Glasper in running to return
While Boston College's passing defense has left much to be desired in its 3-1 start -- ranking 117th out of 119 Division 1-A teams in the nation (300.3 yards per game) -- the Eagles, who watched North Carolina State march 72 yards for the winning touchdown (with 46 seconds and no timeouts left), may have some help on the way in the form of senior strong safety Ryan Glasper, who has been idle since the spring, nursing a surgically repaired torn labrum and cartilage in his left hip.
Although sophomore Paul Anderson, who arrived too late to help DeJuan Tribble defend Daniel Evans's winning 34-yard pass to John Dunlap in last Saturday night's 17-15 loss, is listed as the starting strong safety on BC's depth chart, it was Glasper who answered the call when defensive coordinator Frank Spaziani summoned the ``first regular" defense to line up during yesterday's practice.
The sight of Glasper, a 5-foot-11-inch, 215-pounder from Southington, Conn., working with the first-team defense left some to speculate the three-year starter might be on the verge of seeing his first action of the season in Saturday's nonconference matchup against Division 1-AA Maine.
``It'd mean a ton," said junior defensive end Nick Larkin, asked about possibly getting Glasper back for Game 5 when it appeared at the beginning of the season he might not play at all in 2006.
``He's an emotional spark," Larkin added. ``He is the leader of the defense. I mean, coming into this year he was one of the big leaders, and he still is. He's the only fourth-year senior on our defense, so it does mean a lot. The guy does know the defense inside and out and to have that veteran player in the secondary would really help us out."
Glasper, who made a game-clinching interception in the end zone in BC's 27-21 victory over Boise State in the MPC Computers Bowl last season , donned pads last week for the first time since undergoing hip surgery April 11. He practiced last Tuesday and Wednesday before experiencing soreness and sitting out last Thursday's practice.
``Yeah, I definitely was sore, but I'm getting better," Glasper said. `` I'm going to keep going and keep grinding and try to get a full week's practice in this week, and then the coaches will make their call."
Last week, coach Tom O'Brien, asked about the return of Glasper and junior defensive tackle Justin Bell (Achilles') to the practice field, said, ``They've been working hard to get in shape and to get themselves in position to get back on the field, so it's going to take some time to get into the football swing of things. Now, whether they can or can't, time will tell."
Glasper declined to set a timetable on his return, saying, ``I think if I set a target, that would be counterproductive. I might hinder myself from getting better because I might push myself too hard, so I've got to try to read my body. It's tough because I want to play, but at the same time I've got to put my health first and take it one day at a time."
Glasper said he was injured during a pickup seven-on-seven session in late January. ``We were warming up and I just took the wrong step," he said. ``Apparently, it was from years of playing, wear and tear, and no one knows why, but it just happened."
It put Glasper on the shelf for spring practices, preseason camp, and the first four games. `` Sitting out is probably one of the worst experiences I've ever had to deal with, especially considering the fact that in 14 years of playing I've never sat out a season of football," Glasper said. ``Watching the first home game against Clemson, I was nearly in tears watching the guys come out because for the first time I felt like I wasn't a part of something. I mean, they were going out there and I'd been with them for three years."
Asked to gauge where he was in his recovery, Glasper said, `` I think it just comes right down to heart. You can't put a percentage or anything on it, on how I feel or anything. I just know deep down in my heart I'm meant to play football and, ultimately, that's going to happen."
Perhaps sooner than expected.
