New Boston College head coach Bill O'Brien met with the media on Tuesday as his team begins preparation for its 2024 season opener on Monday night against Florida State in Tallahassee. He spoke about the development and progress of his team in his first year in Chestnut Hill (he was hired on Feb. 9, following Jeff Hafley's departure to Green Bay) and the challenges his team will face against the Seminoles.
"Definitely, there is a little more excitement in the air, you know a little bit more of second wind," said O'Brien about the energy surrounding the Eagles' first game week practice. "And after 20 practices of training camp and now they're getting for an opponent so there's definitely an excitement and we've just got to keep throughout the week. You know the game's not until Monday, so we've got a ways to go here, we're not playing on Saturday, so we've got to do a good job of keeping the energy throughout the week."
O'Brien was asked if he has had enough time to shape his first Boston College team as he prepares for his first game as the Eagles head coach against Florida State.
"We'll find out," the BC coach said matter-of-factly. "I do, I feel like, I have had enough time. No, it's been good. These guys have worked hard, and we'll see what happens on Monday. We'll be there, we're excited about the opportunity, we know Florida State is a very, very good team, great coaching staff, great crowd, I've coached down there a number of times when I was at Georgia Tech and so I know it's a tough place to play. But these guys are excited for the opportunity. Can't wait to get down there."
He was also asked what he saw out of Florida State this past Saturday in the Seminoles lost to Georgia Tech.
"You know, look, it was a back-and-forth game, I think that's two good football teams," said O'Brien. "I think Georgia Tech's very good. Florida State's good and it was a battle, it was good battle. Back and forth and Georgia Tech came out on top but Florida State's very good, they fought hard, and we know it's going to be a huge challenge for us going down there."
O'Brien was also asked if he thought FSU was at an advantage heading into this game because they have already played a game.
"I don't think so," said O'Brien. "There is nothing you can do about it, right? They played, we didn't, you know, I don't think we could, we try to control the controllables, right? We can't control the schedule, we can't control the weather, there's a lot of things we can't control but there are things we can and that's our own performance, our own knowledge of the opponent, our own assignments, our own coaching roles, those are the things we can control. So that's what we'll try to do."
O'Brien also addressed whether Georgia Tech's success against FSU defense running the ball will influence his game plan and how he uses QB Thomas Castellanos on Monday night.
"No, I don't think we base, we look at the opponent's previous games and games from last year, last week obviously, I don't think we put all of our game plan in one game (FSU's vs Georgia Tech)," O'Brien said. "We try to think about our team and what's best for our team relative to this opponent. Tommy has had a really good training camp. I'm excited for Tommy, he's put a lot of work into this and he's a much-improved player and we're definitely going to let Tommy be Tommy. That's what he does best, he is a very instinctive player, he's gotten better in the passing game. So, we just want him to play a really clean game and always make good decisions for the team. And I think he's done that throughout training camp, so I'm excited for him."
He was also asked how he is trying to prepare his team for the nighttime environment in Doak Campbell Stadium and what he has told his players about his experience there.
"Loud, loud, yeah, they've got great fans, they have awesome fans, they've got a great band," said O'Brien. "It'll be loud, that's what it's all about, that's college football, right...they have a great fight song, tradition, I can remember going down there in 1999 when I was at Georgia Tech, and we had an excellent team and Coach Bowden, you know, they had an excellent team, and it was like a 38-35 shootout, and it was just an awesome college game. It's a great environment, they have great traditions down there. So, you know our guys should be excited that's what you sign up for when you come to a place like BC. You've got a great home stadium and then get to go to a place like Florida State, Clemson, North Carolina, those places. So we're excited for it."
Like FSU last week, Boston College will open its 2024 with a conference game and O'Brien talked about the pros and cons of that.
"I definitely think it's challenging," started O'Brien. "I do think though that it helps your focus in the offseason, right. Your winter conditioning, your spring practice, your summer conditioning, your training camp is very, very focused because you are opening up against a top 10 team on the road. So, I think that there's obviously challenges to opening up against Florida State on the road, obviously they are a really good football team, but I also think it helps the focus of the team, they have a purpose every day to try and get better and I think that's how this team has approached it."
O'Brien was also asked about how his team would defend FSU QB DJ Uiagalelei after a game in which most of his passes of were of the shorter variety.
"I mean he threw about four shots down the field," said O'Brien. "That's part of their offense, they have a really good offense, they have an explosive offense. You know, they have guys that I know personally. Malik Benson, Roydell Williams, great players that were at Alabama when I was there. I think they have 17 transfers, including DJ. DJ, he's a hell of a player. I mean he's somebody that I am very familiar with from when he was at Clemson, Oregon State, just a great athlete, big guy, strong arm, very smart, comes from a great family, good teammate, got all the qualities you are looking for in a quarterback."
"So, like I said, it's a very challenging game for us. But I'm really proud of these guys and how far they've come and we're all looking forward to the opportunity in the game."
