Print

Share

• Email to a friend
• Add This

Feeds

• Local Sports

Article Rating

Current Rating: (

0

/5)

Low High

(Rated

0

times)

By Tom Ash, Sentinel Reporter, July 21, 2008

Last updated: Tuesday, July 22, 2008 9:07 AM EDT

Matt Ryan was a mainstay of the Boston College football program for the past three seasons. Now that he’s an Atlanta Falcon, however, the Eagles are left with a bit of uncertainty. Ryan started 26 of his former team’s 27 games over the last two seasons, so not much is known about the quarterback’s replacement this season.

However, long-time BC backup Chris Crane has waited for this chance his entire collegiate career.

“I’ve waited four years behind a real good player (Ryan),” said Crane, a 2004 Trinity High School graduate. “Some people would use that time to feel sorry for themselves, but I feel these last couple years I’ve learned from what he’s done. I’ve used that time to train so that, when I’d get the opportunity to play, I’d have all the intangibles and can perform on the field.”

It hasn’t entirely been a spectator sport for Crane to this point at Boston College. The red-shirt senior has seen some action in relief of Ryan in games that have essentially been all but decided on the scoreboard.

But Crane does have one feather in his cap to date — when Ryan was unable to make the Eagles’ Week 8 start at home against Buffalo on Oct. 28, 2006, Crane received the starting nod. In that lone start, he completed 17 of 26 passes for 142 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He also rushed 10 times for 12 yards and, more importantly, two rushing touchdowns.

Still, according to Crane, word of his ability as a starter has yet to circulate around Chestnut Hill, Mass.

“(To others), there’s a lot of unknowns,” said Crane. “The only thing they’re getting out of it is what coaches have said, what players’ opinions of me have been.

“It’s because they haven’t gotten a chance to see me play.”

For central Pa. natives, there’s less of an unknown air to Crane. In four seasons as the Shamrocks’ starting quarterback, he set school records for total career completions (313), passing yards (4,320) and touchdown passes (45). He appeared in the 2003 Pennsylvania East-West All-Star game.

With just one year of eligibility remaining in Crane’s collegiate career, he’s not looking to set any school records. Despite former starter Ryan being taken in the first round of the 2008 NFL draft, Crane isn’t concerned with impressing professional scouts.

He just wants to prove he belongs as the Eagles’ No. 1 guy.

“I’m just trying to go out and start for Boston College, and really show that the team is top caliber,” said Crane. “We proved that last year, we weren’t picked in the preseason very high. We went out and won a couple games, a lot of that has to do with Matt Ryan.

“The main thing we want to do as a team is to prove that Boston College is a really good school, really competitive in football. We want to compete for the ACC championship.”

The Eagles’ football program did turn some heads last season. However, the ACC runners-up were one of just two bowl-eligible teams to receive a bowl bid lower than its conference ranking, ultimately defeating the 7-6 Michigan State Spartans — ranked ninth in the Big Ten last season — in the Champs Sports Bowl.

“Since I’ve been here, we’ve won 10, nine games (each season) and have done more,” said Crane. “Even with what we’ve done during the season, we feel the bowl selection committee hasn’t given us our dues. Traditionally, Boston College fans haven’t traveled well to bowl games, but we take that (as the reason to not receive a better bowl invitation) as a slap to the face. The only thing that should matter is how our team performs on the field.”

And, as Crane went on to explain, the team believes the easiest way to break into the bowl game big leagues is to win an ACC title. The Eagles came one game away from accomplishing that feat with Matt Ryan at the helm last season — after defeating Virginia Tech on the road Oct. 25, Boston College fell to the Hokies 30-16 at home in the ACC championship game Dec. 1.

So, it’s understandable that Crane is looking forward to his team’s Week 6 rendezvous with Virginia Tech this season.

Yet, the Division I starter still puts time aside to reconnect with his Alma Mater and former teammates, and is even looking forward to seeing ‘08 Trinity grad R.J. Dill when the offensive lineman’s new collegiate team — the Maryland Terrapins — travel to Boston College for the two team’s regular-season finale Nov. 29.

“(The Dills) are good friends... (R.J.) is real excited that we get to play each other,” said Crane. “Hopefully he’ll be on their traveling squad when they come to Boston.

“When I get a chance, I like to go back. I stop by (Trinity High School) and see a lot of the players on the team. It appears to me that a lot of those guys are getting Division I looks. Nick Kindler (Shamrocks offensive lineman) has gotten an offer from Boston College and a lot of other places... it’s very good to see Trinity is getting a lot of looks from a D-I level.”

As those Trinity athletes fresh out of high school begin their collegiate careers, Crane will embark on his final season as a Boston College Eagle, the reins firmly in hand.

“After (Ryan) left, it was a little different. He’s been a leader for us for a while, I felt it was important for me and the other seniors to assert ourselves as leaders,” said Crane. “With that void, someone had to step up. I had to take the reins so the team didn’t feel like it lost a leader.

“In these last months, I’ve really established myself into a leadership role. With that, I feel like I can take this team to where we were last year.”