Balance is key in emotional BC Red Bandanna football game

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

O’Brien heard his side of the story of Sept. 11, 2001, and gained insight into his son’s life and legacy. Crowther, a 1999 Boston College graduate who often wore a red bandana, saved at least a dozen people in the World Trade Center’s South Tower.

Crowther led the victims to safety, then returned to the fire to rescue others. He returned after escorting a second group. Since 2014, BC football has honoured Crowther with its annual game to perpetuate his heroic spirit.

“The fact that we get to play a game in his honor is a big deal for us,” O’Brien said. “I think it’s a great opportunity for Boston College to show who we are.”

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

“What he did was spontaneous and exceptional,” receiver Jaedn Skeete said. “We’re playing off of him. I feel like it’s a very special game, probably the most important game of the season.”

Here are three reasons to be optimistic as the game approaches:

O’Brien knows the Eagles will stir up emotion, but at the same time it’s essential they settle in quickly and play with composure.

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

“We can apply that on the football field, is I can just look my teammate in the eye and say, ‘I support you. I love you,’” Horsley said. “Play for each other, really love each other.”

Special teams captain Joe Marinaro, playing in his fifth Red Bandanna game, said it was a privilege to have the entire B.C. community behind them.

“You’re not just playing for your team, not just for B.C., not just for your family,” Marinaro said. “There’s another reason why you’re playing.”

2. They play with aplomb.

British Columbia ranks sixth in the country in fewest penalty yards per game (26), a sign that O’Brien’s disciplined approach is paying off.

Even when Missouri got wild and tried to harass BC, the Eagles remained calm. At one point, the Tigers managed an unthinkable second-and-59, and BC pulled away from its antics and got the stop it needed.

It is a mature and experienced team with a pragmatic coach.

“We’ve been pushing for that,” O’Brien said. “It’s only three games, but I think that’s one of our big goals. It’s part of our formula to win, not committing penalties before the snap.”

3. They showed they were capable of making big plays.

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

Five of those nine TDs were for 30 yards or more. Missouri was solid defensively overall, but when gaps in coverage appeared, Castellanos made the Tigers pay.

Freshman Reed Harris has completed passes of 72 and 67 yards. Graduate student Kamari Morales has scored in each of the last two games.

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

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While the B.C. product is clean in many ways, there are still areas that need work. Here are three heading into Saturday:

1. Castellanos must take fewer risks.

Castellanos has been electric for most of the season, but two costly mistakes against Tigres proved crucial.

“We didn’t do the right thing and we beat ourselves,” Castellanos said.

If Castellanos can balance his playmaking ability with his composure, like he did in Weeks 1 and 2, BC should be in a great position.

2. They need to return to their roots.

After a strong start in the trenches, BC struggled to get through the Tigers. Sure, Missouri is one of the most physically imposing teams in the country, but the Eagles really consider themselves in the same category.

BC had just 49 rushing yards and allowed 176 against Missouri. The Eagles will have to reestablish their identity against a Michigan State team with similar values.

The Spartans lead the Big Ten with 27 tackles for loss, so avoiding negative plays is especially important.

“We have to do a great job of communicating and getting in touch with the right people,” O’Brien said.

3. Kicking and clearing could play a role.

The Eagles have yet to attempt a field goal. That’s partly due to their efficiency in the red zone, but kicking remains a relative unknown.

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

The Eagles have struggled to punt consistently, averaging just 32.9 yards (16th in the ACC). O’Brien said he has four or five punters and they need to continue to work on technique.

“Ultimately, if we’re having trouble clearing, we’ve got to go for it,” O’Brien said.