AMHERST — Thirty years ago, two football coaches met in Cheshire, Connecticut.
Mark Whipple was just starting out as a head coach after taking over the University of New Haven program in 1988. That same year, Steve Addazio was making his head coaching debut with the Cheshire High School football team.
On Saturday, the longtime friends will be adversaries again as Whipple leads UMass into Chestnut Hill to face Addazio’s Boston College squad. Although Addazio’s scheme might have changed since his days coaching high school football, Whipple said Addazio has always had an ability to connect with his players and build programs.
“He’s a good guy, good coach,” Whipple said. “He knows what he wants to do and he’s got their team playing the game of football the way he wants all the way through, offense, defense and special teams.”
With a full game to dissect in the film room, Addazio opened his weekly press conference Monday with hefty praise for the Minutemen. On multiple occasions, the sixth-year BC coach made some reference to this being the best UMass team he has faced with the Eagles.
Addazio said UMass has the weapons and team speed to execute Whipple’s offense, which makes them a dangerous team to face.
“He’s put together a lot of talent,” Addazio said. “He understands how to attack defenses as the play-caller. He’s a very accomplished guy, a pro. His team looks and is playing like a well-coached football team.”
McALLISTER’S MAGIC: Brice McAllister couldn’t have made a better first impression to the UMass fan base than he did Saturday.
The fifth-year safety, who arrived this spring from Connecticut as a graduate transfer, had two interceptions, three tackles and a forced fumble in his debut against Duquesne. It was the type of performance the Minutemen envisioned they would see from McAllister when he arrived, but one that solidified everything his teammates thought about him.
Senior safety Tyler Hayes said having a player like McAllister next to him makes everything simpler on the field and allows the defense to fit better as a unit.
“It brings confidence and a lot of camaraderie when you have a player like Brice back there,” Hayes said. “It makes it a lot easier on the field to slow things down and know somebody is going to do their job. It shows we can count on him and he has high accountability so we can just go ahead and play fast.”
SANTIAGO EXPANSION: Victor Santiago was the feel-good story of the week for UMass after receiving a scholarship Thursday and then receiving two carries in the win over Duquesne. However, his role might expand as the season progresses, both Whipple and UMass running backs coach Darrius G. Smith said.
Whipple said Santiago has always given the defense a great look on the scout team, and thinks he could be useful on special teams in the near future. Smith said Santiago has the potential to give opponents the same type of headaches he has given UMass’ starting defense in practice.
“He’s got good hands out of the backfield, he’s very fast and he’s very shifty,” Smith said. “He has the speed, he has good hands, now it’s just a matter of continuing to build enough resume to be functional in a game plan.
“… We’ve got 11 more of these things to play, so I don’t think that’s going to be the last time you see him on the field. When and where, I can’t tell you that, but last Saturday is not going to be the last time you see him on the field.”
SUSPENSION SUSPENSE: Whipple would not say whether senior linebacker Jarell Addo and junior cornerback Isaiah Rodgers would be available for the Minutemen on Saturday at Boston College. The pair were suspended for UMass’ 63-15 opening-day win over Duquesne for a violation of team rules, and Whipple said he wouldn’t make a decision until Friday on whether the two returning starters would play against the Eagles.
Starting in Rodgers’ place, junior cornerback Bakhari Goodson recorded an interception on the first drive of the game. He also made one tackle before being removed in the third quarter of the blowout.
Replacing Addo might be a bit more challenging because the senior’s backup — sophomore Tyris Lebeau — left Saturday’s win with a shoulder injury and was in a sling after the game. Whipple said Lebeau was out of the sling Monday, but was unsure if he would be healthy enough to face the Eagles.
Redshirt freshman Xavier Steele is listed as Lebeau’s backup and would be in line for his first career start if neither Addo or Lebeau are available.
INJURY REPORT: Whipple said junior defensive end Leon Flanagan returned to practice Monday after missing Saturday’s win with an unspecified injury, but he’s still questionable to play Saturday. Sophomore Jessie Britt should be ready to go against BC, Whipple said, after not playing against Duquesne.