Boston College coach Jeff Hafley is preparing the Eagles to face a ranked opponent with a college football legend working the opposite sideline.
BC will look to remain unbeaten when the Eagles (2-0) host No. 12 North Carolina (1-0) in an ACC encounter at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.
Tar Heels’ head coach Mack Brown has a hall of fame resume that includes a national championship, multiple conference titles and 14 bowl victories. Hafley, who is in his first season as a head coach, knows he will be going up against top talent and a master game-planner.
“I have so much respect for coach Brown and what he’s done,” said Hafley, during his weekly Zoom briefing on Tuesday. “He’s a guy I looked up to when he was at Texas and, certainly, I watched him when he was doing TV.
“It’s an honor for me to have the opportunity to coach against him.”
Brown’s first coaching job at what is now an FBS institution was Tulane (1985-87). Brown gravitated to the ACC and served his first stint at North Carolina (1988-97), a sustained run at a Power-5 program.
Brown took over at Texas in 1998 and guided the Longhorns to the 2005 BCS championship, two Big 12 crowns and six Big 12 South Division titles in 16 seasons. The 13-0 Longhorns upset Pete Carroll’s 12-1 defending national champion USC Trojans in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 4, 2006. Some college football pundits consider it the most dramatic national title game ever played.
USC had two Heisman Trophy winners in the backfield, running back Reggie Bush (2004) and quarterback Matt Leinart (2005). Texas quarterback Vince Young, who engineered the game-winning drive, was named MVP.
Brown retired and spent five seasons as a commentator for ESPN. He returned to UNC last season and has a career record of 251-128-1.
“He’s got to be one of the best college coaches of all time and the cool part he is such a good ambassador for football,” said Hafley. “When we sit on those Zoom calls, as a new coach I kind of keep my mouth shut and watch and listen.
“If they ask me a question I answer and give my opinion. But seeing what he’s brought to college football and how much he cares about the game and loves the game and want to protect the game, I just have so much respect for him.
“When you look at his career, he’s done an incredible job everywhere he’s been.”
Teacher-pupil
Hafley has a coaching connection with a member of Brown’s staff that originated in Loudonville, N.Y. UNC co-defensive coordinator/safeties coach Jay Bateman was the head coach at Siena (2000-2003). Hafley was a senior wide receiver in Bateman’s first season and briefly stayed on to coach the position.
“Coach Bateman was actually my head coach my senior year in college and I coached the wide receivers in the spring,” said Hafley. “I almost stayed and coached there but decided to go to WPI.
“He’s had a lot of success. He did an unbelievable job at Army and I’ve kept in touch with him.”
The big hurt
BC outside linebacker Isaiah McDuffie was the alpha dog on the Eagles’ defense in wins over Duke and Texas State.
The 6-1, 224-pound, redshirt junior from Buffalo, N.Y., had six tackles, half a sack and a drive-killing red zone interception in BC’s season-opening win at Duke.
McDuffie dominated play against the Bobcats last Saturday. He finished with a team high 10.5 tackles with three tackles for a loss and two sacks. The Eagles’ will need a comparable performance from McDuffie against the Tar Heels.
“I think it’s just kind of staying level-headed and knowing you can’t do it all by yourself,” said McDuffie. “I really depend on my teammates and I couldn’t have done that by myself.
“My game now is just stacking up practices.”
