BC honors alumnus Welles Crowther — who heroically helped rescue as many as 18 people inside one of the World Trade Center towers — with its Red Bandanna Game every year. Crowther, who was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Tuesday, is still very much on the minds of those who know his story.
Those who don’t will learn about it Friday night inside Alumni Stadium or on ESPN2.
“It means a lot to BC,” said O’Brien. “It means a lot to the BC alums. It means a lot to the fans. It will be a great atmosphere. I think it’s fitting that we’re playing a team like Rutgers, from New Jersey, that obviously has a lot of New York City connections. I think it’s a tradition that is like none other.”
The Eagles sport custom uniforms annually in support of Crowther. The Scarlet Knights will don “Never Forget” on their pants and “37” on their helmets to recognize the 37 alumni who lost their lives in the 9/11 attacks.
O’Brien, who lost friend Ray Rocha, showed his team the ESPN video that chronicles Crowther’s heroics.
“BC is all about giving back and helping people,” O’Brien said. “That’s the most incredible example, what Welles did that day. Welles set that example for all of us. I think it’s a really important lesson.”
O’Brien encourages his players to compartmentalize the evening as much as possible, ensuring that they embrace the emotion but don’t “ride the wave.” While they are competing for a larger purpose, and should lean on that momentum to play selflessly, the Eagles also are in serious need of a win.
Saturday’s opener exposed potential weaknesses on the roster, including the offensive line, tackling, and inconsistency on special teams.
Defensive coordinator Ted Roof noted that the Eagles allowed 126 yards after missed tackles. He knows the execution needs to improve against dynamic Rutgers wide receiver KJ Duff, a player O’Brien called one of the best in the country.
“He’s a problem for everybody,” Roof said. “He’s going to be an NFL receiver. It’s something we have to be aware of.”
It initially appeared the Eagles would face former BC starting quarterback Dylan Lonergan, another layer of intrigue to an already-captivating night. But Lonergan threw three interceptions against the Minutemen before departing with an injury and is out this week.
That means junior AJ Surace, who has thrown just 18 collegiate passes, will slide into the starting role.
“We played a great offense last week in Cincinnati, but a lot of things that happened were errors on our part, not making the plays that we’re supposed to,” said BC linebacker Anthony Palano. “I feel like we’re going to have success when we go out and execute on Friday.”
Offensively, BC quarterback Mason McKenzie will look to build on the momentum he generated late in last Saturday’s game. He acknowledged he was somewhat nervous early and said he proved to himself that he truly belonged.
McKenzie showcased his running ability all night, frequently wiggling free from tacklers to creatively extend plays. Doing so is a double-edged sword, of course, as he withstood a beating, yet got up every time.
“I took a few too many hits on Saturday, but if I have to take hits to win a football game, I’ll take hits to win a football game,” McKenzie said. “That’s how it is. Obviously we didn’t win, but I’ll put my body on the line to go win for the boys.”
Trevor Hass can be reached at trevor.hass@globe.com. Follow him on X @TrevorHass.
