38 NCAA FOOTBALL 2002 FOOTBALL PREVIEW BC quarterback among the best in the nation

By The Associated Press season was an 18-7 loss to Miami on Florida a top linebacker and may help Nov. 20. With his team trailing 12-7 in make Oklahoma’s defense even bet- the final minute, St. Pierre drove the ter. He led the Big East Conference in Eagles 61 yards to the Hurricanes’ 9. Juco transfer Lance Mitchell was touchdown passes, and didn’t play With 38 seconds left, his pass enrolled at Florida in January when he for national champion Miami. bounced off the knee of a Miami play- learned he would be ineligible He claims he’s as good as any er and into the arms of another. A because the SEC wouldn’t accept quarterback in the country, but his third Miami player took the ball and one of the English courses he took at name won’t be found on many ran for the clinching touchdown. City College of San Francisco. Heisman Trophy lists. St. Pierre can’t forget. “It’s always None of this would have been a Meet Brian St. Pierre, Boston on my mind. It’s the last thing I think problem had he completed another College’s feisty quarterback poised about before I go to sleep,” he said. English course he had enrolled in at for a breakout season “We were so close.” the junior college. But he dropped that could turn the During games, St. Pierre is one that course because he couldn’t Eagles into one of the worked-up QB. On the field, he yells afford the required $50 textbook, and surprise teams of in the huddle and waves his arms to thought he already had enough 2002. direct teammates into position. On English credits to be eligible at “I think he’ll be the sideline, he won’t hesitate to give Florida. one of the top quar- O’Brien a coaching tip or two. The Gators released the 6-3, 240- terbacks in the NCAA “I’m not one of those quarterbacks pounder from his scholarship, and country,” said that comes off and sits down and one of Mitchell’s friends at Oklahoma Tom O’Brien, BC’s NOTEBOOK rests,” said St. Pierre. “I’m on the told Sooners coaches about the usually reserved coach. “His deci- sideline watching. I’d play defense development. The Associated Press sion-making improved each game and special teams if they’d let me. I The Big 12 accepted the English Brian St. Pierre of Boston College led the Big East last year, he has a fiery temperament, probably get in coach O’Brien’s ear course and Mitchell headed to OU. his team respects his ability and he Conference in touchdown passes a year ago with 25. too much during games, but that’s TACKLING THE TACKLES: Miami runs faster than a lot of people think just my nature.” center (6-3, 290) pro- The second longest slide is 28 their 12 games in state, but visitors he does.” DRIVING SCHOOL: Mopeds are vided an impromptu scouting report games, by Virginia from 1958-61 and include No. 6 Florida on Sept. 21 and St. Pierre started last season with a out at Hawaii. on the tackles set to replace All- Kansas State from 1945-48. No. 1 Miami on Nov. 9. There’s also a sore muscle in his throwing arm, but Citing injury risks, coach June American Bryant McKinnie and Duke’s best chance to end the visit to No. 8 Georgia on Oct. 12. came on strong and passed for 2,016 Jones banned his players from riding Joaquin Gonzalez. streak will come at Navy (0-10 in ‘01) Nonetheless, an SEC title is expect- yards and 25 touchdowns — two the popular motor scooters. On (listed at 6-5, 363 on Sept. 28. ed this season. more than Miami’s . “They’re too dangerous,” Jones pounds), Romberg says: “He’s 348 Defending national champion “We’ve got a lot of high expecta- Boston College capped an 8-4 sea- said. “I wouldn’t do this unless there pounds of twisted steel and sex Miami opens with a 22-game winning tions at our place,” coach Phillip son with a 20-16 win over Georgia in was a problem. In the last few years, appeal. He lost about 20 pounds and streak, longest in the country. The last Fulmer said. “That doesn’t change.” the Music City Bowl, a victory that we’ve had a lot of moped accidents.” is in the best shape of his life. He saw loss was Sept. 9, 2000, 34-29 to EXTRA POINTS: Last year, ended BC’s 22-game losing streak WR Mark Tate had knee surgery the big money Bryant McKinnie got Washington. Louisville’s John L. Smith ran with the against Top 25 teams. recently after a moped mishap, and is and he’s very, very eager to make CASEY NEVER FORGETS: bulls in Pamplona. This summer, the “That game will be a springboard expected to miss the start of the sea- some big money, too. So he’s going Tennessee has “unfinished business” 53-year-old coach went skydiving, the season,” said St. Pierre, a 6-foot- son. Last year, QB Nick Rolovich, DTs to work his tail off to have a great this season, and it doesn’t involve bailing out of a plane from 11,000 feet 4, 217-pound senior from Danvers, Brett Clowers and Lui Fuga and DE year.” beating Florida. over southern Indiana ... K.C. Keeler Mass. “We have confidence coming Travis Laboy were injured in moped On Carlos Joseph (6-6, 334): “He’s QB Casey Clausen is still seething replaces Tubby Raymond at in, and I’m looking forward to bigger accidents. a young guy whose talent is pretty over the Vols’ 31-20 loss to LSU in Delaware. The 76-year-old Raymond and better things.” Says LB Chris Brown: “We’re tired much immeasurable. He’s got to pro- the SEC title game. A win and retired after 36 seasons with a 300- Although picked to finish fourth in after (morning) practice, and some- tect Dorsey’s back side and we’ll see Tennessee would have played Miami 119-3 record and three Division II the Big East, the Eagles return 18 times we’re running late to class. The how that works. Carlos can throw his in the Rose Bowl for the national titles — in 1971, ‘72 and ‘79. ... Notre starters, including both kickers. Not mopeds save a lot of time. We don’t hands with the best of them, and he championship. Dame QBs threw four TD passes in among them, though, is All-American like the ban, but we understand why can kick just as well as anybody.” “Do myself and my team still ‘01, fewest of any of the 117 I-A William Green, who ran for 1,559 we need to have it. The whole thing is Thanks, coach. remember that game? Yes,” Clausen teams ... Colorado State has only five yards and 15 TDs. about safety.” STREAKING: Duke is an 0-12 sea- said. “Our motto for this year is unfin- home games in a 13-game schedule Less running and more passing? “I Something Jones is well aware of. son away from setting the record for ished business. We’ve got something ... Washington allowed 112 points in like that idea, but we’ll see how it In February 2001, the coach was seri- the longest losing streak in Division I- to prove. To get to that point and not the last two games of ‘01 — 65 to works out,” said St. Pierre. “I’ll do ously injured when the car he was dri- A. The Blue Devils open with a 23- get it done, just talking about it sets a Miami and 47 to Texas ... New anything the coaches want so we can ving ran off the road and hit a con- game losing streak — Northwestern spark in me.” Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson will win.” crete pillar. holds the mark with 34 losses in a The fifth-ranked Vols better not look try to avoid a 20th straight losing sea- BC’s most memorable game last BOOK BIND: A $50 textbook cost row from 1979-82. too far ahead. They may play nine of son at the school. teams seeking perfection

ØContinued from Page 37 games in state. Two big games are or losses,” he says. “It makes no dif- Simms, Rix, Clausen and Grossman, As for games, there’s a few you running back Cedric Benson and home — against Florida and Miami. ference what people say now.” there’s no less than a dozen other big don’t want to miss: Miami at Florida wide receivers Roy Williams and B.J. The Vols’ motto this season: At least he has Heisman runner-up guns out there, including Washington on Sept. 7; Texas vs. Oklahoma in Johnson, Texas won’t have problems “Unfinished business.” The reason? Rex Grossman back. The junior led State’s Jason Gesser, Marshall’s Dallas and Florida State at Miami on scoring. All the ‘Horns need to do is A 31-20 loss to LSU in the SEC title the nation in passing — 3,896 yards Byron Leftwich, Louisville’s Dave Oct. 12; and Miami at Tennessee on beat Oklahoma on Oct. 12, and game. “We’ve got something to and 34 TDs. Grossman toyed with Ragone, Mississippi’s , Nov. 9. they’ll be in the title hunt. prove,” Clausen says. “To get to that transferring after Spurrier left. Louisiana Tech’s Luke McCown and Pac-10 rivals Cal and Stanford “The program is walking with a point and not get it done, just talking “It was a difficult decision,” Boise State’s Ryan Dinwiddie. both have new coaches — Jeff swagger again,” coach Mack Brown about it sets a spark in me.” Grossman says, “But as soon as I Look West for the best running Tedford at Cal, Buddy Teevens at says. “We feel like we should be a At The Swamp, Florida hopes to got all the facts, it was pretty easy. I back in the country — Oregon’s Stanford. Top 5 team and now we’re at the maintain the glory days under Steve still wanted to be a Gator.” Onterrio Smith, who topped 1,000 Other schools with new coaches point that if we do our jobs, there Spurrier, who abruptly left for the Looking for surprise teams? Try yards last season in the Ducks’ 11-1 include Indiana (Gerry DiNardo), may come a time when the ball Washington Redskins. Former Georgia Tech in the ACC, Boston season. Other top runners include Kansas (Mark Mangino), Navy (Paul bounces right and we could win a Gators assistant Ron Zook takes College in the Big East, Michigan Texas’ Benson, Wisconsin’s Anthony Johnson) and Vanderbilt (Bobby national championship.” over. And no matter how much he State in the Big Ten, Texas A&M in Davis, LSU’s LaBrandon Toefield, Johnson). At Tennessee, the pass-catch talks, travels and tries to outwork the Big 12, Arizona in the Pac-10 and Virginia Tech’s duo of Lee Suggs and Miami opens the season with I-A’s combo of Casey Clausen to Kelley Spurrier, the Zooker knows the Georgia in the SEC. Kevin Jones and Colorado’s trio of longest winning streak at 22 games; Washington has the VolNation think- score. This could be a strong year for Chris Brown, Bobby Purify and Duke has the longest losing streak at ing SEC title, especially with nine “It obviously comes down to wins quarterbacks. In addition to Dorsey, Marcus Houston. 23 games.