Doug Flutie to call Boston College-Notre Dame days after parents’ passing

Doug Flutie lost his parents this week, but that won’t stop him from returning to the NBC booth to call Saturday’s game between No.4 Notre Dame and Boston College at Fenway Park.

The former NFL quarterback and College Football Hall of Famer’s parents passed away within an hour of each other on Wednesday. Despite his loss, Flutie will still be in the broadcast booth when the Fighting Irish come to Fenway Park to play the Eagles on Saturday.

Flutie hasn’t issued a public statement since a heartfelt Facebook post detailing the love he had for his parents.

It is with a heavy heart that I am making this statement. This morning my family experienced the tragic loss of my father, Dick and mother, Joan. My Dad had been ill and died of a heart attack in the hospital and my Mom, less than an hour later had a sudden heart attack and passed away. They say you can die of a broken heart and I believe it. I would like to honor my parents for all that they did throughout my and my brothers’ and sister’s lives. My parents were always there for their children, from the days my Dad coached us as kids and my Mom would work the concession stands, through to this morning. The most important part of their 56 years of marriage was providing opportunities to their children.

Flutie is a Massachusetts native who faced Notre Dame in the 1983 Liberty Bowl as a four-year starter for BC. That was only the second meeting in what has become a rivalry between the two private, Catholic institutions. They’ve met 22 times since the first matchup in 1975.

This is Flutie’s first season calling Notre Dame football games for NBC. Notre Dame and Boston College kickoff at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday.