Brian Boland is Monmouth U’s rising football star

BY WAYNE WITKOWSKI
Staff Writer

Brian Boland

Quarterback Brian Boland of Brick, whose football career was uncertain a year ago, has clearly defined it since last Labor Day and can’t wait for the start of practice for Monmouth University in a few weeks.

"Basically I’m lifting and running and trying to throw when I can," said Boland. "I’m very happy with how last season [at Monmouth] went. It was pretty unexpected. I didn’t know how the team would be."

Or how Boland would be. The former Brick Memorial star transferred from Rutgers University, where he had a redshirt season in 2002 and was expected to share the quarterbacking duties at Monmouth with Brendan Kennedy. But Kennedy went down with an early season injury and Boland, meanwhile, sealed his spot as the main man.

"I always expect to play well," said the self-assured Boland.

Boland called the signals for a 10-2 team that won the Northeast Conference and suffered a tough 12-10 loss to Metro Athletic Athletic Conference champion Duquesne in the ECAC Classic in Pittsburgh last November.

Boland says he started realizing it would be a memorable season by the third game against Georgetown.

"Our defense was playing pretty well," he said. "We were losing by a touchdown with a minute left and we drove and then, on a fourth [down] and 15 [yards], we scored and won the game. That was the first sign to me. And our team was expected to finish second to last in the conference."

Boland played his part as he was ranked second in the Northeast Conference in passing efficiency with a 120.54 rating. Boland completed 122 of 218 passes for 56 percent with only 10 intercepted. He passed for 1,482 yards and 11 touchdowns.

With only two linemen graduated and most of the skill players back, Boland says that coach Kevin Callahan has tinkered a bit with the offense and installed a "quick game package, a lot of three-step stuff [for the quarterback dropping back to pass.]"

As a result, the pass routes will be shortened to enable the quarterback to get rid of the ball quickly, much like what the West Coast offense runs.

Boland feels he is ready for the challenge and says he has worked on improving his arm strength and quickness. It will help him get through this season as he no longer is a surprise to opposing teams in the conference.