BOSTON — It was only a matter of time before John Beck stopped coming out to meet the press after games. He's been the starting quarterback for more than three seasons and the stats keep piling up.
But to his dismay, so do the losses.
After Saturday's 30-23 double-overtime loss to Boston College, the BYU quarterback was nowhere to be found. In the locker room getting treatment on his bad ankles, said the school's publicity office. First they said he wasn't coming out. Then they said they'd bring some quotes.
Finally, nothing.
"He was willing to come out and talk," said team publicist Jeff Reynolds, "but we kept him inside for treatment."
So Beck had no comment. What took him so long? Three games into his senior season, the questions would have been the same — and the answers, too. Why can't he lead BYU back to its former glory? (He's working on it.) Where will his place be in history? (He doesn't play for individual honors.) Does he need to duplicate BYU's greatest quarterbacks in order to be mentioned with them? (Yes, he's hoping to prove himself worthy.)
Some clubs are just too exclusive to gain admission.
As Beck moves steadily closer to the No. 2 spot on the all-passing list — just 1,436 yards behind Jim McMahon — his legacy remains maddeningly earthbound. The problem isn't yards, it's wins. On some counts, he has what it takes. Enough size (6-2), a good head and an arm that can launch the ball nearly 70 yards without forcing a wince.
But potential and talent aren't all that make great quarterbacks. McMahon and Ty Detmer were smaller than Beck, Steve Young couldn't pass as far and Marc Wilson was less athletic. Yet they went on to legendary careers.
Beck seems suspended in a dream, running, running, running but unable to break free. He has yet to have a winning season, claim a conference title or a bowl game, or even beat Utah.
There are moments — such as last year when BYU won five of six and he brought the Cougars from behind for a 27-24 win over New Mexico — when he looks as though he's almost there.
And then you look closer.
He's short on the things people remember: daring comebacks, miraculous plays, shocking upsets.
In Paris there is no place for decent food, only great.
Saturday was another chapter in the long string of disappointments. He was an impressive 38-59 for 436 yards, but there were the two interceptions and the chances missed.
In the fourth quarter, with the score tied and under two minutes remaining, BYU was making its move. A pair of passes to Nathan Meikle helped clear space. But then, a familiar story. An incompletion on third-and-five, followed by a punt.
The Cougars ended up intercepting Boston College to get the ball back with 20 seconds left in regulation. But Beck's pass was tipped as he let go on first down. He completed one to Matt Allen for 18 yards, but the time was gone. A 51-yard field-goal try by Jared McLaughlin went awry, launching the game into overtime.
Beck moved the Cougars to the 10 but stalled. An illegal block moved the Cougars back to the 25. Beck missed on a pass to Johnny Harline and a fumbled snap by the kick-holder derailed BYU's field goal plans.
Soon, B.C. got the ball back on the possession change and scored.
The Cougars crept to B.C.'s 14, but Beck's pass under pressure was tipped and intercepted, ending the game.
The roll call of games in which Beck — and his entire team, for that matter — failed to deliver in the clutch is considerable: Utah, Cal, Boise State, UNLV, TCU. For various reasons, he hasn't taken his place among the greats. He will finish his career a prolific passer. But a winner? Not necessarily. His record as a starter is 13-16.
For their part, Beck's teammates and coaches support him. Among them, he's as popular as pizza. "I thought he did great," said running back Curtis Brown.
Coach Bronco Mendenhall said Beck's performance was the same as the team's — competitive, hard-fought but ultimately fruitless. "I thought he performed like the rest of the team," said Mendenhall.
Asked specifically about Beck's showing, Mendenhall admitted his quarterback wasn't perfect.
Too bad for him.
E-mail: rock@desnews.com