Boston College football coach Tom O'Brien said yesterday that Mathias Kiwanuka looked ``fair'' in his return to practice Monday, and that it might be a game-time decision on whether the talented defensive end will play at No. 3 Virginia Tech tomorrow night.
A few minutes later, Kiwanuka sounded much more optimistic.
``There are conflicting reports about how I looked and how I felt,'' Kiwanuka joked before stepping onto the rain-soaked Alumni Stadium turf for practice.Kiwanuka suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee against Virginia on Oct. 8. He missed the Wake Forest game the following week and did not participate in No. 13 BC's off-week practices.
Kiwanuka, who expected to meet with team doctors last night, said his activity was not limited in his first practice back Monday.
``It was very encouraging the way everything worked out,'' he said. ``I still don't have a definite yes or no, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to be there.''
O'Brien used a more cautious tone.
``The medical people have to say he's all right,'' O'Brien said. ``And you can't put him out there if he can't defend himself.''
The Eagles gave up 30 points to Wake Forest Oct. 15. In Virginia Tech, they'll be facing the top-ranked scoring offense (37.7 points per game) in the ACC.
``It's a tough situation for our defense,'' O'Brien said of Kiwanuka's absence. ``He's obviously the leader of the defense. We made it through one game without him, but ? and this is no disrespect to Wake Forest ? Virginia Tech's a whole different ball game in Blacksburg (tomorrow) night.''
Kiwanuka's return certainly would give BC an emotional jolt.
``I still think we've done a fairly good job without him, but obviously, having him back would be huge,'' fellow DE Nick Larkin said. ``He's not only the captain of our team but Having him not only gives the team confidence, but it also hurts the other team because now they have to account for (him).'' one of the motivators of our team. . . .
Willing and able
O'Brien said defensive tackle Al Washington (elbow) and cornerback Jazzmen Williams (quad) ? both of whom missed the Wake Forest game ? and DeJuan Tribble (hamstring) are likely to be ready to play. . . .
ce, but it also hurts the other team because now they have to account for (him).''
A few minutes later, Kiwanuka sounded much more optimistic.
``There are conflicting reports about how I looked and how I felt,'' Kiwanuka joked before stepping onto the rain-soaked Alumni Stadium turf for practice.Kiwanuka suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee against Virginia on Oct. 8. He missed the Wake Forest game the following week and did not participate in No. 13 BC's off-week practices.
Kiwanuka, who expected to meet with team doctors last night, said his activity was not limited in his first practice back Monday.
``It was very encouraging the way everything worked out,'' he said. ``I still don't have a definite yes or no, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to be there.''
O'Brien used a more cautious tone.
``The medical people have to say he's all right,'' O'Brien said. ``And you can't put him out there if he can't defend himself.''
The Eagles gave up 30 points to Wake Forest Oct. 15. In Virginia Tech, they'll be facing the top-ranked scoring offense (37.7 points per game) in the ACC.
``It's a tough situation for our defense,'' O'Brien said of Kiwanuka's absence. ``He's obviously the leader of the defense. We made it through one game without him, but ? and this is no disrespect to Wake Forest ? Virginia Tech's a whole different ball game in Blacksburg (tomorrow) night.''
Kiwanuka's return certainly would give BC an emotional jolt.
``I still think we've done a fairly good job without him, but obviously, having him back would be huge,'' fellow DE Nick Larkin said. ``He's not only the captain of our team but Having him not only gives the team confidence, but it also hurts the other team because now they have to account for (him).'' one of the motivators of our team. . . .
Willing and able
O'Brien said defensive tackle Al Washington (elbow) and cornerback Jazzmen Williams (quad) ? both of whom missed the Wake Forest game ? and DeJuan Tribble (hamstring) are likely to be ready to play. . . .
ce, but it also hurts the other team because now they have to account for (him).''
