BC seniors eye Irish sweepstakes
There was a time when beating Holy Cross made the season for Boston College. Those who remember that era never dreamed there would be a BC senior class with a chance to sweep four games from national power Notre Dame.
But that's the position BC tight end David Kashetta and his fellow seniors find themselves in, and Kashetta hopes the seniors can get out the brooms Saturday in South Bend, Ind.
"The atmosphere is unmatched," said Kashetta. "It's a great place to watch a football game, or play a football game, regardless of how good the Notre Dame team is. It's a great environment. I can't just pinpoint why we've done so well against them. I just think that, in the past, guys played really hard against them, and stepped up in a big game."
BC defeated the Irish, 21-17, at The Heights in 2001; 14-7 at Notre Dame Stadium in '02; and 27-25 at Alumni Stadium last year.
Kashetta had two receptions for 41 yards, including a 26-yard touchdown, in last year's victory.
"We've had a little luck on our side in those games," Kashetta said. "Sometimes you need some luck. We played BC football on offense. When we needed to, we made plays.
"The defense on this year's Notre Dame team looks very impressive. They have the best defense we've played to this point. I have great respect for Pittsburgh, Penn State, and the rest of the teams we've played, but, on film, Notre Dame [ranked No. 24, 5-2 record] looks really good. They have most of their guys back from last year. I've played against them, so I know how well they play defense. We have our work cut out on offense this week."
The Eagles (4-2, 1-1 Big East) are hoping to make amends for a disappointing 20-17 loss in overtime at Pittsburgh last Saturday. BC piled up 423 total yards, but couldn't punch the ball into the end zone often enough to win.
"The major cause of what happened on offense is that we didn't succeed in doing what we were coached to do," said Kashetta. "The coaches put in a great game plan, and we didn't perform well enough to win. We have the talent to do great things on offense. But we couldn't move the ball on the ground, so we had to focus on the pass, and that's not really our offense. We have a great quarterback [Paul Peterson], and great receivers, and we can pass the ball, but a lot of our stuff comes off the run, and we couldn't get it going.
"I know the footing was bad [it had rained off and on during the game], but that's not an excuse. If it was bad footing for us, it was bad footing for them, also. Personally, it didn't affect me."
Kashetta, from Westport, Conn., has caught nine passes for 82 yards and a TD (a 6-yard grab vs. Penn State) this season, and is an effective part of the offense. He has a high of five receptions in a game (vs. Central Michigan in '02), and has scored five touchdowns in his career, But, at 6 feet 4 inches, 255 pounds, Kashetta has come to pride himself on his blocking.
"I consider myself a blocking tight end, and that's what the position has evolved into this year," he said. "I'm OK with that. Whatever I need to do, I'll do. If I need to catch 10 passes, I'll do it. If I need to block all game and not catch a pass, I'll do that, too."
