Sophomore Matt Ryan was the quarterback of record in Boston College's first ACC victory, a 16-13 overtime win at Clemson Saturday.
But Ryan's efficient showing in Death Valley doesn't guarantee he'll be under center for the Eagles' next game.
BC coach Tom O'Brien said yesterday that senior Quinton Porter, who missed the Clemson game with a sprained right ankle, will move back into the starting spot ? provided he's cleared to play ? when 21st-ranked BC hosts Ball State Saturday.
``I don't have an injury update, but I would say this: If Quinton can play, Quinton will play on Saturday,'' O'Brien said. ``He's our starting quarterback.
``I made the statement a couple of weeks ago or before the season that we are very fortunate to have Matt Ryan in our program. Obviously, he did a tremendous job, and if Matt has to play Saturday, then we all feel very comfortable and we'll rally around him.
Against Clemson, Ryan completed 24-of-42 passes, and 16 of his throws resulted in first downs. But he also threw two interceptions, including one in the end zone.
Ryan experienced a scary moment in the second quarter when he took a vicious shot to the sternum from linebacker David Dunham, a hit O'Brien felt should have been called a penalty.
``(Matt) always is very confident, and I think it just showed his toughness to hang in there after the hit that he took, which, by the way, I guess made every highlight every 10 minutes (Saturday night),'' O'Brien said. ``Hopefully, our director of officials will look at that. It obviously was a hit with a helmet, which is an illegal hit.''
A sizable pocket of BC fanswere among the 79,000 who packed Clemson Memorial Stadium. O'Brien appreciated the support and hopes it's an increasing trend.
``We had tremendous fan support out at BYU, and we had tremendous fans there on Saturday,'' O'Brien said. ``That's another barometer of where the program has come from and where it's going, because we haven't traveled like this ever in the past.''
But Ryan's efficient showing in Death Valley doesn't guarantee he'll be under center for the Eagles' next game.
BC coach Tom O'Brien said yesterday that senior Quinton Porter, who missed the Clemson game with a sprained right ankle, will move back into the starting spot ? provided he's cleared to play ? when 21st-ranked BC hosts Ball State Saturday.
``I don't have an injury update, but I would say this: If Quinton can play, Quinton will play on Saturday,'' O'Brien said. ``He's our starting quarterback.
``I made the statement a couple of weeks ago or before the season that we are very fortunate to have Matt Ryan in our program. Obviously, he did a tremendous job, and if Matt has to play Saturday, then we all feel very comfortable and we'll rally around him.
Against Clemson, Ryan completed 24-of-42 passes, and 16 of his throws resulted in first downs. But he also threw two interceptions, including one in the end zone.
Ryan experienced a scary moment in the second quarter when he took a vicious shot to the sternum from linebacker David Dunham, a hit O'Brien felt should have been called a penalty.
``(Matt) always is very confident, and I think it just showed his toughness to hang in there after the hit that he took, which, by the way, I guess made every highlight every 10 minutes (Saturday night),'' O'Brien said. ``Hopefully, our director of officials will look at that. It obviously was a hit with a helmet, which is an illegal hit.''
A sizable pocket of BC fanswere among the 79,000 who packed Clemson Memorial Stadium. O'Brien appreciated the support and hopes it's an increasing trend.
``We had tremendous fan support out at BYU, and we had tremendous fans there on Saturday,'' O'Brien said. ``That's another barometer of where the program has come from and where it's going, because we haven't traveled like this ever in the past.''
