BOSTON – Players and coaches from Boston College (BC) and Southern Methodist University (SMU) spoke to the media at the Museum of Science Wednesday morning ahead of Thursday’s Wasabi Fenway Bowl.
The Fenway Bowl serves as a glimpse into the future of college football as the Mustangs will join the Eagles as members of the ACC starting next season.
“It’s unique,” said SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee. “Normally, in bowl games, you don’t play conference foes. While we aren’t in the same conference yet, we basically are. Boston College is an opponent we have great respect for. They had Florida State on the ropes earlier in the season. Our guys are excited about the opportunity to play a really good football team.”
“We’re excited, too,” said Boston College head coach Jeff Hafley. “[SMU] is not only a future conference opponent, they’re one of the top teams in the entire country. They won their conference and would have had a very successful season in the ACC.”
The players have met the challenge of new conference opponents with open arms, too.
“We’re going to get a taste of ACC football tomorrow,” said SMU’s sophomore QB, Kevin Jennings. “We’ve got a great opponent we’re going against. It’s going to be a great experience.”
“The addition of the new teams in the conference is going to be interesting,” said BC defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku. “In the ACC, there’s a ‘brand’ of football. Having those new playstyles each week is going to be exciting.”
Back in the Saddle Again
SMU will close out their time in the American Athletic Conference with their best record since the 1987 “death penalty.”
“It’s been really special,” said Lashlee. “We felt like this team could compete to win our conference. That was our ultimate goal. The last time we shared a conference championship was in 1984. We last won outright in 1982. There’s been a lot of firsts or “first time in a long time” that have happened this year. What’s been most gratifying has been doing it for our fans. When the team came back from the death penalty, there was a good 15 years where there was no chance to compete. We lost a generation of fans, but there are a lot of fans who remember 1982 who have been able to experience this. It’s really special to deliver that to them.”
Outside of the chance to get used to a new opponent and make program history with a 12th win, Bowl Week has given the Mustangs a chance to acclimate to and see the sights of Boston.
“This is kind of where America started,” said SMU running back Tyler Lavine. “It’s been really cool to see all the history here and walk where a lot of great people walked. We’ve got a lot of Red Sox fans on our team, too. We were supposed to be in the Fenway Bowl two years ago, so it was exciting to be welcomed back to play here. It’s incredible to play at Fenway Park… to see the history. I’m excited to play in such a historic place.”
The Mustangs will face off against the Eagles at Fenway Park tomorrow at 11:00 AM (ET) on ESPN.
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