Whipple seen as BC's choice
While Boston College athletic director Gene DeFilippo interviewed a candidate in Wisconsin yesterday and was making his way to New Jersey to interview more, there were growing indications that he already has decided on the school's next football coach: Mark Whipple.
Whipple, the former University of Massachusetts head coach who is currently quarterbacks coach for the Steelers, was interviewed by DeFilippo Sunday in Pittsburgh, and they spoke again Monday. Whipple talked with other representatives from the school yesterday.
Asked last night about his interview, Whipple said, "Like Bill [Cowher] said in his press conference the other day, I felt like it went well. It's out of my hands and right now I'm just preparing Ben Roethlisberger to face the Carolina Panthers."
Asked if he had been offered the job, Whipple said, "I haven't heard anything. That would have to come from BC, anyway."
But sources with the Steelers, the Atlantic Coast Conference, and BC said yesterday that Whipple was DeFilippo's first choice and could be named as the replacement for Tom O'Brien by early next week unless there is a major breakdown.
Whipple, who coached UMass to the Division 1-AA national title in 1998, already was looking at recruiting lists and contemplating a coaching staff, the sources said.
In case the plan to hire Whipple fell through, though, DeFilippo and vice president for human resources Leo V. Sullivan were in Wisconsin to interview Packers offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski.
The 43-year-old Jagodzinski has BC ties; he was offensive line coach and offensive coordinator from 1997-98 under O'Brien. On his weekly television show yesterday, Packers coach Mike McCarthy confirmed Jagodzinski's meeting with BC officials.
"Personally, I'm excited for him, but professionally I think it's a great opportunity," McCarthy said. "We wish him luck and will help him out any way we can. He's a big part of what we do on offense."
BC's search party then headed East, presumably to East Rutherford, N.J., to interview Giants quarterbacks coach Kevin Gilbride.
Gilbride, 55, of New Haven, is in his 32d year of coaching and 17th in the NFL, after stints with the Oilers, Jaguars, Chargers, Steelers, and Bills.
Unlike Steelers quarterbacks coach Mark Whipple, thought by some to be the leading candidate, Gilbride likely would not be available to BC until after the NFL playoffs, with the Giants (7-6) in contention for a postseason berth.
DeFilippo is also expected to interview the University of Richmond's third-year coach, Dave Clawson, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
A minority candidate may have emerged as well as The
Floyd Keith, executive director of the Black Coaches Association, said BC's search party consulted with the BCA seeking a recommendation on candidates. Keith, however, declined to specify whom the BCA recommended.
Meanwhile, interim head coach Frank Spaziani, the Eagles' defensive coordinator, paused yesterday during preparation's for BC's Dec. 30 bowl game against Navy to reiterate his interest in the job, saying he had yet to officially interview.
But all those contingencies are just insurance for the Eagles and DeFilippo in case the Whipple deal falls through.
Mark Blaudschun of the Globe staff contributed to this report; Michael Vega can be reached at vega@globe.com. 
