For Don Hasselbeck’s three sons, the question of where to play collegiate football has never been a difficult one.
A resident of Norfolk who spent nine seasons playing tight end in the National Football League, the patriarch of one of Massachusetts’ most highly regarded football families, he has been watching his boys play for Boston College for the past 10 seasons, and with much success.
The eldest, Matt, threw for 4,548 yards in two seasons as a starter at the Heights before moving on to become a Pro Bowl quarterback with the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks and handing the reigns to younger brother Tim.
The middle Hasselbeck brother was no slouch either. After leading BC to a pair of bowl games, Tim moved on to the NFL as well, spending time with four teams before landing in Washington.
For Nathanael, the youngest, the path to success has never been as clear. After joining the Eagles as an undersized wide receiver, head coach Tom O’Brien moved him to the defensive backfield, where he wallowed on the sidelines for two seasons and saw the field only during spot duty as a punt and kick returner.
It was a frustrating experience for him. He knew he had the talent to play offense. So after sitting down with his parents and discussing it with his brothers, he came to the biggest and boldest decision of his young football career: he was going to leave Boston College and transfer to the University of Massachusetts, where he could step in and play wide receiver immediately.
Thus, when the Minutemen meet the Eagles at Alumni Stadium on Saturday, there will be much more involved than just football for the Hasselbecks. Because for the first time ever, a member of Boston College’s first family will be playing for the enemy.
“It’s going to be a little weird, but it’s something I knew would happen eventually,” Hasselbeck said before practice Wednesday. “It’s going to be emotional going in there and playing in that stadium and being in the visiting locker room, but at the same time I can’t go in there and let it control my mind.
“Despite how I feel, I have to play each play like it doesn’t matter who I’m playing against.”
Nonetheless, it will be difficult for Hasselbeck to stay out of the spotlight this weekend. Both of his parents will be in attendance – albeit wearing UMass colors – and the desire to prove himself to a BC coaching staff that never believed in his offensive abilities will surely be there.
“I know I can play wide receiver,” Hasselbeck said. “Things kind of unraveled [at BC] after three years of playing defense and doing some special teams things, and I wanted to get out and play offense.
“My dad and brothers always told me that I had too good hands to be playing defense, and now it’s up to me to show I can play wide receiver.”
While some may question why Hasselbeck would give up a family legacy and the many perks of playing Division I-A college football on the eve of his first meeting with his former school, he maintains that the decision was the right one for him.
“You know what, keep all the material stuff [that comes with playing in Division I-A], I’ll take the smiles I’ll have [at UMass] for the next two years instead.” Hasselback said. “The coaches here are great and the players here are the same, and I’m just having a blast.”
Massachusetts’ coach Don Brown concurs, and knows that in the end, Hasselbeck’s decision – as well as Saturday’s game – doesn’t involve family, tradition or anything of the sort. It’s just about football.
“If you look across the country at the kids who transfer from I-A to I-AA, it has nothing to do with things like allegiances,” he said. “It’s more about the fact that he’s just looking for the best opportunity to play the game he loves to play, wherever that may be.”
