What BC coach Bill O’Brien had to say about the Pinstripe Bowl matchup against Nebraska

Bill O’Brien considers himself extremely fortunate that the game of football has taken him to countless iconic venues over the years.

In all his travels, though, he’s never been to Yankee Stadium, in any capacity. That will change Dec. 28, when Boston College faces Nebraska in the Pinstripe Bowl at noon.

“This is very, very cool, to have a chance to go coach a football game in Yankee Stadium,” O’Brien said.

O’Brien, who grew up in Andover and attended St. John’s Prep, will have no problem putting his baseball loyalties to the side for the day. No, he doesn’t plan on wearing a Red Sox shirt underneath his jacket.

While the Bronx isn’t quite as local as last year’s equally tropical bowl destination, Fenway Park, it will give Northeast-based BC fans a chance to more conveniently see the action in person again.

“We have a lot of our fan base that lives in that area, lives in the Tri-State area, and New York City has some great alums in that area,” O’Brien said.

Another element of the matchup that appeals to O’Brien is the chance to face a historic program such as Nebraska. While the Cornhuskers have been down in recent years, and are trying to cement their first winning season since 2016, the program still entices O’Brien.

He fondly remembers watching Nebraska games in the glory days, including the 1984 Orange Bowl when coach Tom Osborne elected to go for 2 against Miami. O’Brien said that’s one of those games that “you never forget.”

While with Penn State in 2012 and ‘13, he had the chance to coach against Nebraska, when the Nittany Lions lost two close games to the Cornhuskers. While the Eagles would be grateful for any bowl opportunity, it’s clear O’Brien relishes the chance to compete against a national brand such as Nebraska.

“Obviously, I’m familiar with the Big Ten,” O’Brien said. “The history of Nebraska in college football in this country is fantastic. To be able to go [to Yankee Stadium], it’s a great opportunity for our guys. It means a lot.”

O’Brien also has crossed paths with Nebraska coach Matt Rhule. When O’Brien got the job at Penn State, he met Rhule, who played in State College and is well known in the area. O’Brien has had great admiration for Rhule during his stops with Temple, Baylor, the Carolina Panthers, and more.

Rhule joined Tom Coughlin’s staff with the Giants as an assistant offensive line coach in the early 2010s. Coughlin, of course, was the coach at BC in the early 1990s. So, while the schools have never met in football, there is some familiarity between the sides.

There’s plenty of overlap on the field, as well. O’Brien highlighted the prowess of the Cornhuskers’ defensive line, an area where the Eagles have made major strides this season behind the brilliance of Donovan Ezeiruaku.

O’Brien called Nebraska freshman Dylan Raiola an “excellent young quarterback,” noting that Alabama recruited Raiola when O’Brien was there. He said Raiola will present a “very difficult challenge.”

While Nebraska has lost five of its last six, O’Brien made it clear that the Cornhuskers (listed as 4½-point favorites) are dangerous in every area.

“At the end of the day, we both lost some tough games, but Nebraska is a really good football team,” O’Brien said.

When asked whether any Eagles could opt out of the game as they prepare for the NFL Draft, O’Brien kept it general. Ezeiruaku and offensive tackle Ozzy Trapilo are two players who will have to decide.

“As of right now, we’ll see,” O’Brien said. “I’m not ready to really talk about that right now. Some guys are still making decisions. They’ll do what’s in the best interest of their own careers and Boston College. We’ll see how it all shakes out.”

O’Brien also said the bowl game gives young players who redshirted this year a chance to potentially see the field without burning any eligibility. Of course, they’ll have to earn it on the practice field, but O’Brien said he’s “really looking forward” to that aspect of the game as a glimpse into the future.

While the Eagles are underdogs, and O’Brien has full respect for the Big Ten, he doesn’t understand why people sleep on the Atlantic Coast Conference. O’Brien was pleased to see a Southern Methodist team that barely outlasted BC make the College Football Playoff.

The Pinstripe Bowl is a chance for the Eagles to make a statement, as a program and for the conference as a whole.

“I know there’s a lot of back and forth between the conferences and all that,” O’Brien said. “I get it. I’ve kind of said my piece on that. I think the ACC’s a very difficult league. I’ve coached in all three conferences. All these games are tough.”