Boston College QB Patrick Towles Sort of Honored Harambe with Week 1 Performance

Boston College quarterback Patrick Towles dedicated this football season to Harambe. His tribute stood out in an already-flooded tribute market to the fallen Cincinnati Zoo gorilla and briefly captured the attention of the internet.

Most people have moved onto other things but we here at The Big Lead believe it’s important to keep tabs on how honored Harambe should feel by Towles’ on-field performance.

The first returns are not inspiring.

Towles went 11-for-17 for 137 yards and an interception during the Eagles’ 17-14 loss to Georgia Tech on Saturday. He added another 27 yards on the ground, including a six-yard touchdown run, but also lost a fumble in the first half. His stats may not tell the entire story.

"The Kentucky graduate transfer may have gotten life as an Eagle off to a rocky start with his first drive ending in an interception, but overall Towles’ passing was accurate and his decision-making was good."

Towles sounded confident that BC offense’s uneven performance was an aberration.

“I know, for a fact, that this football team will win a lot of football games this year,” he said. “It’s not going to be more of the same.”

Towles’ shaky output is understandable considering the weight on his shoulders. Bringing honor to Harambe’s name is a noble mission but not without its pressures. Throw in the fact that the season opener was in Dublin and one feels inclined to give him a pass. That time difference is no joke.

Considering those factors and not wanting to overreact, we’ll score give Towles’ Week 1 Harambe tribute …

2 out of 5 Harambes

Up Next: Boston College at Massachusetts (Sept. 10).