CHESTNUT HILL — At some point before kickoff, Bill O’Brien will pause and take in the moment. The new Boston College coach will look around Alumni Stadium at the banners, the signs and the uniforms, taking in everything that’s happening around him.

Saturday night’s 8 p.m. game against Michigan State will be Boston College’s 10th Red Bandanna game, but O’Brien’s first since taking over the program. The game celebrates the heroism of Welles Crowther, a former BC lacrosse player who died while saving lives in the South Tower of the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.

Crowther, a stockbroker and volunteer firefighter, was on the 78th floor that morning when the hijacked Flight 175 crashed into the tower. Wearing a red bandana, he made several runs up and down the stairs to help people to safety before he was killed when the tower collapsed. Officials believe he saved at least a dozen people that day.

According to the 9/11 Memorial:

“A few months after 9/11, survivor stories began to emerge about the mysterious man in the red bandana. When Alison Crowther read an article about the hero in the New York Times, she knew the man was her son, 24-year-old Welles Crowther. He had been carrying a red bandana since he was a boy.”

In 2014, Boston College began honoring Crowther with the Red Bandanna Game. The Eagles wear special uniforms featuring the pattern of Crowther’s bandanna in each player’s number.

O’Brien, who grew up in Dorchester and spent six years in two stints with the Patriots under Bill Belichick, was at Georgia Tech during the 2001 terrorist attacks. O’Brien knew of Crowther’s heroics from afar, but since taking over at the Heights, he’s cherished being part of the Red Bandanna tradition. He even spoke with Alison Crowther this summer.

“It was incredible to hear her story about Welles’ life and what happened on that terrible day,” he said.

During his time at BC, O’Brien hopes to be a keeper of a tradition that will outlive him.

“This game will be played forever, because of what it means to Boston College, to the Crowther family,” he said. “In my time here, I’m going to make sure our players understand the significance of the game, make sure our team is prepared to go out there and play well in honor of Welles’ memory. I think that’s a big deal. I see myself in that role, making sure everyone understands what this game is all about.”

BC has played well so far in the O’Brien era. They opened the season with a surprise road win over No. 10 Florida State, a team that wasn’t as good as initially expected. But after beating an outmatched Duquesne team, 56-0, the Eagles kept it close to No. 6 Missouri on the road before losing 27-21.

Michigan State, like BC, has been a surprise success this season and represents another benchmark for the Eagles’ development. But playing well on Saturday is a way to honor a sacred day on campus.

The mix of the silly, the historical and the quirky is part of what makes college football unique. BC’s Red Bandanna Game has become a meaningful addition to the sport’s unique tapestry.

O’Brien has embraced being a part of it and the Red Bandanna Game is a part of him.

“Being able to go there and play a game in his honor is a big deal,” he said. “My dad played college football, my older brother played college football, so I’ve been involved with college football my whole life. I’ve always loved the traditions of college football, whether it’s the band, the students, the emotion of the game, the spirit of the school. I think it’s awesome. That’s one of the best things about being a college football coach, the whole atmosphere of game day.

“This will be even better because of the significance of this match.”

To follow MassLive sports columnist Matt Vautour on Twitter on @MattVautour424.