by Charlotte, North Carolina. At 5:48 a.m. on Thursday, Boston College football coach Bill O. Brien welcomed his team to Hanscom Field’s lobby with a secret he could no longer keep to himself.
After finishing his Dunkin’ (extra-large hot with two Splendas and almond milk), O Brien was energized and ready to talk football nonstop for the next eight hours at ACC Kickoff in Charlotte, North Carolina, but at the moment, he was not thinking about it.
To demonstrate a truly amazing athletic achievement—his first hole-in-one—O Brien assembled his players around his phone.
The day before, O Brien, who has a 20-handicap, played with his son Michael and two friends on the par-3 16th hole at Cummaquid Golf Club. On a windy day, he one-hopped the ball straight into the hole.
His experiences as a coach have been more fulfilling, but as an athlete
Perhaps it’s No. 1, O Brien remarked giddily. It was unthinkable.
Although O Brien is known for being a fiery and passionate coach, spending a day with him on the Challenger 604 jet that transported him and the four players—Logan Taylor, Daveon Crouch, KP Price, and Lewis Bond—to media day showed his humorous, considerate, and empathetic side.
His favorite series are Seinfeld and The Office, and his favorite characters are Michael Scott and Kramer. He reads a lot and frequently manages to read three novels at once. He uses a fork to cut his cheese, egg, and sausage.
He is a largeThe Beach Boys and Guns N Roses are among the songs in Noah Kahanfan’s playlist from the previous season. When he genuinely enjoys something, he lets out a high-pitched laugh. He can talk for four hours at a time, and he had to.
During a busy and hurried day at the Hilton Charlotte Uptown, O Brien sat back and allowed others get closer. When they did, he asked intelligent questions about summer vacations or relatives.
A close buddy commented, “He sees everything.”BC Football’s chief of staff, Berj Najarian. He is familiar with everyone’s name. I find that to be astounding. It makes no difference who it is. It can be an intern he met once, or it might be someone everyone knows. That, in my opinion, speaks to his humanity.
At 5:54 a.m., the Eagles boarded the plane in Bedford in a single-file line after applauding the hole-in-one as a team. The players were dispersed in the rear, joined by two staff members, while O Brien and Najarian sat at the front.
While some took naps, others talked, ate breakfast sandwiches, and practiced their speeches for the occasion. O Brien spent a portion of the flight refining his talking points and solidifying his understanding of the history and growth of each player.
If at all possible, he instructed Jordan Arnold, the creative producer, to reduce the number of photos of him taken during the day.
He said, “You don’t want this fat face.”
O Brien stated that he is making every effort to work out and that he will lose thirty pounds prior to the season’s opening match against Fordham on August 30.
O Brien attached his red Vineyard Vines tie on his dark blue suit, white shirt, and blue and white shoes as the jet was about to land. On his first attempt, he completed it in 15 seconds while seated without a mirror.
“I’m a pro,” he declared. I’ve done this before.
After changing, Taylor and Price each came out of the small bathroom in the back, and O Brien was prepared with jokes. He claimed that Price, a stylish safety, looked like a movie star and that he had no idea how the 6-foot-7-inch, 308-pound lineman Taylor fit in there.
Taylor argued that it wasn’t that horrible.
At 7:56 a.m., O Brien switched from Bill to Coach O Brien and put on his sunglasses.
He went outside Charlotte Douglas International Airport’s executive terminal, where the Eagles were met by a large black van. While his teammates laughed, Price took selfies outdoors. The BC contingent arrived at the hotel after a twenty-four-minute ride, rode the elevator to the third floor, and waited for the next step in a mostly deserted room.
A surprising guest arrived at the table shortly before nine in the morning.
After shaking hands for less than ten seconds, Bill Belichick and O Brien got right into the game of golf.
When he told him about his 155-yard hole-in-one, O Brien grinned. In addition to congratulating him, Belichick mentioned that he also had one, which just so happens to be a 200-yarder. They expressed their regret for not seeing each other on Nantucket this year and agreed to meet up there the following summer.
The BC players attempted to ignore the chat and focus on their phones, but they couldn’t help but stare at the unusual sight that was taking place in front of them.
“My skin is burning right now,” Crouch, a linebacker, muttered.
Longtime Clemson coach Dabo Swinney came to the table to shake O Brien’s hand four minutes later. Swinney said that he didn’t have a hole-in-one when O Brien gushed about it once more before shifting the topic to football.
Swinney, whose Tigers travel to North Carolina (October 4) and British Columbia (October 11) in back-to-back weeks, stated, “We’re playing the Patriots organization in the month of October.” Incredibly so.
The Reese’s Senior Bowl director, Drew Fabianich, came next and handed out flyers to each player. O Brien recalled his 2018 Senior Bowl victory, in which his team, captained by Mike White, crushed Baker Mayfield’s team 45-16. He claimed that whenever he sees Mayfield, he is reminded of him.
After chatting and reminiscing for more than an hour, O Brien and the players took the podium at 10 a.m. and answered questions mostly about the team’s future.
Why not us? Bond, a wide receiver, said. How come it can’t be us?
After doing an interview with ACC Network, O Brien went to the lobby to do eight additional interviews over the course of two hours, with outlets ranging from the Louisville Courier Journal to North Carolina Sports Network.
From Belichick to Bond, he was prepared for everything, working automatically while making sure he provided precise and in-depth responses.
I apologize; it’s incorrect. O Brien joked, “Bill.” It’s the Boston Irishman.
At these kinds of gatherings, O Brien is an experienced veteran. He manages to avoid expressing anything provocative while still being sincere. He seems unfazed by anything, and he gives interviewers praise when a question genuinely piques his interest.
Between portions, he sent his wife, Colleen, a text, and then obediently proceeded to the next task.
He looked at a text message from Patriots coach Mike Vrabel about the hole-in-one during one interview. The news continued to spread and served as caffeine through O Brien s largely repetitive day. He was still in shock that it had occurred on the day he shot a 91. He had a 6, 5, 6, 5, 6, and 6 on the back nine before it.
Just call me Ace, O Brien said.
Then came more TV interviews, as O Brien continued to cruise on an empty stomach. He conducted 21 over six hours, with just one bathroom break.
Finally, the day concluded at 4:04 p.m., and the players and O Brien signed autographs before arriving at the van, where Chick-fil-A was waiting. They ran into Swinney again at the airport, and he asked Taylor to shrink a few inches before October.
The plane departed at 4:58 p.m. O Brien s first yawn of the day came at 5:10 p.m., then he took a power nap for 25 minutes before perking up as the plane prepared to land.
All right, guys, he said when they hit the ground. See you Tuesday. Rock and roll.
When a cart outside the plane only fit some of the group, O Brien let Price, Taylor, Bond, and Crouch take the seats and chose to walk back himself.
Rejuvenated and ready to attack the next day with a similar vigor, he turned, offered a slight smile, and continued to move forward.
Players first, he said.
