wash away that bad taste."
O'Brien conceded that he will likely meet with Virginia officials early next week. He has not been contacted by Cavaliers athletic director Terry Holland, but he will be. And O'Brien said he would listen should that conversation take place.
"There is nothing I can do about all the speculation," O'Brien said. "I'm happy at Boston College. My focus is making them a much better football team. Virginia has to make up its mind what they want to do, then I'll have a decision to make if they want to talk to me. I don't know that. We'll just have to wait and see."
What O'Brien prefers to talk about is his team's chances against Pac-10 representative Arizona State. Monday's Aloha Bowl marks the first time the two 6-5 teams have met.
O'Brien was still down about suspending running back William Green and defensive back D.J. Sutton for breaking unspecified team rules.
Green led the team in rushing this season with 1,164 yards and 14 touchdowns. The sophomore will return to the team next year.
His replacement, Cedric Washington, is battling back from injuries, but was the team's top runner entering the 2000 season.
"I feel badly for both guys, but it had to be done," said O'Brien, who made the decision yesterday. "But I think Cedric will step in and do a great job. He rushed for 1,000 yards last year and is probably our best rusher when healthy.
"It's unfortunate, but we have to move on and focus at the task at hand. We're very excited about being here. Our guys are looking forward to playing on national television. It was a long trip out here. But we'll be ready to go by Monday."
Alohabowl.net
