"It's been overwhelming in such a positive way," said Nancy Frates, Pete's mother. "Pete set this as his mission the day he was diagnosed. He said, 'I'm going to change the face of this disease.' My son has been taken from just a little bit every day for the past two and a half years. But to see his mission almost be complete -- now it's the research, treatment and cure. The awareness is raising the funding. The funding will now raise research, and hopefully a treatment and cure."

14. Boston College Eagles: All of last season's starters return, but that's not always for the best. Boston College finished last in the conference in pass defense in 2013, which might make this yet another long season in the secondary. On the other hand, this is the most experienced position group on the Eagles by a mile (only nine returning starters team-wide, but four are safeties/corners). It's unlikely they'll perform as poorly this year as last, but with the conference talent level rising at DB, that may not be apparent by looking at stat lines alone.

Whipple projects to have a starting quarterback named by the end of the weekend, with the frontrunners being Blake Frohnapfel, a 6-foot-7 graduate transfer from Marshall, and junior A.J. Doyle of Lakeville and Catholic Memorial. "Both those players can run, both those guys can make a play when the protection breaks down or something happens that way," Whipple said. "They throw the ball well on the run. So, game plan-wise, that’s a little easier. Obviously, ‘Fro’ is a little taller. Both have experience at the 1-A level (FBS). They played in big games. So those things, it’s a plus. I know A.J. a little bit better from the spring. I’ve been with him for 15 practices. We had ‘Fro’ in meetings and those things, so I’ve got to get to know him a little bit better. Both are playing really good, right now." . . .