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ALOHA BOWL

Heat factor didn’t
work for Sun Devils

---

By Paul Arnett
Star-Bulletin

You would think a team from the desert would be better prepared for the 117-degree heat of the Aloha Stadium turf than a team where the high yesterday was a chilly 10.

But such was not the case in yesterday's 19th annual Aloha Bowl, won by better-conditioned Boston College, 31-17, over Arizona State.

To help combat the heat and humidity of playing Big East Conference foe Miami, Boston College recently built a bubble over a practice field that allows the Eagles to work out in 75-80 degree conditions.

"It's not the same as what we faced today," Boston College head coach Tom O'Brien said as he exited steamy Aloha Stadium. "But it rained over at Hawaii's practice field several times, and when the sun came out, it was like a sauna on that turf. That'll get you in shape in a hurry."

O'Brien would later say at the postgame press conference he was worried that last week's practice heat would cause his players to lose their quickness.

"We had two workouts in pads and I was concerned we weren't going to get our legs back," O'Brien said. "But we had some quickness out there today and we eventually wore them down. It's a tribute to our team to come from Boston and be able to be the stronger team in the fourth quarter."

The result was five costly turnovers by the Sun Devils and five quarterback sacks by the Eagles, who limited ASU's offense to a meager 161 yards in the deciding second half.

"They flat wore us out," ASU head coach Bruce Snyder said. "No excuses. The better team won."

Injury update

The hard turf of Aloha Stadium bagged its second quarterback in as many days.

In Sunday's Oahu Bowl, the rain-slicked turf contributed to a high ankle sprain for Virginia quarterback Dan Ellis. In yesterday's Aloha Bowl, the turf was the suspect again in a shoulder injury for ASU quarterback Jeff Krohn.

"The turf is hard out there," Snyder said. "You don't get the same cushion you do on grass. I'm not sure when he hurt his shoulder, but he got hit hard on a pass play near our sidelines that may have been the cause. We don't know."

ASU also lost defensive linemen Quincy Yancy and Kurt Wallin to leg injuries. Wallin said someone rolled up on his leg on a pass play late in the second half.

"I heard something pop and a sharp pain in there," Wallin said. "I can't move without using crutches. I'm not sure if I'm going to need surgery or not."

Won't take the boot

Boston College kicker Mike Sutphin was a walk-on from Ellicot City, Md., who already graduated last year and had a solid job offer in the real world.

He turned it down.

O'Brien offered him a scholarship for his senior season and he gladly took it. In yesterday's Aloha Bowl, he hit a career-long 50-yarder that gave the Eagles a 10-7 lead with 8:20 left in the first quarter.

Late in the second quarter, he lined up to attempt a 25-yarder, but it proved to be a fake. Holder Tim Hasselbeck came out of the snap and the two scampered left in a make-shift option play.

ASU wasn't fooled, forcing Hasselbeck to attempt a pass that fell incomplete. Even if Boston College had caught it, the Eagles had several illegal men downfield, nullifying the play.

"I think I prefer kicking over running the option," said Sutphin, who hit 13 of 15 field goals this season. "The 50-yarder was a great way to go out. Had I gone to work, I would have missed this wonderful opportunity to play in Hawaii."

Hawaii ties

ASU wideout Donnie O'Neal and Boston College defensive end Sean Guthrie were the only two Aloha Bowl players with any real local ties.

O'Neal went to high school in Kansas, but his father, Kenny O'Neal, played basketball at Chaminade University. Donnie started in yesterday's game, but didn't catch a pass.

As for Guthrie, he went to high school in Miami, but spent the first year of his life in Hawaii before his parents moved to the mainland. He started at end and finished with one tackle.