“I don’t think there is any play that has defined one program the way that play did,’’ said BC coach Frank Spaziani, who was an assistant coach at Virginia in 1984.
The BC players who will face Miami this afternoon at Sun Life Stadium are well aware of what happened in 1984. It doesn’t matter that none of them (except for 27-year-old junior Dave Shinskie) were even born when Flutie threw his Hail Mary.
“I feel like every time you watch a BC game on TV, they show it at least once,’’ said senior center Mark Spinney, who estimates that he has seen The Pass at least 50 times (and “I’m sure I will see it 500 more times’’).
This afternoon’s game will be a season-closer for both teams. The Hurricanes, at 6-5, are bowl-eligible but have chosen not to participate in a bowl game because of an impending investigation into the activity of a booster. BC has struggled to a 3-8 record and for the first time in 12 years is not bowl-eligible.
“It’s strange for everyone,’’ said tight end Chris Pantale. “It feels like there is something missing.’’
Like his teammates, Pantale feels the power of the Flutie Pass in the program.
“It’s still like an inspirational play,’’ he said. “It’s like he put Boston College on the map. It came down to one play. So much history behind it.’’
Senior punter Ryan Quigley, who will end his collegiate football career this afternoon, said, “I learned about BC through Flutie. Oh yeah, that pass. It’s awesome. That put a foundation on our program and allowed us to grow to what we are today.’’
Spaziani, who is trying to build BC back into a winning program, acknowledges how tough a season it has been.
“It’s been frustrating in that we haven’t won as much as you want to win,’’ said Spaziani. “But on the other side, to see players and coaches work as if the wins are there is very rewarding.’’
Spaziani sees subtleties that are not as obvious to casual observers or critics.
