Latest news with #Jesuit
Boston Globe
a day ago
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Four takeaways from Boston College coach Bill O'Brien's appearance at ACC Football Kickoff
Here are four takeaways from O'Brien's news conference: Versatile defense could be the key Dealing with player losses following graduation and the NFL Draft is par for the course for college coaches, so O'Brien isn't fazed by the departure of top defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku, who the Cowboys selected in the second round. Advertisement O'Brien expects his versatile defense will have no trouble filling the hole left by Ezeiruaku, who was the 2024 ACC Defensive Player of the Year after leading the conference with 16.5 sacks. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'I feel very confident in our ability to play good defense this year,' O'Brien said. 'We have a lot of versatile players. We have guys that can play safety and corner. We have linebackers that can play in the box. They can walk out on receivers. We have nickels that can play safety, that can play corner. We have defensive linemen that can play inside, that can play off the edge. And over the course of 30 practices in training camp, that'll all come together, and we'll be ready to go when the season kicks off.' Advertisement Touchdown in Charlotte — Boston College Football (@BCFootball) BC's NIL money is awarded to players who 'earn it,' including by attending class O'Brien called revenue sharing and name, image, and likeness legislation in college football 'the wild, wild west,' especially when compared with the NFL's model. 'There's all different things that go into the NFL, but it's very uniform. There's rules,' he said. 'That's something that I believe has to happen eventually in college football — that there has to be enforcement.' Despite facing the added challenge of recruiting players to a private, Jesuit university with high academic standards, O'Brien is satisfied with the way he, chief of staff Berj Najarian, and the administration have handled their NIL model. 'We do a good job of making sure the players understand it's an 'earn it' philosophy,' O'Brien said. 'Every [football player] coming into BC as a freshman, they're going to make a certain amount of money. From that point forward, they're going to earn everything they get.' By performing well, players can earn additional money. But those performance incentives are not limited to the field. 'Going to class, being on time for meetings,' O'Brien said. 'You don't necessarily have to be an All-American right away. Just got to be a good guy, a good locker room guy, good teammate, somebody that's a contributing member of the team. And if you do that, you'll earn more and more as you go through your career at BC.' The difference between a winning and losing record is minor details The Eagles haven't finished above .500 in conference play since 2009, when they went 5-3 in the ACC and 9-5 overall. O'Brien has tried to convey to his players that the difference between finishing 4-4 in the conference — as BC did last season — and winning 10 or 11 games overall comes down to a handful of mistakes. Advertisement Three of the Eagles' six losses last season were by less than a touchdown, and five were by 10 points or fewer. 'There's a small margin of error for all the teams, and we have to figure out how to be on the right side of that margin, whether it's turnovers or missed opportunities on defense, maybe a lack of communication here and there,' O'Brien said. 'My point is it comes down to seven or eight, maybe nine plays in a game that make a big difference.' O'Brien likes to leverage local connections in recruiting It's no secret that BC faces stiff competition in recruiting from schools that can offer more NIL money, larger stadiums, or more trophies in their cases, so to lock down his top prospects, O'Brien presents BC as the whole package: a great education in a major city, where players can earn money and play in a Power Five conference. While O'Brien recruits all over the country, he also likes to sell local players on the idea that their families can attend every game, and he tries to use BC's identity to his advantage. 'We recruit at every Catholic school in the country,' he said. O'Brien also said he doesn't put much stock into prospect rankings and stars. 'I want to see what they do on the field when they get there,' he said. 'We have a process of how we evaluate prospects, and I think we're on the right path.' Emma Healy can be reached at
Hamilton Spectator
3 days ago
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Chargers back in San Diego for 2 days at school where Harbaugh landed 1st head coaching job
SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Chargers returned to San Diego on Tuesday for the first time since they bolted for Los Angeles eight years ago, holding the first of two practices at the small college stadium where Jim Harbaugh began his head coaching career in the mid-2000s. Harbaugh ran the Chargers through their first padded practice of training camp at Torero Stadium at the University of San Diego, a hilltop Jesuit school about five miles west of the site where they used to play. It was just the second time the Chargers have held a practice in San Diego County since 2017, when owner Dean Spanos moved them to Los Angeles after he was unable to get a stadium deal in San Diego. They held a walkthrough at Camp Pendleton in far northern San Diego County during minicamp in 2024. The Bolts haven't held a public event or practice here since their acrimonious split with the city they called home for 56 seasons. Tickets to Tuesday's practice were made available to active-duty military and veterans, and tickets to Wednesday's practice were available to season ticket holders. The 6,500-seat stadium appeared half full. A dozen or so fans watched from a public sidewalk overlooking the stadium. There were a lot of No. 10 Justin Herbert jerseys in the crowd, and also some from the San Diego days, including Philip Rivers — who quarterbacked the Chargers in both cities — LaDainian Tomlinson and Junior Seau. The Chargers were scheduled to hold a walkthrough on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln on Tuesday evening. While some San Diegans still follow the Chargers, many remain bitter or have moved on from the NFL. Harbaugh said the idea to practice in San Diego 'came from the organization. I heard the idea and said, 'Heck yeah, let's do it and a suggestion, if I might, let's do it at USD.' This is about as good as it gets.' Harbaugh was asked if having practices here was the sign of the team extending an olive branch to San Diego, where he still owns a home. 'I don't know anything about that. I never once heard the olive branch analogy used,' he said. 'We love our fans. We love our LA fans, we love San Diego fans, Santa Barbara, Fresno. We just want to go to our fans, wherever they might be. Stockton. I want to go to Stockton. Just all those that come to see us, we want to go to them whenever we can.' Harbaugh played for the Chargers in 1999, when he replaced injured quarterback Ryan Leaf, and in 2000, when he started five games during a 1-15 season. He said he often visited USD for basketball and baseball games and befriended Monsignor Daniel Dillabough. 'One basketball game I asked him if we could go look at the football field,' Harbaugh said. 'I stood on the top of the hill and said, 'This is incredible. Someday, when I get done playing, I'm going to go into coaching, and it would be incredible if this is where I coached.'' He was quarterbacks coach of the Oakland Raiders when the USD job opened in 2004. 'I saw they had an opening for head coach and called Monsignor Dillabough and said, 'Remember what I said about five years ago?' And he said, 'I was hoping you would call.'' He coached at USD for three seasons, going 29-6 overall. 'It was my first head coaching opportunity, and the thing I've asked Monsignor before, 'What did you see in me to make you think I'd be a good head football coach?' I'd still like to know. He hasn't told me that.' Harbaugh said he wanted to get the blessing of Al Davis, who asked, ''Why would you do that? I thought you wanted to be a pro coach.' I said, 'Mr. Davis, I really want to emulate your career. I know you started as a college coach and I want to take the same path.' And he said, 'Yeah, but that was USC, not USD.' That's a fond memory for me.' Harbaugh went on to coach at Stanford, the San Francisco 49ers and Michigan. He led the Wolverines to the national championship to cap the scandal-plagued 2023 season. He was hired by the Chargers and led them to an 11-6 record last season before they lost to Houston in the wild-card round. He said being back at USD was 'incredible. As the buses came through, the little hairs on my arm were standing up.' Harbaugh praised Rivers, who on Monday announced in a video that he was retiring as a Charger. The quarterback played 16 seasons for the Chargers and last played for Indianapolis in 2020. 'Nothing but the highest respect for Philip Rivers,' Harbaugh said. 'He was so good and I just appreciate him in every way. The thing that always stands out to me is coaching against Philip, when the 49ers played the Chargers, his enthusiasm for the game is right there with Derwin James. 'His ability to talk, during the play, sometimes he was directing it at the players, one time he directed it over at me,' Harbaugh said. 'Really, I guess, talk smack, as the young people say, and to do it without swearing is just another level of eliteness. Tremendous competitor. Everyone in the organization has love and appreciation for Philip Rivers. We're excited he's going to retire as a Charger.' ___ AP NFL:
San Francisco Chronicle
3 days ago
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Chargers back in San Diego for 2 days at school where Harbaugh landed 1st head coaching job
SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Chargers returned to San Diego on Tuesday for the first time since they bolted for Los Angeles eight years ago, holding the first of two practices at the small college stadium where Jim Harbaugh began his head coaching career in the mid-2000s. Harbaugh ran the Chargers through their first padded practice of training camp at Torero Stadium at the University of San Diego, a hilltop Jesuit school about five miles west of the site where they used to play. It was just the second time the Chargers have held a practice in San Diego County since 2017, when owner Dean Spanos moved them to Los Angeles after he was unable to get a stadium deal in San Diego. They held a walkthrough at Camp Pendleton in far northern San Diego County during minicamp in 2024. The Bolts haven't held a public event or practice here since their acrimonious split with the city they called home for 56 seasons. Tickets to Tuesday's practice were made available to active-duty military and veterans, and tickets to Wednesday's practice were available to season ticket holders. The 6,500-seat stadium appeared half full. A dozen or so fans watched from a public sidewalk overlooking the stadium. There were a lot of No. 10 Justin Herbert jerseys in the crowd, and also some from the San Diego days, including Philip Rivers — who quarterbacked the Chargers in both cities — LaDainian Tomlinson and Junior Seau. The Chargers were scheduled to hold a walkthrough on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln on Tuesday evening. While some San Diegans still follow the Chargers, many remain bitter or have moved on from the NFL. Harbaugh said the idea to practice in San Diego 'came from the organization. I heard the idea and said, 'Heck yeah, let's do it and a suggestion, if I might, let's do it at USD.' This is about as good as it gets.' Harbaugh was asked if having practices here was the sign of the team extending an olive branch to San Diego, where he still owns a home. 'I don't know anything about that. I never once heard the olive branch analogy used,' he said. "We love our fans. We love our LA fans, we love San Diego fans, Santa Barbara, Fresno. We just want to go to our fans, wherever they might be. Stockton. I want to go to Stockton. Just all those that come to see us, we want to go to them whenever we can.' Harbaugh played for the Chargers in 1999, when he replaced injured quarterback Ryan Leaf, and in 2000, when he started five games during a 1-15 season. He said he often visited USD for basketball and baseball games and befriended Monsignor Daniel Dillabough. 'One basketball game I asked him if we could go look at the football field,' Harbaugh said. 'I stood on the top of the hill and said, 'This is incredible. Someday, when I get done playing, I'm going to go into coaching, and it would be incredible if this is where I coached.'' He was quarterbacks coach of the Oakland Raiders when the USD job opened in 2004. 'I saw they had an opening for head coach and called Monsignor Dillabough and said, 'Remember what I said about five years ago?' And he said, 'I was hoping you would call.'' He coached at USD for three seasons, going 29-6 overall. 'It was my first head coaching opportunity, and the thing I've asked Monsignor before, 'What did you see in me to make you think I'd be a good head football coach?' I'd still like to know. He hasn't told me that.' Harbaugh said he wanted to get the blessing of Al Davis, who asked, ''Why would you do that? I thought you wanted to be a pro coach.' I said, 'Mr. Davis, I really want to emulate your career. I know you started as a college coach and I want to take the same path.' And he said, 'Yeah, but that was USC, not USD.' That's a fond memory for me.' Harbaugh went on to coach at Stanford, the San Francisco 49ers and Michigan. He led the Wolverines to the national championship to cap the scandal-plagued 2023 season. He was hired by the Chargers and led them to an 11-6 record last season before they lost to Houston in the wild-card round. He said being back at USD was 'incredible. As the buses came through, the little hairs on my arm were standing up.' Harbaugh praised Rivers, who on Monday announced in a video that he was retiring as a Charger. The quarterback played 16 seasons for the Chargers and last played for Indianapolis in 2020. 'Nothing but the highest respect for Philip Rivers,' Harbaugh said. 'He was so good and I just appreciate him in every way. The thing that always stands out to me is coaching against Philip, when the 49ers played the Chargers, his enthusiasm for the game is right there with Derwin James. 'His ability to talk, during the play, sometimes he was directing it at the players, one time he directed it over at me,' Harbaugh said. 'Really, I guess, talk smack, as the young people say, and to do it without swearing is just another level of eliteness. Tremendous competitor. Everyone in the organization has love and appreciation for Philip Rivers. We're excited he's going to retire as a Charger.'
Fox Sports
3 days ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Chargers back in San Diego for 2 days at school where Harbaugh landed 1st head coaching job
Associated Press SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Chargers returned to San Diego on Tuesday for the first time since they bolted for Los Angeles eight years ago, holding the first of two practices at the small college stadium where Jim Harbaugh began his head coaching career in the mid-2000s. Harbaugh ran the Chargers through their first padded practice of training camp at Torero Stadium at the University of San Diego, a hilltop Jesuit school about five miles west of the site where they used to play. It was just the second time the Chargers have held a practice in San Diego County since 2017, when owner Dean Spanos moved them to Los Angeles after he was unable to get a stadium deal in San Diego. They held a walkthrough at Camp Pendleton in far northern San Diego County during minicamp in 2024. The Bolts haven't held a public event or practice here since their acrimonious split with the city they called home for 56 seasons. Tickets to Tuesday's practice were made available to active-duty military and veterans, and tickets to Wednesday's practice were available to season ticket holders. The 6,500-seat stadium appeared half full. A dozen or so fans watched from a public sidewalk overlooking the stadium. There were a lot of No. 10 Justin Herbert jerseys in the crowd, and also some from the San Diego days, including Philip Rivers — who quarterbacked the Chargers in both cities — LaDainian Tomlinson and Junior Seau. The Chargers were scheduled to hold a walkthrough on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln on Tuesday evening. While some San Diegans still follow the Chargers, many remain bitter or have moved on from the NFL. Harbaugh said the idea to practice in San Diego 'came from the organization. I heard the idea and said, 'Heck yeah, let's do it and a suggestion, if I might, let's do it at USD.' This is about as good as it gets.' Harbaugh was asked if having practices here was the sign of the team extending an olive branch to San Diego, where he still owns a home. 'I don't know anything about that. I never once heard the olive branch analogy used,' he said. "We love our fans. We love our LA fans, we love San Diego fans, Santa Barbara, Fresno. We just want to go to our fans, wherever they might be. Stockton. I want to go to Stockton. Just all those that come to see us, we want to go to them whenever we can.' Harbaugh played for the Chargers in 1999, when he replaced injured quarterback Ryan Leaf, and in 2000, when he started five games during a 1-15 season. He said he often visited USD for basketball and baseball games and befriended Monsignor Daniel Dillabough. 'One basketball game I asked him if we could go look at the football field,' Harbaugh said. 'I stood on the top of the hill and said, 'This is incredible. Someday, when I get done playing, I'm going to go into coaching, and it would be incredible if this is where I coached.'' He was quarterbacks coach of the Oakland Raiders when the USD job opened in 2004. 'I saw they had an opening for head coach and called Monsignor Dillabough and said, 'Remember what I said about five years ago?' And he said, 'I was hoping you would call.'' He coached at USD for three seasons, going 29-6 overall. 'It was my first head coaching opportunity, and the thing I've asked Monsignor before, 'What did you see in me to make you think I'd be a good head football coach?' I'd still like to know. He hasn't told me that.' Harbaugh said he wanted to get the blessing of Al Davis, who asked, ''Why would you do that? I thought you wanted to be a pro coach.' I said, 'Mr. Davis, I really want to emulate your career. I know you started as a college coach and I want to take the same path.' And he said, 'Yeah, but that was USC, not USD.' That's a fond memory for me.' Harbaugh went on to coach at Stanford, the San Francisco 49ers and Michigan. He led the Wolverines to the national championship to cap the scandal-plagued 2023 season. He was hired by the Chargers and led them to an 11-6 record last season before they lost to Houston in the wild-card round. He said being back at USD was 'incredible. As the buses came through, the little hairs on my arm were standing up.' Harbaugh praised Rivers, who on Monday announced in a video that he was retiring as a Charger. The quarterback played 16 seasons for the Chargers and last played for Indianapolis in 2020. 'Nothing but the highest respect for Philip Rivers,' Harbaugh said. 'He was so good and I just appreciate him in every way. The thing that always stands out to me is coaching against Philip, when the 49ers played the Chargers, his enthusiasm for the game is right there with Derwin James. 'His ability to talk, during the play, sometimes he was directing it at the players, one time he directed it over at me,' Harbaugh said. 'Really, I guess, talk smack, as the young people say, and to do it without swearing is just another level of eliteness. Tremendous competitor. Everyone in the organization has love and appreciation for Philip Rivers. We're excited he's going to retire as a Charger.' ___ AP NFL: recommended Item 1 of 3
Toronto Star
3 days ago
- Sport
- Toronto Star
Chargers back in San Diego for 2 days at school where Harbaugh landed 1st head coaching job
SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Chargers returned to San Diego on Tuesday for the first time since they bolted for Los Angeles eight years ago, holding the first of two practices at the small college stadium where Jim Harbaugh began his head coaching career in the mid-2000s. Harbaugh ran the Chargers through their first padded practice of training camp at Torero Stadium at the University of San Diego, a hilltop Jesuit school about five miles west of the site where they used to play.
