One year, nine months, and 26 days. Believe it or not, it's been that long since the fateful afternoon of Dec. 6, 2006, when the ESPN Bottom Line announced to the world that "Boston College's Tom O'Brien has been hired as North Carolina State's new football coach."
At the time, boosters, administrators, alums, students - practically everyone - was confused by the news. No one knew how to react, whether in jubilation or in mourning. After all, the football program that O'Brien inherited in the winter of 1996 had radically changed for the better.
In the place of several dismal football seasons under Dan Henning, which had been topped off by an embarrassing betting scandal in '96, was the certainty of an O'Brien-run program. Six consecutive bowl wins. Three straight nine-win seasons.
But on the flip side, there were whispers that O'Brien had worn out his welcome in Chestnut Hill. With every predictable victory came an equally futile upset attempt. There was no uncertainty in the air, nothing to excite an increasingly apathetic fanbase. At BC, fans had come to accept an 8-3 regular season, topped off by a humanitarian trip to Boise for a few extra feet of snow.
So while hundreds of fans debated over the merits and implications of O'Brien's departure, 85 other students simply waited and listened, hoping to hear from the ball coach. For the football team had not heard anything from O'Brien, a sign in their eyes that this was all a bunch of overblown media BS. Surely their own head coach, the face of the program and the man who recruited them to come to BC, would not leave without any forewarning?
Unfortunately, those hopes went awry. O'Brien did leave. And he left without saying goodbye, as if he were a convicted felon getting away quietly in the middle of the night.
Since that fateful day, 666 sunrises have come and gone - a pretty safe sign that life in Chestnut Hill moved on just fine without O'Brien.
Still, scars remain from his awkward departure. Holdover players continually reminisce over how they heard the news. Some heard through the Internet, others via television, and the most unfortunate heard from their fellow students. This still remains a sore subject with administrators. And perhaps the least forgiving group of all - the fans - will never let O'Brien slide without at least one shot of guilt.
2008 Woodie Awards
Charles
posted 10/02/08 @ 11:25 AM EST
That's alot to put on a football game. Its the pivotal point to allow a football team to move forward. My question is what if NC State wins?
Most kids are in programs 3-5 years. (Continued…)