Big Bhang Theory

2009-11-09T12:38:00.001-05:00

SHIP WRECKED

2008-12-07T10:27:00.000-05:00

Congratulations are in order for the Virginia Tech Hokies on winning the 2008 ACC Championship game. Unlike Boston College, Virginia showed up ready to play and executed their effective gameplan from the first snap on a Sunny afternoon in Tampa.

Though he had been the subject of much criticism by VT fans in recent weeks, Head Coach Frank Beamer deserves credit for this blow-out victory.

Boston College, which looked flat from their first three and out offensive series, never seemed to have a chance in this game - despite cutting the Hokies lead to 14-7 and halftime.

Although Hokies quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who earned the game MVP, was contained for the most part (he rushed for 52 yards on 11 carries and was 11-of-19 for 84 yards passing), tailback Darren Evans rushed for 114 yards on 31 carries, the most any running back had gained this season against BC.

Superfans
Not surprisingly, the BC fans were few and far between, but for the few thousand that were there, hats off for showing your support to the Eagles!

ACC Championship Photos

2008-12-07T07:20:00.000-05:00

BC Fans faced an uphill battle, being told by this guy and his friends to either sit down or be "thrown out."

Let Us Do This.

2008-12-05T08:47:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Ahhhhhbuckles for the link

The Eagles are poised and focused to make their first major bowl appearance in the BCS era. The streak of nine bowls in a row (with 8 consecutive wins) is a nice story, but I think many BC fans (and players) were would prefer a shot at the Orange Bowl vs. a win in a lower tier appearance.

Even the BC freshmen, including standout tailback Josh Haden, have a sense of how big an Orange Bowl appearance would be for the program.

The rematch against Virginia Tech in the 2008 ACC Championship game is eerily similar as the 2007 contest in Jacksonville. Despite winning the regular season match-up against the Hokies, the Eagles could not seal the deal on a sunny Florida afternoon in December.

This year, the Eagles recognize that they can't rely on Virginia Tech miscues as they did in the regular season game, but instead, must make their own opportunities - on both sides of the ball.

2008-12-03T08:34:00.000-05:00

Boston College Junior Receiver Clarence Megwa is on the
slow road to recovery after suffering a scary compound fracture of his leg on November 1, against Clemson. While it is unclear if Megwa will ever be able to run again, let alone play football, he is relieved to have survived unexpected complications following surgery to reset his broken leg.

Billy Flutie recalls the play that all but iced the game against Maryland and relishes his roll as BC's jack-of-all-trades.

In the absence of injured Senior Linebacker and Defensive Captain Brian Toal, BC's Mike Mclaughlin has stepped up and, along with Junior Mike Herzlich, has led one of the nation's toughest defensive units.

NICKED UP
Senior defensive tackle Ron Brace (foot) and Freshman running back Josh Haden (shoulder) both missed practice on Tuesday, but Head Coach Jeff Jagodzinski expects both to be ready for Saturday’s title game against Virginia Tech.

ROYAL-LESS BATTLE
Without the services of NFL Rookie Receiver Eddie Royal, the Virginia Tech offense has had to rely on one of its youngest wide receiving corps in years. Despite their youth, redshirt freshman Danny Coale and true freshmen Jarrett Boykin have been paying dividends for the Hokies this season.

SIGN OF THE TIMES
Historically, Boston College has a reputation for having a small fanbase that is unwilling to travel. This rap, confirmed at last year's ACC Championship game in Jacksonville, may continue to stick after this weekend.

In these uncertain economic times, even many Hokie fans are forgoing a trip to Tampa in hopes of a New Year's Day journey to the Orange Bowl.

As of today, Virginia Tech has only sold 3,000 of their 10,000 allotted tickets.

D-LINE U?
Virginia Tech Senior Center Ryan Shuman knows he will have his work cut out for him this week when he faces the Eagles' monster front four, including the mammoth duo of B.J. Raji and Ron Brace.

Despite Shuman's strong play on the offensive line, the Hokies have had difficulty running the ball between the tackles against Boston College. Over the Hokies' last four meetings with the Eagles, Tech has averaged 2.8 yards per carry. In this year's regular season meeting between the teams, VT tailbacks Darren Evans and Josh Oglesby combined for a paltry 40 yards on 23 carries, an average of 1.7 per tote.

Hokie QB Tyrod Taylor had a bit more success, however, srambling for 110 yards against the Eagles.

Meanwhile, currently ranked 6th best, Virginia Tech's defense remains one of the toughest in the country. If the Hokies defense moves up one more spot, they will become the first team in college football history to have a top 5 defense five years in a row.

ATLANTA EAGLES

2008-12-02T18:35:00.001-05:00

I don't know how it happened, but somewhere along the way the fine city of Atlanta, Georgia - Terminus - the place I call home - became a virile nesting ground for Boston College fans from sea to shining sea.

Last year, dozens of Peach State Eagles made the smoky and circuitous 400 mile trek from Atlanta to Jacksonville for the ACC Championship game. Even now, as I write and you think up excuses not to buy a plane ticket and support your alma mater, a similar intoxicating airlift is being planned for these gentile fans to make their drunken siege upon unsuspecting Hokie fans in Tampa.

Armed with nothing more than gold shirts, embroidered pants, and an ill-conceived (albeit most likely successful) plan to smuggle copious amounts of booze past unsuspecting TSA workers at Atlanta's Hartsfield International Airport, these fans stand ready to descend upon Tamponians and cheer on this remarkable Boston College Football Team in this sky-is-the-limit age known as the Post-TOB Era!

If all goes well, oranges will be provided.

So bring your Vodka and whale pants and leave your "down in front" mentality in Beverly, Marblehead, or other appropriate North Shore enclave and get yourself to Tampa.

When you get there, look for the guy in the oversized yellow styrofoam cowboy hat wearing the #12 jersey and govern yourself accordingly.

He is, after all, what all BC fans should aspire to be.

Let's Go Eagles!

2008-12-02T18:17:00.000-05:00

Some chump picks VT to beat BC in the ACC Championship.

BC - VT Preview

2008-12-02T11:24:00.000-05:00

For the 2nd Straight Year, Boston College faces a familiar foe in the Virginia Tech Hokies in this week's ACC Championship Game.

The opening line on Saturday's contest is a pick 'em.

This writer, from Virginia Tech QB Tyrod Taylor's hometown of Hampton Roads, takes a look at 5 keys to Saturday's game and points out that both team's defenses are among the best in the country.

NEWS AND NOTES
• In just their fourth season in the ACC, the Eagles will be playing in their second conference championship game.

• After a 9-3 season, BC coach Jeff Jagodzinski has a 20-6 record as the Eagles' head coach.

• Virginia Tech owns a 10-6 advantage in the all-time series against Boston College. However, BC has won 3 of the last 4 meetings between the schools.

• The Hokies won seven-straight meetings between 1996 and 2002 (The Tom O'Brien Years).

• BC has scored eight non-offensive touchdowns for the second time in school history. The Eagles last accomplished this feat in 1999.

• The Eagles have three shutouts on the season. The only other team to record three shutouts this season is USC (Trojans).

• Since 2000, Boston College is 9-1 at neutral sites with their first loss coming in last year's ACC Championship Game.

• BC has played 13 different true freshmen this season.

• Boston College has 56 wins ove the last six seasons which is 11th best in the country and more than Tennessee, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

• BC’s 21 straight non-conference wins is the longest streak in the nation (LSU is 2nd with 18).

O-LINE U
Over the past 27 years, a total of 23 Eagles have been drafted to the NFL from the offensive line (including 5 first round selections). This year's version of the BC O-Line has an average height of 6-5, which is the tallest in the ACC. The five starters weigh an average of 307 pounds - which would be a good average for an NFL line.

TAKE THE EAGLES BOWLING
It seems pretty apparent that BC's Bowl opportunities are the Orange Bowl or bust, because, if BC should falter on Saturday, they will doubtlessly be passed over by the Gator, Peach, and Champs bowls leaving them with a dance partner in Nashville at the Music City Bowl.

Nonetheless, ACC Bowl Speculation abounds.

COALE-MINER'S BROTHER
Virginia Tech Freshman receiver Danny Coale grew up a die hard Virginia Cavaliers fan. But something strange happened along the way when Coale decided not to follow his brother to UVA, but instead opted for their main rival.

The 6-foot, 203-pound Coale leads all VT receivers with 27 receptions and is one catch short of matching the freshman record of superstar receiver Eddie Royal.

(2nd best) COACH OF THE YEAR
Although the ACC award went to Georgia Tech head man Paul "Fred Flintstone" Johnson, Coach Jags is deserving of some praise for the great job he has done in the post-Matty Ice era.

ALL-ACC HONORS

2008-12-02T10:45:00.000-05:00

Six Boston College football players were named to the 2008 All-ACC Football Team. Those receiving all ACC First Team Honors were:

Junior LB Mark Herzlich,
Senior DT B.J. Raji, and
Senior OG Clif Ramsey.

Senior DT Ron Brace, sophomore OT and rising star Anthony Castonzo, and senior TE Ryan Purvis (who was a First Team All ACC selection in 2007) were each voted to the All-ACC Second Team.

Paul Anderson, Thomas Claiborne, and Matt Tennant earned Honorable Mention honors.

Virginia Tech Corner Back Victor "Macho" Harris was the only Hokie to make the All-ACC First Team Roster.

MANCHILD PART TWO
Herzlich leads the BC defense with 98 tackles, seven pass break-ups, six interceptions, and two forced fumbles.

Herzlich ranks 5th in the nation in tackles per game with 6.17.

Herzlich's six interceptions ties the amount that all BC linebackers had in 2007. He also has the 5th best interception total in the country and is one of just two linebackers in the nation with six interceptions. He is one of three linebackers in the country with two interception returns for touchdowns.

YOUNG GUNS
True Freshman Montel Harris continues his strong campaign recording five 100-yard games and breaking the freshman rushing record at Boston College. Harris along with fellow freshman sensation Josh Haden are the second-best true freshman running back pair in the country with an average of 112.40 yards per game.

WE'RE GOING TO THE "SHIP"

2008-12-01T13:35:00.001-05:00

2008-12-01T09:06:00.000-05:00

No Matt Ryan, two freshman running backs, and injuries to Chris Crane, Brian Toal, Alex Albright, and others?

No problem for this year's ACC Atlantic Champions.

BC has found ways to win each of it's last three games with a stingy defense and a great team effort.

NEWS AND NOTES
• BC's win over Maryland snapped the Terps winning streak over nationally ranked teams

• The Eagles are now 4-2 in the all-time series with Maryland.

• Robert Francois' 4th Quarter pick six marked the seventh straight game that the Eagles scored a non-offensive touchdown.

• Montel Harris broke the all-time Boston College freshman rushing record with his 798 rushing yards so far this season. Shelby Gamble previously held the freshman mark of 776 yards which he attained in 1979.

• BC dodged a bullett after Maryland's super-star receiver and future NFL 1st round pick Darrius Heyward-Bey was held out of Saturday's contest with a nagging calf injury.

• The Eagles held Maryland’s rushing attack (which had averaged 147.3 yards per game) to 6 yards on 26 carries.

• Many BC fans have been critical about Coach Spaziani's supposed reluctance to blitz. Maryland QB Chris Turner saw things differently:

“They blitz a lot. That’s what they do. They got to us a few times. To be honest we picked up a lot of their blitzes but they blitz a lot. A lot of the times, we burned them, but every now and again they’re going to get you, especially as much as they blitz.”

• Paul Anderson wore the number 31 as the recipient of the Jay McGillis Memorial Scholarship, given annually to a senior defensive back.

Jack-of-all-trades Sophomore Billy Flutie, who completed his first collegiate pass on a fake field goal for a Touchdown, is proud of his heritage:

“I don’t downgrade my last name. I am a Flutie and I take all of the honor in my last name. Darren and Doug did great things while they were here and I am looking to contribute to that and do the best that I can.”

TENACIOUS D
It's no secret that The Boston College defense has been integral to the team's success this year. If the old addage is true and defense wins championships, I like the eagles chances on Saturday as the BC defense is among the best in the country in the following categories:

• 1st in the Nation in interceptions with 25 (Florida is 2nd with 23).

• 7th in the country in rushing yards allowed with an average of 87.3.

• 2nd in the nation after forcing a total of 33 turnovers.

• 1st in the ACC and 9th in the country in pass efficiency defense.

• 8th in the nation in total yards allowed.

GOOD CLEAN FUN
• Boston College and Virginia Tech are tied for 8th in the country in fewest penalty yards per game (36.8). For the Eagles part, this is obviously due the lingering effects of ace disciplinarian Tom O'Brien.

CLUTCH!

2008-11-30T10:58:00.001-05:00

Boston College broke the trend and came through with a tremendous victory over a pesky Maryland Team.

Next Stop: Tampa.

FEAR THE EAGLE

2008-11-26T08:50:00.001-05:00

BC needs to start strong on Saturday. A few plays like this on defense would certainly help.

BC-Maryland Preview

2008-11-25T16:19:00.001-05:00

O-LINE U

2008-11-25T09:06:00.000-05:00

BC’s latest O-line commit is Oday Aboushi, a 6'6" 300 pounder out of Brooklyn, New York. Aboushi, who is rated a 4 star prospect by Rivals.com, is a senior at perennial football powerhouse Xaverian.

2008-11-25T08:35:00.000-05:00

After their ACC Championship hopes were dashed in a blow-out loss to Florida State, conventional wisdom says that the Maryland Terrapins have nothing to play for in this weekend's season finale at Chestnut Hill.

Consider this, however:

• Maryland has won six straight against ranked opponents over the past two seasons. While some of those teams weren't exactly world beaters, a seventh straight win over a ranked team is exactly the type of momentum that Maryland is looking for heading into the bowl season.

• Speaking of Bowls, the Terps need a win over Boston College to maintain their place in the ACC pecking order.

• Maryland, which played in the less than ideal Emerald Bowl last year, still has an outside shot of landing in the Sunshine State and the much more prestigious Gator Bowl with a win over the Eagles.

• Maryland Head Coach Ralph Friedgen has extra incentive to keep his team focussed and motivated as his job sercurity is less than certain. Friedgen doesn't want to give the administration another excuse (like losing the final two games of the season) to fire him.

• With a win against the Eagles, Maryland would earn ACC Atlantic Division Co-Champion honors (though they would lose the tie-breaker to FSU). While not exactly premium trophy case material, it beats the alternative.

NEWS AND NOTES
• As expected, the coaching staff is spending extra time with Dominique Davis this week in preparation for his first career collegiate start on Saturday.

• Still no word on the indefinite suspension of Billy Bennett, but it is becoming more obvious that his short-lived career at BC may be over.

• Much like last week's broadcast, ABC and ESPN2 will be televising the BC-Maryland game to a national audience this Saturday at 3:30PM.

• Many of the BC students will be home and away from campus this Thanksgiving week. The big question is how many will return for this decisive season finale?

For more info on the BC-UMD game from the Terps' perspective, check out Turtle Waxing - a Maryland Terps Sports blog.

BACK TO THE FUTURE?

2008-11-24T22:45:00.000-05:00

As much as Boston College Football fans want to suppress and ignore it like the boogeyman knocking on your bedroom window, the original "WTF" loss to Syracuse in 2004 continues to haunt the Eagle Nation.

It's just all too similar:

• The injury to the starting QB in the penultimate game of the season;
• The entrance of an able, but unproven redshirt freshman QB making his first collegiate start;
• A historic first BCS Bowl bid on the line;
• A final, post-Thanksgiving home game in which BC is the prohibitive favorite

But in there's-no-such-thing-as-monsters optimism, the significant differences can not, and should not, be overlooked:

• Coach Tom O'Brien has left for "greener pastures" in Raleigh;
• The current edition of the Boston College defense is one of the most stout in the country;
• This team, unlike the 2004 Eagles, has had a taste of the Big Game.

No matter what happens on Saturday, look for the Eagles to come out swinging and give a first rate effort.

Dominique Davis and Mark Herzlich were named ACC Players of the Week for their stand-out performances in BC's win over the Demon Deacons. This is the third time this season that Herzlich has been named a Player of the Week by the conference.

Meanwhile, Maryland is concentrating on regrouping and bouncing back after a 37-3 blow-out loss to FSU. In a game in which nothing went right for the Terps - including their decision to wear all black uniforms - Maryland lost at home for the first time this season.

VOTE FOR PEDRO
Maryland QB Chris Turner, whose father is John Turner of RATT fame, is something of a character. After taking over for the injured Jordan Steffey in 2007, the eccentric 4th year signal caller has led the Terps on an up and down ride through the ACC standings. While Turner has enjoyed great success in some games this year - 28 of 41 passes for 321 yards and a touchdown in a blowout win over Wake Forest, he has also suffered a few lowlights - 13 of 28 passes for 207 yards and 3 interceptions in a loss to Middle Tennessee State.

Indeed, Maryland has perhaps been the most two-faced program in college football this year with wins over Cal, Wake Forest, Clemson, and North Carolina while suffering losses to Virginia Tech, MTSU, FSU, and UVA. If BC can jump out to a fast start, minimize turnovers, and create some kind of home field advantage in the friendly confines of Alumni Stadium, it could be a great day for Eagle fans everywhere.

NEXT UP: MARYLAND

2008-11-23T19:38:00.001-05:00

CRANE GOES DOWN, BC WINS

2008-11-23T10:24:00.000-05:00

Boston College continued their improbable run to the ACC Championship game, surviving turnovers, special teeams miscues, and an unfortunate end to Chris Crane's BC career.

Coming on in relief, Dominique Davis was hapless for much of the second half, until he led BC on a 70 yard game winning TD drive with less than a minute remaining in regulation. BC held on for the 24-21 win and a shot at beating Maryland and an ACC Chapionship game bid.

SHOCK AND AWE
Although he came through in the end, Davis said he was "shocked and overwhelmed" when Crane went down.

HITING HIS STRIDE
Steve Aponavicius was 3 for 3 against Wake Forest and has made his last 4 field goals in a row.

MANCHILD
Not since the days of Craig Smith, the original manchild, has Boston College seen such a dominant performer as Mark Herzlich was for the Eales on Saturday. Led by Herzlich, who had two picks including one for a score, the defense held Wake Forest to 191 yards of total offense and nine first downs.

BIG GAME FOR THE EAGLES

2008-11-22T11:29:00.000-05:00

The Boston COllege Football program has seldom enjoyed a situation like today's must win game in Winston, North Carolina: controlling their own fate with two games left to play in the regular season.

Unfortunately for the Eagles, BC must first get past a pesky Wake Forest squad, on the road, in an state where they have never had much success.

This afternoon's nationally televised game should be a good tilt between two very evenly matched teams.

JET GROUNDED
Speedster Jeff Smith is listed as doubtful with a hip injury.

In other news, don't look for Billy Bennett to return to the field any time soon, if ever, at the Heights.

LUCKY IRISH
The Boston Globe has a nice piece discussing Notre Dame's fortuitous, if not undeserving, Bowl situation.

2008-11-20T08:35:00.001-05:00

As BC prepares for its own version of a college football playoff, the Eagles may be peaking at just the right time.

The Boston Globe has finally caught up with the Montel Harris revenge angle.

After the aberration at Chapel Hill, the Boston College secondary is begnning to play well.

NEWS AND NOTES
• BC is a 1 1/2-point underdog heading into the weekend.

• With a win in one of the final two games, the Eagles look to get to at least eight wins for an eighth straight season.

• Transfer QB Codi Boek is listed as the starter at FB for the second straight week in place of the injured James McCluskey.

TEAM SPEED KILLS
In a marked difference from BC teams of years gone by, this year's Eagles' squad has been extremely opportunistic scoring a non-offensive touchdown in each of the last five games:

• Rich Gunnell’s punt return,
• Kevin Akins’ 13-yard return with a recovered fumble,
• Roderick Rollins’ scoop and score of Momah’s blocked punt;
• Paul Anderson’s 76-yard interception return, and
• Marcellus Bowman’s 87-yard romp with a pick last week.

KARMA POLICE

2008-11-19T15:07:00.000-05:00

After the FSU Pre-Game, In-Game, and Post-Game antics, it was not much of a surprise to hear about the plight of FSU Senior Safety Darius McClure whose college football career ended after he suffered a season ending knee injury while celebrating an interception thrown by BC QB Chris Crane. Hopefully he has a speedy recovery.

PLAYER PROFILE: IFEANYI MOMAH

2008-11-19T13:13:00.000-05:00

This super-sized sophomore out of Elwood, NY has added much needed depth and height to Boston College's receiving corps. At 6-foot-6, 225 pounds, Ifeanyi Momah is like a speedy giraffe lined up against much smaller defensive backs.

Though he has only 10 catches this season (he had 1 for 13 yards in 2007), Momah has shown a penchant for big plays, including a 46 yard grab against UCF, a 41 yarder against Virginia Tech, and a blocked punt against Notre Dame.

Held without a reception in the last two games, look for Momah to make a big catch or two down the stretch. If Crane is able to throw a nice fade pattern to the corner of the endzone, for instance, it's difficult to imagine many d-backs breaking it up - particularly since most teams, including Wake Forest, don't have cornerbacks taller than 6 feet.

Exorcising Demons

2008-11-19T03:27:00.000-05:00

NEWS AND NOTES
According to ESPN Blogger Heather Dinich, Wake Forest kicker Sam Swank has returned to practice and has been cleared to play this Saturday against the Eagles.

• BC has never won in Winston-Salem in three games and lost its only contest as a member of the ACC, 21-14, in 2006.

• Wake Forest owns a 7-6-2 advantage in the all-time series.

• The Eagles have picked off 10 passes in the last three games and now lead the country with 21 on the season.

• Under Coach Jags, the Eagles have become one of the least penalized teams in all of college football. BC’s 4.50 penalties per game ranks 13th in the nation and its 37.50 yards penalized per game is ninth.

• The Eagles have won 21 consecutive games against non-conference foes dating back to 2004. That number leads the nation by three games - LSU has racked up 18 straight wins against out of conference foes.

• BC is the only ACC school with 10 or more consecutive out-of-league wins.

GOOD CRANE?
The aforementioned Dinich also writes a nice piece on BC signal caller Chris Crane and touts his progression over the course of the season.

Although he got off to a rough start, the fifth-year senior has thrown just one interception in the last three outings and has thrown three touchdowns. In the three games previous to that, Crane threw seven interceptions and five touchdowns.

SUPERFRESH
True freshman TB Montel Harris is closing in on the Boston College freshman rushing record. Through Saturday night's game at FSU, Harris has gained 652 yards on 121 carries this season with a 5.4 yards per carry average. Shelby Gamble holds the freshman rushing mark with 776 yards, leaving Harris just 124 yards from the record.

Who would have thought back in September that Harris would be such a huge contributor?

WHAT'S THE SCENARIO?
While BC's path to the ACC Championship is clear, things are a little cloudy for other conference contenders.

A TALE OF TWO KICKERS
While BC has been mired in a special teams quagmire since the days of John "Auto" Matich, placekicking is a huge strength for Wake Forest and their All ACC Placekicker, Sam Swank. Although he has been out with a quadriceps injury, Wake's most valuable offensive weapon is set to make his return against the Eagles.

So far this season, Swank is 10/13 on field goals, including 5/6 on Field Goal tries of 40 yards or longer. His ability definitely makes the field much shorter for the Demon Deacon offense.

Although Swank has been cleared to practice (and was attempting 35 yard field goals on Monday), Head Coach Jim Grobe said that Swank will be a game-time decision.

YOU'RE OUT
Wake Forest Safety Alex Frye and Defensive Tackle Michael Carter, neither of whom traveled to N.C. State last week, will be suspended for at least the rest of the regular season for violation of undisclosed team rules.

On the Boston College front, still no word on Kicker Billy Bennett's condition except that he may have voted yes on Massachusetts Proposition 5 - the state initiative to decriminalize marjiuana. An interesting sidenote is that Matich, who was Bennett's personal coach in high school, appears to have facilitated Bennett's arrival on The Heights. (Thanks to Ahhhhbuckles for the link).

For those looking for a Wake Forest perspective, check out Old, Gold & Blog for updates and previews on this week's Wake-BC game.

UP NEXT: WAKE FOREST

2008-11-18T08:37:00.001-05:00

With their exciting win over FSU on Saturday, BC has re-emerged as a contender in the hunt for the ACC Championship. In order to get to Tampa, BC must first get past a fesity Wake Forest team, on the road, in a place where the Eagles have never fared well.

Yesterday, the ACC announced that Junior Safety Marcellas Bowman was named ACC Defensive Back of the Week for his stellar performance in the FSU game.

The D-backs will be tested again this week as they face another ACC gunslinger in Riley Skinner.

A LOOK BACK: BC-FSU HIGHLIGHTS

The clip of Jags walking off the field and talking to the team post-game is classic!

Thanks to BC Guy JV for the link.

UPWARD AND ONWARD

2008-11-17T08:46:00.000-05:00

Boston College's season hung in the balance on Saturday night as it faced a nationally ranked and inspired FSU team playing before a national audience in prime time.

Despite the odds, the Eagles exacted revenge for last year's loss and remain in the hunt for the ACC Championship game on December 6 in Tampa.

Among other things, FSU was surprised by BC's "physicality", a hallmark of successful BC teams in the past.

The Eagles took advantage of FSU's suspension depleted receiving corps by picking of three Chris Ponder passes - including a key 4th quarter interception in the endzone on a jump ball to standout receiver Greg Carr.

NOT SO SPECIAL
With Billy Bennett suspended, BC has been unable to find another player, student, or guy off the street that can kick a football off a tee more than 40 yards. As a result, freshman punter turned "kick-off specialist" Ryan Quigley booted high end over end kicks to the FSU 35-40 yard line resulting in spectacular field position for the Seminoles all night long. The groans from the BC fans were audible. Hopefully this will change before the last two games!

On a positive note, Quigley sure can kick a nice onsides kick - which BC executed to perfection in the first quarter, leaving the black out crown in stunned silence.

Relegated to just field goal and extra point duty, Steve Aponavicius had a nice night, converting his only field goal try to ice the game in crunch time. While Sid Vicious has been much maligned for his inconsistency, it would be nice to see him end his unlikely career at BC on a high note.

BC NATION
Not enough can be said about the BC fans who made the road trip to Tallahassee. Not sure about the number, but the Eagles were well represented by fans in three sections surrounding the corner near the BC locker room.

Throughout the game, Superfans of all ages made plenty of noise causing FSU folks to start their own chants in an effort to drown out the hearty few BC fans that made the trip.

I only heard a couple of "down in front" shouts from the ancient BC fan contingent - including from the guy sitting next to me who was complaining right before the successful onside kick - which, much to his disappointment, he did not see.

The best part of the evening may have been after the game as the BC players and coaching staff left the field to the cheers and high fives from the BC fan section. More than anyone, Coach Jags seemed to soak it all in, shouting to the crown and slapping hands on his way to the locker room. Winning is one thing, but doing it while creating an exuberant sense of excitement among players and fans in the process is something that hasn't been seen on the Heights in years.

SCORE FIRST AND WIN
Boston College is undefeated this season when, like Saturday night, they score first.

TEAM OF DESTINY?
In a surprising turn of events in the ACC during the last two weeks, Boston College has emerged as a clear contender, if not a favorite, to challenge for the ACC Championship. While BC may still have it's doubters, it is nice to know that the Eagles control their own fate heading into the last two weeks of the season.

BIG WIN FOR BC

2008-11-16T16:53:00.001-05:00

In the first of 3 must-win games for Boston College, the Eagles pulled out a stunning 27-17 victory over the Florida State Seminoles in front of 80,000 black-shirted fans.

Things started on an interesting note at the conclusion of pre-game warm-ups when the Seminole players, wanting to start the taunting early, gathered at mid-field, pogo dancing House of Pain style, and began verbally berating the Eagles squad as they concluded their pre-game warm-ups. Ultimately, the refs came onto the field and sent the black-clad Noles into the locker room.

Bobby Bowden must have forgot to teach the lesson about gratuitously angering your opponent.

In any event, suffice it to say that the Boston College players were plenty fired up as they entered the tunnel underneath the BC fan section before the start of the game. As depicted in the photo above, the Seminoles continued their display of sportsmanship by throwing helmets (Preston Parker), challenging the BC players to a post-game bruhaha, and, well, just being Criminoles.

GAME BALL: MONTEL HARRIS Wasting little time in proving his worth to the team that didn't recruit him, Jacksonville, Florida native Montel Harris exploded out of the gate busting a 47 yard scamper off left tackle to set-up BC's first score.

O-LINE U
One of the most striking and collectively dominant performances came from Boston College's Offensive and Defensive lines. It was clear from the first series that FSU would not be able to run between the tackles, but instead would rely on "trickeration" and passes into the flat. After the game, Coach Bowden acknowledged BC's incredible line play.

WHY IS THIS MAN SMILING?
It's difficult to describe the emotional intensity of the Doak Campbell Stadium atmosphere on Saturday night, but tensions were high and the fans - including some 2-3,000 BC Superfans - were into it.

After the game, as Coach Jags made his way into the tunnel under the BC Fan Section, he shouted at the crowd, slapped high-fives, did his best "Tiger Woods Fist Pump," and, stealing a page from the legendary Bobby Bowden play-book, threw his hat into the crowd as he left the field.

Say what you will about the new guy in town (who is 5-1 against ranked opponents), but, to be a part of that scene sure was fun, as it is, at least for now, to be a BC fan.

Go Eagles.

Thanks to BC guy JV for the pictures.

FSU "WHIPPED UP FRONT"

2008-11-16T15:46:00.000-05:00

Bobby Bowden, in all his refreshing candor, reflects on the loss to Boston College.

UP NEXT: FLORIDA STATE

2008-11-13T15:57:00.000-05:00

BC-ND The Non-Rivalry

2008-11-05T18:13:00.001-05:00

Let's admit it BC fans, it's been a rough couple of weeks.

First, it was the WTF road game during our semi-annual losing road trip to Chapel Hill, NC.

Next up, the Eagles were outclassed by orange-overall-wearing-hillbillies with a coach named Dabo.

Could things get any worse?

One thing that will always warm the cockles of any Boston College fan's heart, is the satisfaction of maintaining our dominance over the great French institution known as Notre Dame, including 5 wins in a row against the squad affectionately known as "Fat Charlie's Army."

Even better than dominance on the football field, however is the satisfaction in knowing that South Bend is filled with nothing but cows and insufferably arrogant ND students like the one featured in the video below:

Sun Sets on BC

2008-11-03T10:13:00.000-05:00

Bennett Suspended

2008-10-31T08:45:00.000-04:00

Why is this man smiling?

In what is turning out to be a rough start to the second, and most important, half of the season, BC is dealing with more adversity as it faces Clemson without one of its kickers, sophmore kick-off specialist Billy Bennett, who has been suspended for violation of undisclosed team rules.

That means the return of feel-good-story-man Steve Aponavicius in all his inconsistent, weak legged glory.

Tigers Ready to Roar
Unlike BC, the Clemson Tigers appear to be on the verge of regaining the form they had hoped for when the team was ranked as a pre-season Top Ten favorite. With a healthy backfield that will include pre-season All-ACC QB Cullen Harper as well as explosive running backs James Davis and C.J. Spiller, Clemson appears to be peaking as they head to Chestnut Hill.

If BC thought the UNC playmakers were tough to contain, it could be a long afternoon on Saturday for the Eagles' defense.

Clemson will have plenty of motivation under new head coach Dabo "Goofey" Swinney as the Tigers try to snap a 4 game losing streak , dating back to 1983, against the Eagles.

Prediction
Being a homer, this is a difficult prediction as the stars do not seem aligned for Coach Jagodzinski and the Eagles. Nonetheless, it is a home game and everyone knows what a difficult venue Alumni Stadium is for an opposing team - particualry once the whale-pants set get good and sauced on single malt Scotch, Quahog clams, and chowda - but I digress.

BC pulls out the victory, in ugly fashion, 19-17.

The Lighter Side
Clemson fans have a reputation for traveling, wearing orange, and spending two dollar bills emblazened with cute little orange paw prints.

In light of that, I'm sure they will be well represented by the Clemson torch-bearers in all of their eloquent, spirited glory:

Thanks to BC Guy Brian for the link.

UP NEXT: CLEMSON

2008-10-28T07:51:00.000-04:00

After a disappointing 3-3 start to the season, Clemson parted ways with Tommy Bowden after ten years as Head Football Coach.

Interim Head Coach Dabo Swinney will now lead the Tigers to Chestnut hill in hopes of snapping a three game losing streak against the 5-2 Eagles.

Last year's thriller in Greenville will be tough to match:

For BC, this Atlantic Division match-up is crucial if the Eagles are to punch a return ticket to the Sunshine State and the 2008 ACC Championship game.

BALL SECURITY
It appears that the Boston College coaching staff have made a committment to stay with 5th year QB Chris Crane through thick and thin this season.

Crane's biggest problem this year has been refelctive of an unfamiliar flaw for a Boston College football team: turnovers. After throwing five interceptions in the last two ACC contests, Crane and the rest of the team will have to focus on taking better care of the ball during this stretch run if they want to stay in the ACC Championship hunt.

Recruiting Update

2008-10-27T15:07:00.000-04:00

With only six players verbally committing for 2009 so far this recruting season, BC looks to make a big push for these top targets as National Signing Day approaches.

1. Jelani Jenkins, LB *****
(Our Lady Good Counsel HS) Olney, MD
6-1/ 200lbs /4.45 40

Other Schools of Interest: Maryland, Miami (Fl), Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn State, Stanford

2. Tajh Boyd, QB *****
(Phoebus HS) Hampton, VA
6-2 /210 lbs / 4.57 40

Other Schools of Interest: Maryland, Michigan, Tennessee, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, West Virginia

3. Dan Mason, LB ****
(Penn Hills SHS) Pittsburgh, PA
6-0/218/4.81

Other Schools of Interest: Pittsburgh, Penn State, West Virginia

4. Eugene Smith, QB ****
(Miramar HS) Miramar, FL
6-3 /180lbs /4.60 40

Other Schools of Interest: Clemson, Florida State, Louisville, Michigan, South Florida, West Virginia

5. Brennan Williams, OT ****
(Catholic Memorial) West Roxbury, MA
6-6 /273lbs / 4.97 40

Other Schools of Interest: Duke, North Carolina, Virginia, Wake Forest, Maryland, Michigan

6. Davon Custis, DE ****
(St. Francis DeSales HS) Columbus, OH
6-5 /220lbs / 4.60 40

Other Schools of Interest: Indiana, Michigan State, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Stanford, Wisconsin

7. Stephen Hill, WR ****
(Miller Grove HS) Lithonia, GA
6-4 / 186lbs /4.44 40

Other Schools of Interest: Georgia Tech, UCF, Miami (Oh), Mississippi State, North Carolina, UAB

8. Mark Brazinski, C ***
(Immaculata HS) Somerville, NJ
6-4 / 285lbs

Other Schools of Interest: Bucknell, Florida State, North Carolina, Penn State, Pennsylvania, Rutgers

Catholic Bowl in Prime Time

2008-10-27T14:29:00.000-04:00

BC will be attempting to even the all time series record against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish under the lights at Alumni Stadium on November 8.

The game has been set for an 8PM kick-off to air on either ABC or ESPN.

Epic Bad Day

2008-10-27T12:52:00.000-04:00

While it has not yet evolved into the Top Ten program that many would like to see, Boston College has established a tradition of winning and, at the very least, being competitiveness.

That paradigm shifted ever so slightly on Saturday as Coach Jags and his nationally ranked football team were outscored, outclassed, and outplayed in every facet of the most lopsided loss of the Jags coaching era.

Just when it looked like BC may have turned the corner of national respectability, they made a decent UNC offense look like world beaters during a rout in which back-up QB Cameron Sexton threw three TD's and unheralded wide receiver Hakim Nicks scorched the BC defense for four touchdowns.

On the offensive side of the ball, things were not much better. Chris Crane continued his downward spiral of inconsistency by throwing three costly INT's to add to his second worst in the country total of 12 for the season.

LOOKING AHEAD
BC needs to bounce back in a big way and fast. Clemson, who is coming off a bye week following 3 consecutive losses and a coaching change, will not be feeling sorry for the Eagles.

BAD CRANE, POROUS DEFENSE

2008-10-26T20:13:00.000-04:00

It is becoming clear to every BC fan and follower that there is a Good Crane and a Bad Crane. Yesterday, Bad Crane reared his ugly head on three costly interceptions. Despite his inconsistent play, Crane managed to go 28/42 for 204 yards and 2 TD's to go along with the interceptions.

The bigger problem, was the awful BC defense which gave up 45 points in the loss to the UNC Tar Heels.

DEJA VU
Anyone remember the last time a BC defense gave up more than 42 points?

Does the name Diamond Ferri ring a bell?

That's right, the historic November, 2004 43-17 home loss to Syracuse was the last time BC gave up more than 42 points, until yesterday's abysmal showing by Coach Spaziani's crew.

While the UNC loss was not quite as devastating, it was nonetheless disappointing due to the way BC failed to show up and was steam rolled by a back-up QB and a converted defensive back turned running back in UNC's Shaun Draughn.

Key to the Game

2008-10-24T10:33:00.000-04:00

CHRIS CRANE
Unlike other games this season, where BC had to focus on multiple aspects of its gameplan in order to win, against UNC, the team will rise or fall on the performance of 5th year man Chris Crane.

Last week, the Eagles were lucky to escape with a win despite 5 turnovers including two pick-6 interceptions thrwon by Crane. Tomorrow, Crane must improve and do so in wet, rainy conditions against an opportunistic UNC defense.

TENACIOUS D
The Boston College defense is the reason the 5-1 Eagles have been in every game this season. Tomorrow should be no different against a team playing with a back-up QB (Starter T.J. Yates is injured) and missing Brandon Tate, its key playmaker, who is out for the season with torn knee ligaments. As ususal, the success of Defensive Coordinator Frank Spaziani's crew is flying under the radar.

Although the unit will be without Brian Toal and Wes Davis, they should be able to contain a UNC team that is 8th in the ACC with 127 yards rushing per game and 7th in the conference with fewer than 200 yards passing per game.

ON THE MEND
Defensive End Alex Albright, who is out for the year with a neck injury, underwent surgery this week to repair nerve damage.

FEARLESS PREDICTION
BC 24 UNC 13 (If BC avoids turnovers)

ESPN College Football Podcast

2008-10-23T18:12:00.000-04:00

There was plenty of good ACC and Boston College talk in today's ESPN College Football Podcast hosted by Ivan Maisel (the link has been restored).

After the short conference blurbs, ESPN's Maisel is joined by everyone's favorite octogenarian, Beano Cook.

Although he is typically difficult to listen to due to his senility induced rambling and overall incoherency, Cook actually offers some insight into the ACC divisional races and the Boston College football program.
The BC-Notre Dame "rivalry" is discussed in detail, and, although Cook initially predicts that ND will be favored, he describes the ND students as arrogant and adds this gem:

"I would rather go to Boston College in Boston, than go to South Bend for four years."

Classic stuff.

For what it's worth, Maisel, who mentions David Gordon's famous kick, predicts an FSU/GT ACC Championship Game.

It's definitely worth a listen if you have a few minutes to spare.

Thursday Primer

2008-10-23T09:27:00.000-04:00

What to make of this week's trip to Chapel Hill?

Is there a new dawn of optimism on the Heights or should fans be preparing for when not if our next loss will occur?

It's difficult to know what to make of this UNC team as it has undergone a transformation with a new QB and an up and down season which includes wins over Notre Dame, Miami, Rutgers and UConn (the latter two being doormats of a weak conference) as well as close losses to Virginia Tech (20-17) and UVA (16-13 in OT).

In light of Chris Crane's abysmal TD/INT ratio, the Tar Heel secondary must be licking their chops as, heading into the weekend, North Carolina has more interceptions than any team in the country with 14 (tied with Iowa).

ESPN and its crack reporter Heather Dinich are predicting BC to lose.

Ro-Fran, Don’t Touch Me
Senior Linebacker Robert Francois prepares to fill in for Brian Toal on Saturday (and the rest of the season). In perhaps their biggest contribution of the season, jack-of-all trades Billy Flutie and reserve linebacker Will Thompson spoofed the serious Francois in a song parody reminiscent of Matt Damon's classic Scotty Doesn't Know.

GAME PREVIEWS
A search of the internets reveals several previews, news, and notes of Saturday's tilt in Chapel Hill:

• The Sports Network Preview

• The Chapel Hill News

• ESPN

THE BC WAY?
Checking in on our old pal Coach Tom O'Brien, it appears that "the BC Way" doesn't translate in Raleigh as Chuck Amato's final recruiting class has evaporated before Major Tom's very eyes.

Coaching Profile: Butch Davis

2008-10-22T03:01:00.000-04:00

In 2005, when he was an analyst on the NFL network, Butch Davis was one of the hottest names on the college football market as fans of schools from Arkansas to Texas to UCLA were hoping to land this household coaching name.

Who guessed he would end up wearing Carolina Blue?

Davis, who played college football at the University of Arkansas for Coach Frank Broyles, was introduced as North Carolina's head coach on November 13, 2006, replacing the fired John Bunting, who had just one winning season in Chapel Hill. Four months later, Coach Davis was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. He underwent Chemotherapy and has not missed a beat since.

Before arriving in Chapel Hill, Coach Davis earned his stripes at both the collegiate and pro levels. The 56 year-old Davis was head coach for six seasons at the University of Miami (1995-2000) and led the Hurricanes to a 51-20 record, three Big East Conference championships and four post-season bowl wins in as many appearances, including a team that finished No. 2 in the nation in 2000 when the Canes went 11-1 and beat Florida, 37-20, in the Sugar Bowl.

After Miami, Davis was Head Coach of the Cleveland Browns from 2001 until December, 2004, when he resigned after a 3–8 start, ending his tenure with a 24–35 overall record as Head Coach.

Like many College Coaches before him, Davis realized that the NFL did not suit his Head Coaching style. However, after returning to the College game, Davis has been successful in building a winning program at UNC.

Coach Davis has certainly seen his share of adversity and, after Saturday's letdown against UVA, will be looking to roar back against the Eagles this weekend.

BUTCH DAVIS ANTHOLOGY
2001-04 Cleveland Browns - Head Coach
1995-00 University of Miami - Head Coach
1989-94 Dallas Cowboys - Assistant / Defensive Coordinator
1984-88 University of Miami - Assistant
1979-83 Oklahoma State University - Assistant
1978 Tulsa Rogers (Okla.) High School - Head Coach

Next up: TARHHELS

2008-10-21T08:46:00.000-04:00

This week, Boston College prepares to travel to Chapel Hill, North Carolina to take on Butch Davis and his 5-2 Tar Heels.

MUTUAL ADVERSITY
While BC is dealing with the disappointing loss of Brian Toal, UNC is attempting to bounce back from its overtime loss to the Virginia Cavaliers without several key players, including:

• Senior playmaker, Brandon Tate, who tore ligaments in his right knee in UNC's vicotry over Notre Damem and is out for the season;

• QB T.J. Yates who suffered a broken ankle in a 20-17 loss to Virginia Tech; and

• Fullback Anthony Elzy who fractured his shoulder in the loss to UVA.

After last week's loss, UNC Defensive End E.J. Wilson vowed that the Tar Heels will rebound this week against the visiting Eagles.

WTF REVISITED
BC's last regular season meeting with UNC was a 2005 "WTF" upset loss in which former coach Tom O'Brien waited too long to bring in Matt Ryan.

For more info on the UNC-BC match-up, be sure to check out the Tar Heel Buckeye - a great UNC Sports Blog.

Costly Win for Eagles

2008-10-19T17:27:00.001-04:00

Despite 5 turnovers (including 2 interceptions returned for Touchdowns), zero points in the 2nd half, and a season ending leg injury to Senior Linebacker Brian Toal, BC managed to hang on for the win over the #17 ranked Virginia Hokies 28-23.

BC 1 - Beamer Ball 0

2008-10-18T23:56:00.001-04:00

The Evolution of a Rivalry

2008-10-17T22:32:00.000-04:00

Despite fear of opening the freshly healed wound that is the "Notre Dame-Boston College is it or is it not a rivalry" debate, Big Bhang Theory takes a videographic stroll down the memory lane that helped give birth to the Boston College - Virginia Tech Rivalry, Atlantic Coast Conference style.

2006
Unranked Boston College blows out then #22 Virginia Tech 22-3 at Alumni Stadium leaving Hokie Coaches and Players believing that they just left the Big House in Ann Arbor. But, as seen in the video below, not all Tech players took the loss so hard.

2007
"And Lane Stadium goes SILENT!" What BC fan will ever forget the call on ESPN of Matt Ryan's Boston College Eagles pulling off one of the most improbable victories in BC history - with all due respect to the little man from Natick.

2007 Part Two
The 2007 ACC Championship was Boston College's long awaited shot at redemption from the pasty white ghostly memories of a Championship-less decade of Tom O'Brien. The stars were aligned for Matt Ryan and the Eagles on that sunny December day, until the second half began....

While this game may not be the second coming of the Red River Rivalry, BC and VT have developed a potent brew. The Eagle's October 12, 2006 victory was Virginia Tech's first road loss in the ACC. Entering tomorrow's game, they are 16-1 as the visitor. BC's October 25, 2007 win at the loud and proud Lane Stadium was the first Thursday Night home loss for the Hokies.

With both squads being Big East defectors, there is a sense of kinship sufficient to warrant both brotherly love and rivalry. Eagles' fans are hoping for more October magic, and a third consecutive regular season win, in tomorrow night's affair.

KEYS TO THE GAME

2008-10-17T09:50:00.000-04:00

1. DEFEND THE RUN / MAKE TAYLOR PASS
As was the case with NC State's Russell Wilson and Georgia Tech's Josh Nesbitt, Virginia Tech's Tyrod Taylor is more of a threat with his legs than he is with his arm (Taylor has only thrown one TD pass this year).

Meanwhile, as heralded as the BC front 7 has been against the run, our d-backs (including Freshman Donnie Fletcher who will be starting ahead of deleon Gause) have been remarkable allowing only 153 yards through the air per game which is 7th best in the nation. Look for BC to stack the box with 7 and 8 defenders in an effort to slow down the Hokies elusive QB. As with GT and NC State, maintaining "contain" on the edges will bve crucial.

2. RED ZONE OFFENSE/QB PLAY
While our red zone offensive production was much improved in the October 4 win over NC State, this Virginia Tech team presents a much more diificult challenge. In fact, the biggest obstacle to red zone prodcutivity this week may be getting that deep into Hokie territory.

Rest assured, Chris Crane won't have the time and space to make reads and get comfortable in the pocket while looking for open receivers as he did against the Wolfpack. Fans may remember last year's match-ups against Virginia Tech in which star QB Matt Ryan struggled for the better part of both games. In the October 25 night game at Lane Stadium, Defensive Coordinator Bud Foster and his crew brought pressure all night, while in the ACC Chamionship game on December 1, the defense showed pressure and dropped 6, 7, and even 8 defenders into coverage.

This year, Chris Crane will have All-ACC Corner Back Victor "Macho" Harris (3 INT's) to worry about in the defensive secondary while the offensive line will try to keep tabs on a loaded defensive front four that includes Virginia Tech Sophomore Defensive End Jason Worilds out of Carteret, New Jersey. As always, Crane's effectiveness through the air will rely primarily on both the O-line's ability to give him time, and perhaps more importantly, the ability to establish a ground game which will likely be led by true freshman Montel Harris. Look for Fullback James McCluskey also to get more involved in this week's offensive gameplan with both he and Harris cathcing passes out of the backfield.

As noted by BC Offensive Coordinator Steve Logan, Crane has taken a step in the right direction, but we'll find out Saturday whether he can parlay that into success against a Top 20 opponent or whether Domonique Davis will be called on in relief.

3. SPECIAL TEAMS
More than anything else, Virginia Tech is known for its superior special teams play. Given that close games are often decided by field position and field goal efficiency, this will be a huge factor in the saturday night showdown. BC can ill-afford to have any blocked punts, field goals or long punt returns by "Macho" Harris. Memo to Ryan Quigley: kick it quickly, high, long, and/or out of bounds. Johnny Ayers will be missed as the true freshman Quigley will surely be put to the test. Look for Billy Flutie to take a punt or two in key situations...

As noted earlier this week, the Hokies have lost two starters to season-ending injuries -- rover Davon Morgan (torn ACL) and tailback Kenny Lewis Jr. (ruptured Achilles tendon). This will effect the Hokies' kick-off return plans as this tandem had combined for all but three of Tech's 18 returned kickoffs in the first six games. Meanwhile, Jeff Smith has been steady, if not spectacular, in his role as kick returner so far this year. Will he break off a big return on Saturday night in primte time?

4. COACHING
This will doubtless be a close game. As noted in ESPN's game preview, all of the Hokies game's - including their season opening lone loss to East Carolina - have been close. In fact, each of Virginia Tech's games against i-A opponents have been decided by five points or less. In close games, the results typically come down to coaching and execution.

Head Coach Frank Beamer and Defensive Coordinator Bud Foster are two of the best in the business.

Meanwhile, the honeymoon appears to be over for offensive guru Steve Logan who has come under a bit of criticism for his play-calling - particularly in the September 6 loss to Georgia Tech.

On a positive note, BC averages just under four penalties per game (18 total) which is 3rd best in the country (as an aside, TOB's NC State crew has amassed 41 penalties).

5. THE UNKNOWN FACTOR: CROWD NOISE
As noted earlier in the weak, Alumni Stadium has developed a reputation, at least among Virginia Tech players and coaches, of being a difficult place to play. Of course, it can be - especially during a nationally broadcast night game. However, the team must give the crowd something to cheer about. I was at the ACC home opener against FSU in 2005 and was awe struck with the roar of the crowd as BC ran onto the field. Unfortunately, less than a minute later, BC QBQuinton Porter threw a pick-6 interception and the air was let of the balloon.

Hopefully the handsitters will either sell their tickets to younger fans or drink a few single malts before the game and start feeling "frisky" by kick-off. !

PREDICTION: I think BC continues its three game win streak against ranked opponents at home by winning a close one against the Hokies 20-17.

DOUBLE TROUBLE

2008-10-16T11:50:00.000-04:00

This week, the Boston College defense will face a unique challenge in defending the twin rushing attack of agile Virginia Tech signal caller Tyrod Taylor as well as the elusive, if not unheralded, redshirt freshman running back Darrell Evans.

Darrell Evans
Recruited out of Indiana, Evans has made quite a statement since arriving in Blacksburg. In fact, after rushing for 94 yards in the Hokies' victory over Georgia Tech, Evans was named ACC Rookie of the Week. So far this year, the versatile back has totaled 415 yards on 98 carries and 8 Touchdowns (with no fumbles).

After starting tailback Kenny Lewis, Jr.suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon in their game against Western Kentucky Hokies, Eavns has been the go to guy, stepping in and playing very well for Frank Beamer's defending ACC Championship team. Despite not being the starter for most of the season, Evans is in the top 5 in the ACC in rushing ans scoring.

Tyrod Taylor
Taylor should be well known to the Boston College faithful. Although he was kept out of the endzone, his exploits in the 2007 ACC Championship game helped spark the Hokies offense and ultimately a victory over the Eagles. With 338 yards rushing so far this season, Taylor has more rushing yards than any BC back (Montel Harris is closest with 313 yards). Given the past propensity of running QB's to carve of the BC secondary, Tyrod should not be overlooked.

Had BC been more effective in containing the same type of QB running threat against Georgia Tech, it likely would have meant a victory for BC, despite the poor play by the offense. This week, the BC players realize the challenge and are focusing on stopping Taylor and the rest of the Hokies' running attack.

While Tech's smallish backs should not pose much of a problem between the tackles, if they break contain on the outside and get into the BC defensive secondary, it could be a long day for the Eagles on defense.

BC - VT Preview

2008-10-15T09:35:00.000-04:00

For BC fans, this week's game against Virginia Tech presents an opportunity for a third consecutive regular season win against the Hokies, positive national exposure against a nationally ranked team, and a shot at redemption for last year's second half collapse in the ACC Championship Game.

Unfortunately for BC, Matt Ryan will be in the stands as a spectator instead of on the field as a team leader and Heisman contender. As noted in this ESPN mid-season review of the Eagles, BC has plenty of positives heading into this week's prime-time showdowwn, including a stout defensive front seven led by Brian Toal and Mike Herzlich.

TAMING TAYLOR
This game presents yet another challenge for the BC defense in figuring out a way to control a very atheltic QB in Tyrod Taylor. After Coach Frank Beamer pulled his red shirt in replacement of Sean Glennon, Taylor has been superb, rushing for over 300 yards and passing for nearly 500 yards leading Virginia Tech to 5 consecutive wins since he took the helm. In just his second year in Blacksburg, this 19 year old sophmore is a force to be reckoned with. BC must come up with a plan to limit his scrambling ability should a passing play break down.

One big question to be answered is which Viginia Tech offense will show up in Chestnut Hill on Saturday? Will it be the one that piled up nearly 500 yards and 35 points in a win against Nebraska or the squad that managed less than 300 total yards and squeaked past the 2-4 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers? As noted in teh article linked above, out of 120 Division I-A teams, VA Tech is one of 14 that have averaged fewer than 300 yards of total offense this season.

Some sportswriters in Virginia have described the Virginia Tech offesne as smoke and mirrors in light of the Hokies 5-1 record despite ranking 113th in the country in total offense (293 yards per game) and just 107th in passing offense (118 ypg).

Like BC, the Hokies appear to be a work in progress, however, with and athletic QB like Taylor, the margin of error for success is much greater than when a team is relying on more of a pure passer like Chris Crane. In light of this difference, look for dual threat QB Domonique Davis to see some action if the BC offense can't get things going with Crane under center. After Crane's breakout performance against NC State on October 4, the Hokies have certainly taken notice.

ROAD TO THE ACC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Although this week's game comes against a Coastal Division foe, the result will both gauge BC's talentl level and play a role in BC's effort to returning to the ACC Championship game. In a year in which there is no dominant team in the conference, the Eagles must take advantage and avoid any more letdowns against an ACC opponent.

HOMECOMING
In his Tuesday Press Conference, Virginia Tech Head Coach Frank Beamer recalled the Hokies last visit to the Heights in 2006, a game BC dominated 22-3 which accounts for Virginia Tech's only road loss since joining the ACC.

Interestingly, the Hokies also recall Alumni Stadium as both loud and rowdy - two words not typically associated with the 44,500 seat band box in the back yard of the toney Newtonians.

Will the BC Superfans (and not so superfans) be out in force on Saturday night?

EAGLES AT FULL STRENGTH?
After several games without the full services of Freshman Running Back Josh Haden (ankle) and Sophmore Cornerback Deleon Gause (ankle), BC should have both players back in the starting line-up against Virgina Tech on Saturday Night. Also, Ryan Purvis suffered what was diagnosed as a leg bruise at North Carolina State and should be fine.

Meanwhile, Alex Albright, who is out for the season with a neck injury, was scheduled to have surgery to repair a disck problem within the next week. Best of luck to Alex in his recovery.

On the Virginia Tech injury front the Hokies have lost two starters the past two games to season-ending injuries -- rover Davon Morgan (torn ACL) against Nebraska and tailback Kenny Lewis Jr. (ruptured Achilles tendon) against Western Kentucky. This will effect the Hokies' kick-off return plans as this tandem had combined for all but three of Tech's 18 returned kickoffs in the first six games. On the bright side, All ACC corner back and punt returner Victor "Macho" Harris appears to have recovered from a foot injury and should be good to go against BC.

BUD MAN
Long regarded as one of the NCAA's best defensive coordinators, Virginia Tech's Bud Foster is now rumored to be a leading candidate to replace the ousted Tommy Bowden at Clemson. When asked about the job opening earlier this week, Foster was less than eager to address the situation, but did acknowledge some interest on his part for the position.

WHO SAID THAT?
“I can’t wait for this game. It’s the challenge. It’s the fact that they took the ACC championship from us last year. That’s the big thing.”

-BC offensive tackle Anthony Costanzo on this week's game against Virginia Tech.

BC Continues Graduation Rate Success

2008-10-14T08:19:00.000-04:00

In in a report released by the NCAA yesterday, Boston College earned a 92 GSR score, which tied BC with Duke as tops in the ACC and 4th nationally among Division 1 schools, trailing only Navy (95), Notre Dame (94), and Stanford (93).

The overall number for BC athletes was even better - a GSR of 96, which was well above the national average of 78. BC also had a school-record 18 athletic teams achieve a perfect score of 100.

Although this continues to be a great story for Boston College and all of its sports teams, it is not a reflection on Coach Jags as the statistics were compiled based on student athletes who entered school between 1998 - 2001 and graduated within a 6 year matriculation period.

It is notable, however, that even schools like Georgia Tech - which graduated fewer than 50% of its football players during the relevant time period - are not immune to the resulting embarrassment when viewing the University through an academic lense.

Let's hope BC continues to win by doing it the right way.

Jeff Jagodzinski: Head Coach, Boston College

2008-10-08T19:47:00.000-04:00

For any BC football fan with a lingering doubt about the new attitude that Coach Jags brought with him to the Heights, take a listen to his answer to the last question during this week's ACC teleconference.

Much has been discussed about the pros and cons of our former head guy, but if Coach O'Brien ever gave a response like that to any writer, reporter or blogger, I am not aware of it.

More important than his confident talk, however, are the immediate results that the Coach has brought to Boston College - leading the team to its first ever ACC Championship game and an 11-3 record in his first season. While that may not seem like much for many top tier programs, it is exactly the kind of success that fans have been craving since Tom Coughlin's winning ways departed in 1993.

The 44-year-old Jagodzinski, who signed a 5-year contract to become BC's 33rd head coach, spent the 2006 season as the Offensive Coordinator for the Green Bay Packers. Before Green Bay, he spent three seasons with the Atlanta Falcons after five years with the Packers (1999-2003) as tight ends coach.

Since he has been at BC, Jags has brought not only winning ways, but a winning attitude and a sense of enthusiasm, hopefulness and excitement not seen in over a decade. Such subjective sentiments can not be overlooked or underestimated in the college game in which emotion often prevails over talent.

I was in the stands last November on a chilly night in South Carolina when BC took the field in a packed house to play Clemson. Looking at the picture above, one can plainly see that Coach Jags had a sense of what his team was about to do that night - pull off an incredible victory against a top 15 opponent, on the road, to earn a birth to Jacksonville. You have to believe that the players felt and continued to feel this sky-is-the-limit optimism as well.

It sure beats a 10 win ceiling.

Thanks to Ahhhhhbuckles for the radio link above.

HEISMAN WATCH

2008-10-07T18:28:00.000-04:00

KNOWSHON MORENO, UGA, RB
Maybe it's the mohawk or maybe it's just the Bulldogs' subpar performance in their "Back in Black" game against Alabama in which Knowshon was held to just 34 yards on 9 carries. But one thing is for sure, the sophomore running back from the University of Georgia has been kept in check as of late and will have a lot of making up to do if he wants to remain a part of the Heisman conversation late into the season.

TIM TEBOW, UF, QB
Like Knowshon, Tebow's Heisman chances have taken a shot - as has his NFL draft status - as a result of a less than stellar performance in the Gators' 31-30 loss to Ol' Miss. What was most troubling was the returning Heisman Trophy winner's inability to hit open receivers at crucial times in the ball game. While his tenacity and running ability may help the gators get past the LSU Tigers and the rest of the SEC, it remains to be seen whether NFL scouts will be impressed.

CHASE DANIEL, MU, QB
Chase Daniel transcends football in and around Columbia, Missouri. In fact, the Senior QB from Southlake, Texas has helped put the Tigers back on the map. In a game that wasn't even as close as the 52-17 score might indicate, Chase Daniel led the Tigers in a total dismantling of the once proud Nebraska Cornhuskers. So frustrated were the boys from Lincoln, that they allegedly resorted to eye poking and face scratching on the rare occasions when they were able to get to Daniel.

TODD REESING, KU, QB The clear dark horse candidate of the this year's Heisman balloting, Todd Reesing was also an unconventional choice for Kansas coaches when they were scouting this product out of high school. But with a 160.50 QB rating, 1,724 passing yards, and 14 Touchdowns, this undersized QB is tough to ignore. Reesing will have his hands full in two weeks when the Jayhawks square off with the #1 ranked Oklahoma Sooners.

MARK SANCHEZ, USC, QB
Like Moreno and Tebow, Sanchez' highly ranked USC Trojans have also stumbled early in the 2008 campaign in a losing effort on September 25 to the Beavers from Oregon State. What's more, as USC looks forward to this week's match-up against Arizona State, it may be without its Heisman Hopeful at QB as Sanchez was injured when he was sacked by former high school teammate Nick Reed in last week's victory over Oregon.

Watch List: Charles Scott, LSU; Sam Bradford, Oklahoma.

Dropped: Matthew Stafford, UGA

Bring on the Night

2008-10-06T13:16:00.000-04:00

With both teams slowly building successful seasons, ESPN has announced that it will broadcast the October 18, BC-VaTech match-up in prime time.

Offense Explodes, Defense Turtles, BC Wins

2008-10-05T09:51:00.000-04:00

Did anyone see this coming?

In a game that went down to the final minute, BC rallied behind 5th year senior Chris Crane to score on the last drive of the game and pull out the ACC road victory 38-31.

Not only did BC's vaunted defense bend, it broke in several key situations, including in the final minutes of the game. After a questionable decision by Coach Jags & Co. to go for it on 4th down at the NC State 40 yard line, the Wolfpack took the ball and almost immediately tied the game at 31 with 3:33 left in the game.

Enter Chris Crane.
The much maligned QB, who ran for 3 TD's and threw for 2, got it done when it counted most, taking his team the length of the field and scoring the winning TD with :21 left to play.

Crane's game winning score topped off an offensive explosion for both the QB and the team. Crane threw for a career high 428 yards which led BC to the victory despite a spotty performance from the defense which blew a 14-point fourth-quarter lead. Conversely, on the offensive side of the ball, BC had its way with an over-matched NC State Wolfpack defense and finished with 578 yards.

In a complete reversal from last week's romp over URI in which BC attempted fewer than 10 passes, the strategy against NC State was a little different as Chris Crane threw the ball 51 times while BC managed just 30 rushing attempts (11 by Crane). Even more encouraging about BC's pass happy approach was that Crane was able to spread the ball around to 10 different receivers - perhaps a sign that he is becoming more comfortable in his role as team leader.

INJURY REPORT
With a week off before their October 18 ACC Championship game rematch against Virginia Tech, Boston College should be fairly healthy. However, Eagles' fans got a scare when Ryan Purvis was tackled awkwardly and suffered what the team has initially diagnosed as a "bone bruise." Further details should be released soon....

Meanwhile, Brandon Robinson also left the game a little woozy, but should be good to go for BC's next game.

BC V. NC STATE: 5 KEYS TO THE GAME

2008-10-03T11:08:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow's game against NC State will likely dictate how the rest of the season goes for the unknown quantity that is the 2008 BC football team. As they begin the ACC Atlantic Schedule, look for these five things that may be the difference in tomorrow's outcome:

1. CHRIS CRANE
Much of BC's success continues to hinge on the performance of the 5th year senior. Unfortunately, Crane has been one of the worst passers in the ACC to date. In light of the coaching staff's vow to air things out on Saturday, let's hope Crane can find a passing rhtyhm for the 1st time this season.

2. CONTAINING RUSSELL WILSON
For as long as I can remember, each time BC has faced an athletic, scrambling QB, we have been burned. From Michael Vick at Virgnia Tech in the late 90's to Josh Nesbitt in this year's loss to Georgia Tech, BC defenders never seem to contain a running QB. This week, BC will have to stop the elusive Russell Wilson if they want to continue to have success on the defensive side of the ball.

3. SPECIAL TEAMS
Unfortunately, this may turn out to be a game in which field position in key. If that is the case, BC punter Ryan Quigley will have to do better than his 36 yard average over the first four games. Particularly troubling are the 20 yard shanks from deep in our own territory.

4. RED ZONE OFFENSE
Fans will recall the Georgia Tech game and BC's inability to score a touchdown on 4 1st half trips to the red zone. Ultimately, that was the difference in the game. BC can not afford the same fate against a thin NC State defensive unit that last week gave up 41 points to South Florida.

5. SILENCE THE CROWD
NC State may be coming off of 5 consecutive underachieving seasons, but Carter-Finley Stadium remains one of the most difficult venues in the ACC for opposing teams. The longer BC lets an outmatched Wolfpack team hang around, the louder and more boisterous this crown will become. Given Crane's signal calling difficulties at home against URI, this variable can only make matters worse.

PREDICTION
It probably won't be pretty, but BC pulls out the road victory 24-10.

THE CURSE OF CAROLINA

2008-10-02T17:38:00.000-04:00

When is the last time Boston College won a regular season game in the great state of North Carolina?

In a word: NEVER

Not only has BC not won a regular season game there since joining the ACC, the Eagles have never had regular season success in the Tar Heel state.

Dating back to Boston College's 1st game - a 4-0 victory over the St. John's Literary Institute in October, 1893 - the closest the Eagle's have come was a 7 all tie against Wake Forest in 1952 under BC Head Coach Mike Holovak. Looking ahead to this week's visit to Raleigh, Coach Jags and the Eagles are hoping for better things.

GAMEPLAN
Although the Eagles had great success on the ground against URI, BC Offensive Coordinator Steve Logan knows that, in order to survive the ACC schedule, the team will have to air it out.

Meanwhile, NC State running back Andre Brown talks about what he expects from BC's monster front four.

OLD FACES
The visit to Raleigh will be BC's first since former Head Coach Tom O'Brien became the leader of the Wolfpack Nation. As it's been almost two years since his departure, however, many expect the game to be business as usual.
Despite many fans' bitter recollections of the former head man, O'Brien has fond memories of his old players - especially Brian Toal.

SICK BAY
Cornerback Deleon Gause is still recovering from a high ankle sprain he suffered on a bizarre attempt at a fair catch in the Georgia Tech game and is not expected to play.

Meanwhile, Josh Haden appears to have almost fully recovered from his ankle sprain and should be the starting tailback for the Eagles on Saturday. However, with the great play of surprise freshman sensation Montel Harris, and the big play ability of speedy Jeff Smith, we may see running back by committee for much of the season.

NC State may be without several starters in this week's tilt, including linebacker Nate Irving.

Although he suggested earlier in the week that starting QB Russell Wilson would likely be unable to play against BC, on Wednesday, TOB acknowledged that Wilson appeared to have recovered from an undisclosed leg injury. Perhaps the overstated injury to the NC State signal caller was just another one of O'Brien's efforts to dampen expectations while also building in an external excuse for anticipated failure against the Eagles.

Player Profile: James McCluskey

2008-10-02T08:05:00.000-04:00

Local product James McCLuskey has traveled a winding road before arriving as the starting fullback for the Boston College Eagles. Originally recruited as a highly regarded linebacker at nearby Billerica Memorial, McCluskey developed a bond with BC star recruiter and linebackers coach Bill McGovern. In fact, the 6'2" red shirt sophomore was one of the top prospects in the country and came close to playing for the Miami Hurricanes before finally settling on nearby BC.

After the departure of Tom O'Brien in December 2006, McCLuskey's fate was uncertain. It wasn't until Coach Jags broke the news just prior to the 2007 season that McCluskey learned he would be converted to fullback. Fans may recall the big back's coming out party at Clemson in which he scored a key second half touchdown. This year, McCluskey has provided stability in an untested offensive backfield. The multi-faceted back has been a reliable pass protector, lead blocker, rusher and receiver. Look for big things from this local product as BC enters the meat of the ACC schedule.

BC TARGETS STAR LINEBACKER
At 6'1", 212 pounds, Jelani Jenkins can flat out fly. Not only does he run a 4.45 40, he's a big hitter as well. According to this article, the Good Counsel (MD) linebacker is one of the most sought after recruits in the country. For BC, it would be like grabbing another Brian Toal or Brian Cushing (who ultimately went to Pete Carroll's USC Trojans). Stay tuned to see if BC stays in the running for this impact player.

Thanks to Ahhhhbuckles for the link.

The TOB Years: A Counter Perspective

2008-09-30T21:01:00.001-04:00

Tom O'Brien took Boston College to new heights of sustained excellence. So why was he unceremoniously booted (via a Gene D's refusal to renew his contract) after ten years at BC?

Guest Blogger, and BC Guy, Ahhhhhhbuckles weighs in with his thoughts:

A WA WA WEIGHS IN: WHY TOB HAD TO GO
You would think that the passage of nearly 24 months since the end of the O’Brien era – months which included some memorable wins - would have dulled the passions a bit. You’d be wrong. Nothing gets BC football fans riled up more than Thomas P. O’Brien.

His departure split the fan base into two parts: the "ra ra's" (pro-TOB) and the "wa wa's" (anti-TOB). There was no middle ground. Here’s why I was, and remain, firmly in the wa wa camp.

YOU GOTTA KNOW WHEN TO HOLD 'EM, KNOW WHEN TO FOLD 'EM
Tom O’Brien came to BC following the 1996 season. A season marked by the GAMBLING SCANDAL (cue the sinister music). No one can dispute that this was a black mark which set the program back. Nor can anyone dispute that O’Brien put the program back on track. But TOB rode the “scandal” for all it was worth and then some.

For ten years, he wielded the “gambling scandal” as a shield against criticism or as an artificial gloss upon his accomplish (e.g., noting in the Blue Turf/Walnut/Tire bowl press conference that not so long ago BC was mired in the “gambling scandal”). Fans became tired to the constant harping and began to see TOB’s repeated references for what they were: an excuse. And the scandal and the resulting punishment didn’t exactly reach SMU-like levels. BC didn’t lose any scholarships or TV appearances. The scandal got Henning out the door before he could do any further damage. And TOB was left with a pretty impressive roster, which included Woody, Cloud, Hovan and (Auto) Matich. In fact, the scandal and the subsequent confusion that ultimately culminated in AD Chet Gladchuck’s departure probably helped TOB land the job in the first place. He wasn’t on the top of any coaching search lists and – as I can tell you from first hand experience – folks in Charlottesville didn’t shed any tears when it was announced that TOB was moving up north.

LIES, DAMNED LIES, AND STATISTICS
Ra Ra’s point to TOB’s 75 wins and contend that O’Brien took BC to unprecedented heights. In fact, BC’s historical winning percentage is .586. This is slightly below our more “storied” ACC brethren, Georgia Tech (.594) and Clemson (.591), and well-above conference mates, North Carolina (.565), Virginia (.533), Maryland (.532), NC State (.504), and Duke (.496). So it’s not like we were Wake Forest (.408) before O’Brien arrived.

In addition, TOB’s numbers were goosed upwards by the expanded schedules and the explosion in bowls. He also had the good fortune to take the job when conference powerhouse Miami was being placed on probation and wound down his tenure in the heavily diluted Big East. That said, he did win his share of games.

But his .625 winning percentage was not unprecedented when compared to other long-tenured BC coaches such as Frank Cavanaugh (1919-26) (.754), Joe McKenney (1928-34) (.700), Mike Holovak (1951-59) (.623), Joe Yukica (1968-77) (.641). He did outperform Jack Bicknell (1981-90) (.517) and Denny Myers (1941-42, 46-50) – both of whom happened to be at the helm during two of the bigger years in BC football history (1942: ranked 8th in the final AP poll; 1984: ranked 4/5 in final AP/UPI polls). So they have that going for them, which is nice…

WTF
Anyone who followed BC football during the TOB era has stared blankly at the field and uttered that phrase after one soul crushing defeat or another.

Perhaps we should have seen his career opening loss to Temple as an omen. Two years later, a second loss to Temple was relegated to a blip on the WTF-screen when BC somehow managed to blow 28-0 halftime lead to a depleted Miami team. I had the pleasure of being in the stands on that day. The only thing more frustrating than watching Miami creep closer was the utter lack of emotion shown by TOB. As things fell apart on the field, TOB aimlessly strolled the sidelines and continued on his ten-year effort to inspect and catalogue, on a strand-by-strand basis, the turf at Alumni – sans headset, of course.

The pain of these losses pales in comparison to the true gems of the TOB era. The losses noted below were excruciating because they ruined what could have been truly special seasons. Any fair-minded fan would acknowledge that BC is not going to field a top ten team or go to a BCS game on an annual basis. But during the later part of TOB’s reign, things broke right for BC on a number of occasions, either because of conference defections (2004), down years for traditional conference powers or unexpected losses by teams we were chasing (2005/2006). Yet somehow, BC managed to blow these golden opportunities with WTF losses:

• Syracuse 2004: I think Diamond Ferri just scored another touchdown….

• North Carolina 2005: A loss to a bad North Carolina team ultimately keeps BC out of the ACC title game. Jim Bunting openly questions TOB’s personnel moves (sticking with Porter over Ryan), while jogging off the field victorious.

• NC State 2006: BC rolls into Raleigh at 3-0 (including a big 2OT win over Clemson) and proceeds to lay an egg against a floundering NC State team starting an inexperienced QB.

• Miami 2006: Amazingly, after the NC State loss and loss to Wake, things break right for BC and they can reach the ACC title game with a win over a bad Miami team with a lame duck head coach. TOB seemingly eschews any halftime adjustments – “We’re up, aren’t we?” – and watches Miami pull out the victory.

In college football, no one is immune from a WTF loss (see, e.g., BC v. Northwestern (1993); BC v. Maryland (2007)). But TOB brought the WTF loss to an art form.

YOU HAD ME AT HELLO
TOB lacked that certain “something.” From the fan’s perspective, there was nothing in his demeanor that would inspire the team to great heights, which perhaps explains the abysmal (2-16 (?)) record versus Miami, V-Tech and FSU. But it wasn’t just a lack of charisma. O’Brien never seemed to embrace BC. He constantly lamented what he didn’t have and put a cap on expectations. Coach Jagodzinski’s attitude stands in sharp contrast.

From the very first press conference, Jags made clear that he wanted to be at BC and that the school, and the kids it attracts, are assets. That was such a breath of fresh air. Whether Jags can get BC to the promised land is unknown at this point. But signals indicate he’s going to work hard on the recruiting trail and the practice field and have a good time doing it. That’s all we can ask for.

As for TOB, thanks for a good ten years, but I won’t shed a tear if we run it up on NC State on Saturday.

The Tom O'Brien Years: A Retrospective

2008-09-29T18:36:00.001-04:00

During a ten year run in which he compiled more wins than any other football coach in Boston College history, Tom O'Brien brought many things to the Heights including wins, bowl appearances, and even respectability. But for many fans, it's what he didn't bring that will be his lasting legacy: Championships, Passion, and a headset on gameday.

As BC prepares for its 2nd meeting with the ex-coach, Tom O'Brien's contribution to the BC program will be the subject of much debate among Eagle fans.

The History
Things looked dark for Boston College in the Winter of 1996.

Dan Henning had recently resigned at the end of the ‘96 season due mostly to his less than stellar 16-19-1 record at the helm. It had been just a few months since a betting scandal rocked the athletic department in which thirteen players were suspended by the school, the most players ever implicated in a college sports gambling scandal. The story made national headlines as Brandon King replaced Doug Flutie as the poster boy for the program. Athletic director Chet Gladchuk would also soon leave to take over the same position at Houston.

Enter Tom O’Brien.

In December, 1996, BC hired Navy graduate and former Virginia offensive coordinator Tom O'Brien. After two sub-par 4-7 seasons in 1997 and 1998, O’Brien helped BC turn the corner and finished 1999 with an 8-4 record, a win over hated Notre Dame, and a bowl appearance. That same beat continued for seven more years as O’Brien amassed 75 wins and eight bowl appearances during his 10 year run. Contrary to widespread criticism toward the coach known as TOB and his perceived flaws, after his departure the athletic expectations at BC had never been higher.

Between 1992 (when expectations started to increase under Tom Coughlin) and TOB’s 2006 departure, BC went to 11 Bowl Games (8 under TOB - including the ‘98 bowl game).

Before that (dating back to 1932), Boston College appeared in a total of 7. Yes, there are too many bowl games.

Another way of looking at it: dating back to the inception of BC Football in 1893 until 1992, BC had a total of 13 seasons with more than 7 wins (college teams began playing 10 game seasons in the '20's and consistently since the '60's).

Between 1992 and 2006, BC has had 9 seasons with more than 7 wins.

Since 1940 (the "national championship" season), BC's longest streak of consecutive winning seasons was 7. Meanwhile Coach O’Brien compiled 8 consecutive winning seasons during his last 8 years on campus - more than any other BC team in over 70 years.

The Last 30 years

Under Ed Chlebek ('78-80), BC averaged 4 wins a season (.363 winning percentage).

Under Jack Bicknell ('81-90), BC averaged 5.9 wins a season. (.517 winning percentage).

Under Coughlin ('91-93), BC averaged 7 wins a season (.614 winning percentage).

Under Henning ('94-96), BC teams averaged 5.3 wins a season (.444 winning percentage).

Under TOB ('97-06), BC averaged 7.5 wins a season (.625 winning percentage)

Boston College’s historic winning percentage is .586.

With the exception of one year in the 1940's (1940: 11-0) and one year in the 1980's (1984: 10-2), BC had never been a top program. Other than those two seasons, BC never had a 10 win season.

Despite this varied history, many fans blamed TOB for failing to turn the corner, win the "big game," or make BC a top 10 program.

Many BC fans refer back to the 1984 dream season in which Jack Bicknell, Sr. and Doug Flutie led the team to a 10-2 record and a Cotton Bowl victory. Less frequently mentioned is the next year when the team went 4-8.

Tom O’Brien must be praised for the credibility (including graduation rates), consistency, and increased expectations that he brought to the Heights. In one sense, he was a victim of that success.

While many people tend to laud Coach Coughlin and disparage O’Brien, such criticism may not be fair. Coughlin did not exactly have more success than TOB. It is difficult to argue that Coughlin’s one 9-3 season was superior to TOB's back-to-back-to-back 9-3 seasons or that Coughlin’s victory in the 1993 Carquest bowl against UVA was better than TOB’s victories in the Tire bowl against UNC or Music City bowl against UGA.

Similarly, like TOB, Coughlin also failed to win a conference championship or a marquee bowl game. And, like O’Brien, Coughlin also owns several inexplicable ("WTF") losses (Rutgers and Northwestern) and went 0-2 vs. Miami, 0-2-1 vs. WVU, and 1-2 vs. Syracuse.

Bicknell, for all of his praise, was even worse. Other than the Flutie years, Cowboy Jack had a string of 2-9, 3-8, and 4-7 seasons.

For all his flaws, and there are many, Coach O’Brien brought a tradition of winning to Boston College unlike any coach before him. There is no slice of BC football history in which one can find a greater period of sustained winning and accomplishment than during the TOB decade. While fans would have liked a Championship or even a BCS bowl appearance during that tenure, O’Brien’s contributions to the program and accomplishments at the Heights can not be ignored.

UP Next: NC State

2008-09-29T10:16:00.000-04:00

Although BC is off to a 3-1 start, the Eagles lost their lone ACC contest to Georgia Tech on September 6. For that reason, it is imperative that BC gets off to a better start when their ACC Atlantic schedule gets under way this Saturday against former head coach Tom O'Brien and the North Carolina State Wolfpack.

Many feel that BC should have extra motivation heading into this week's tilt against the Pack as a result of O'Brien's departure from the Heights and the divisive comments that he made about the BC program following his departure. As the week unfolds, check back for more details on the O'Brien era and this weekend's importatnt intra-division match-up.

Raycom ACC Game of the Week
For those interested in watching the game, check this listing to see if the local affiliate in your area is picking up the game.

Born to Run

2008-09-28T16:46:00.001-04:00

On a rainy Saturday on Parents Weekend against an inferior opponent, Boston College re-introduced smashmouth football to the Heights beating URI 42-0 before a small, but spirited group of diehards at Alumni Stadium.

In the teams' first meeting since 1917, Boston College showed off its powerful running game in front of many proud parents, including the Boss himself who watched the game from the President's suite.

QB CONTROVERSY?
Those who watched the game yesterday surely noticed Chris Crane's continued struggles at the helm of BC's offense, and recognized that a QB controversy continues to brew for the Eagles. While no one was expecting Crane to come in and be the next Matt Ryan, even the most realistic BC backer was hoping for better than this kind of production from the 5th year signal caller.

Unfortunately for Coach Jags and the Eagles, neither Crane nor Davis appear to pose much threat through the air. With the meat of the ACC schedule just ahead, look for teams to start stacking the box on defense with 7 and 8 defenders at the line of scrimmage daring BC to beat them through the air...

JUST FOR KICKS
Boston College sophomore kicker Greg Abilheira got a chance to see some action, kicking the extra point on BC's final TD, on an emotional day for Abilheira and his family.

SIZE MATTERS
As BC rushers pounded out 290 yards on the ground, URI players were overwhelmed by the difference in size in the BC offensive line. Recognizing that the weather, and QB execution, would not allow BC to gain much through the air, offensive coordinator Steve Logan seemed content to watch the Davis/Crane combo hand the ball off to a quartet of running backs: Josh Haden, Jeff Smith, Montel Harris, and Razzie Smith. In fact, late in the game, fans may have noticed a split backfield that included transfer QB Codi Boek in at running back. Is that something to look for in the future?

BC-URI in game

2008-09-27T13:09:00.000-04:00

The weather is poor with cloudy skies, cool temps, and intermittent rain resulting in only about 20-25K fans in the stadium at kickoff.

1ST QUARTER
Haden is starting in the backfield and does not appear to be too worse for the wear. He blasted through the line on a couple of runs on BC's first possession, but the drive stalled at Mid-field when Crane sailed a pass over a wide open Josh Haden out of the backfield on 3rd and 6. It's a small detail, but if that pass is on the money, Haden, with a wall of blockers, may have been off to the races.

Crane's errant pass was immediately followed up with another shank 17 yard punt off the foot of freshman Ryan Quigley.

On the defensive side of the ball, things are looking better. Deleon Gause is back in the starting line-up at corner and looks to be in good shape. Freshman Donnie Fletcher is also getting some playing time on third down nickel sets.

On BC's second possession, the ground game looks good, but Crane continues to struggle, missing another open screen pass to Montel Harris out of the backfield. Announcers are talking about how URI is liking the pace of the game. A three and out for BC after Crane misfires on a long pass down the line on 3rd and 7.

On BC's first two drives, Crane is 1 for 4 for 6 yards. Not trying to bash the kid, but we are playing against Div. 1-AA Rhode Island and Crane does not look impressive in the early going.

On the defensive side of the ball, a nice sack by BC Defensive End Jim Ramella - his first of the season - has URI pinned deep in their own end. Through their first three possessions, URI has only one first down. However, URI QB Derek Cassidy looks a lot more comfortable than Crane. On the first three drives, Cassidy is 5 of 6 for 16 yards. While he is not throwing for a lot of yardage, Cassidy is hitting the short passes - something Crane has been unable to do.

A 54 yard punt (!) by Rhode Island gives BC the ball back on our own 45, and, thankfully, with 2:45 left to go in the 1st quarter, a change in quarterback with Dominique Davis coming on. Hopefully, he can do a little better against this URI defense.

On his first pass, Davis puts a deep pass through the hands of Momah - which has been a criticism. That play should have gone for about 30 yards. On 3rd and 7, Davis airmails the receiver leading to another 3 and out.

BC may end up blowing URI out, but so far, the offense is sputtering.

A nice punt by Quigley leaves URI starting from inside their own 10. Who would have thought this game would be a battle of field position??

At the end of the first quarter, there is no score and we are making URI QB Derek Cassidy look like Matt Ryan. So far, he is 6/7 for 26 yards.

2ND QUARTER
Finally, the BC offense starts to click behind Montel Harris, powering BC deep into URI territory.

1st and goal Eagles at the URI 5 yard line.

From there, Harris takes it in untouched for the TD.

The TD drive was 5 plays, 67 yards.

Montel Harris leads all rushers with 7 carries for 65 yards and a TD.

BC 7 URI 0
10:53 left to play in the 1st half.

A short kick-off for Bennett to the 13 yard line.

Another sack for BC and URI goes 3 and out.

After the punt, BC ball at mid-field.

While we probably don't need to do it to win, it would be nice to see BC throw the ball. So far, Davis and Crane are 1/6 for 6 yards.

On 1st down, back on the ground with Jeff Smith speeding past the left tackle for a 25 yard run.

Dominique Davis follows that with a 25 yard TD run on a nice option read off the left side for his first collegiate TD.

BC 14 URI 0
8:05 left to play in the 1st half.

2nd quarter offense for BC:
106 yards rushing
0 yards passing

URI starts its drive from the BC 25.

Cassidy has a nice 10 yard pass on 1st down followed by a late hit/roughing the passer on BC.

1st down URI at mid-field.

Herzlich is all over the field on defense. URI is trying to hit short crossing routes, but Herzlich is stopping them immediately.

Pass is airmailed by Cassidy on 3rd down and INT by Marcellas Bowman which he takes back to the URI 37 (10 yard penalty on the return against BC).

It is now Jeff Smith's turn to run all over URI. Smith gets it on 4 consecutive plays taking BC down inside the URI ten yard line.

Smith runs it in for a 7 yard TD run!

BC 21 URI 0
3:53 left in the 1st Half

It is clear that URI has no answer for BC's running game, and with the rain really starting to fall, I don't expect to see much passing from BC in the 2nd half.

URI muffs the kick-off and starts from inside its own 10 yard line.

Cassidy hits two quick passes and URI is out to the 25 yard line.

With under 2:00 left in the 1st half, URI is trying to engineer a drive, moving the ball out across mid-field with 1:41 left in the half.

Brad Newman ends the drive, stripping the ball from the URI QB and BC takes over at mid-field.

Davis stays in the game at QB for BC for the 4th consecutive series.

Davis hits B. Robinson for a 1st down.

Montel Harris takes it inside the 10 with less than a minute left in the half.

1st and goal BC from the 8 with :41 left.

Davis scrambles on 1st down and makes a jump pass for a TD to Purvis. . . from the 5 yard line. This one is coming back as Davis was 3 yards across the line when he threw the pass - a mistake due to lack of experience.

After an incompletion, it's 3rd and goal from the 10 with :28 left.

Davis throws a wobbling pass behind Justin Jarvis in the end zone who is hit after the play by URI's Jarrod Williams who is called for the personal foul.

1st and goal BC from the 5.

Montel Harris carries it in for the score.

BC 28 URI 0
:17 left in the Half.

Kevin Akins intercepts and and makes a nice return for 70 yards, but is tackled at the 5 yard line as the half expires!!

BC goes into the locker room up 28-0.

2ND HALF
3RD QUARTER
BC gets the ball to start the 2nd half.
It is now absolutely pouring. Look for more rushing by the BC offense.

URI WITH THE ONSIDE KICK. URI Ball across mid field!

BC Defense is still looking good and URI goes 3 and out to start the 2nd half.

BC Special Teams are asleep at the wheel as URI gets an easy 1st down on the Fake Punt.

URI ball inside the BC 30 yard line.

It looks very dark and very wet at Chestnut Hill, but the fans are making some noise.

3rd and 1 from the BC 23. BC stuffs the running play and URI will go for it on 4th down.

URI sets up with an empty backfield on 4th and short. Cassidy mis-fires!

The shutout continues as the BC defense holds on 4th and 1.

BC will take over at their own 23 yard line with 11:02 remaining the in the 3rd Quarter.

Crane comes in and the shotgun snap is fumbled. It appeared to hit Purvis who was in motion on the play.

URI ball, but Cassidy immediately throws an interception, hitting Paul Anderson in the chest.

BC ball near Mid-Field.

Crane is back in the game and Montel Harris carries for 8 yards on 1st down.

It looks like BC will keep it on the ground this half as Harris carries it to the URI 42 yard line.

12 yard carry for Harris to the URI 30 yard line.

Harris leads all rushers with 15 carries for 114 yards.

In these wet conditions, Josh Haden may be done for the day.

It may not be his fault, but things don't seem to run as smoothly with Crane at the helm as a false start is called on Costanzo on 3rd and 3.

Harris runs for a 1st down on 3rd and 8.

BC ball in the URI 21 and Harris pounds his way down to the URI 3 yard line.

Harris brings it after a nice stutter step move for his 3rd TD of the day.

Nine plays (all runs) for 56 yards on the scoring drive.

BC 35 URI 0
5:42 left in the 3rd

Cassidy continues to throw the ball well, moving URI out across mid-field after a couple of nice passing plays.

Cassidy is 18/28 for 133 yards (but with 3 INT's).

Make that 4 INT's as Herzlich picks one off and TAKES IT TO THE HOUSE!

A 60 yard Interception return for a TD for the Junior end from Wayne, PA.

BC 42 URI 0
4:09 left in the 3rd

Bennett has kicked his last two kick-offs to the goal line - a good sign.

URI takes over at their own 24.

A nice pass for Cassidy on 3rd and 6 and URI moves it out to the 40.

URI can't convert another 1st down as they punt it back to BC.

With 5 turnovers, including 4 INT's, URI is getting crushed, but despite the INT's, URI QB Derek Cassidy has made a few nice throws in the first 3 quarters of play. Heading into the 4th quarter, Cassidy is 21/34 for 162 yards. Clearly, though, the INT's have killed them.

4TH QUARTER
Dominique Davis comes back in at QB for BC which will doubtlessly continue to hand the ball of to Harris and Smith.

Smith can't generate much on 1st or 2nd down, leaving a 3rd and 7 from the 18 yard line. Davis can't handle the snap, falls on it, and BC will Punt from deep in its own end.

Quigley shanks another punt about 30 yards in the air, but it takes a BC bounce and roll.

URI ball at their own 45.

4th and 1 for URI. BC (Jerry Willette) jumps off side and hands URI an easy 1st down.

URI ball at the BC 35. It's 3rd and 3. Cassidy tries to run for the first and he is blasted by Scafe at the line of scrimmage.

On 4th and 3, Cassidy hits a receiver at the BC 20 yard line.

1st and 10 URI.

WILL BC HOLD ON FOR THE SHUTOUT?

Pass interference call on BC. URI Ball 1st and 10 from the BC 15 yard line.

BC blows up the screen play as freshman Isaac Johnson out of Everett, MA, gets some play and makes a nice tackle.

It's 3rd and 16 from the BC 21 yard line with 9:25 left to play in the game.

URI gets a short pass for 3 yards.

It's 4th and 13 from the 18 yard line.

URI MISSES the 35 yard Field Goal!

BC ball with 8:40 to go.

Let's hope we can have a nice long drive and end this thing on an ugly day in New England.

Davis is back in the game and Razzie Smith makes his debut for the day at tailback.

R. Smith didn't look too good on the first two downs between the tackles, but on 3rd down, Razzie gets outside and flies down the sideline for a 1st down and big pick-up.

A new look from BC with Codi Boek and Davis in the backfield. Boek appeared to be a decoy on that play as the ball his handed to Razzie for a 3 yard run.

The BC drive stalls at mid-field and Quigley kicks a wobbly 40 yard punt which URI fair catches at the 10 with 4:44 left to play in the game.

URI seems satisfied to run out the clock here as the rain continues to pour.

FINAL
BC 42 URI 0

This win will extend BC's non-conference winning streak to 20 games which is tops in the country (LSU is 2nd).

All and all, a good win for BC, but it didn't answer any questions at the QB position with Chris Crane ending the day with 1 completion (6 yards) on only 4 attempts. Recognizing that this was not a good day for passing, Crane does not seem to instill much confidence in the offense. Conversely, Davis does not seem to have much of an arm either, but is exciting to watch on the run option.

On the plus side, BC got 4 tailbacks in the game who combined for 291 yards on the ground. Needless to say, the development of Montel Harris (18 car. 143 yds. 3 TD's) is encouraging.

Obviously, it will take a much better effort by the QB position with TOB and the NC State Wolfpack.

BC Welcomes Parents, URI

2008-09-24T19:50:00.000-04:00

As we head into the 4th week of the college football season, Boston College looks forward to Parents Weekend as the University of Rhode Island Rams come to call. In what many have referred to as Gene DeFilippo's "Good for New England" game, BC hosts its only FCS (Div. 1-AA) opponent of the year.

While there has been much debate among fans regarding the quality of BC's home schedule, many have defended BC's schedule as a common practice in the era of the BCS.

Saturday Recap

2008-09-22T19:54:00.000-04:00

First off, major props to the BC fans that showed great class and hospitality. It did not go unnoticed among the many UCF fans in attendance at Alumni Stadium. It says a lot about our school when opposing fans are treated so well. Full credit to the BC Band for playing the UCF fight song before the game.

INJURY REPORT
-Although he was held out of the UCF game with a slightly sprained ankle, Josh Haden should be back in the line-up this week against URI - though don't be surprised to see him in only limited action against this I-AA opponent.

-Deleon Gause is also on the mend from an ankle sprain and should return in the next two games (assuming true freshman corner Donnie Fletcher doesn't steal his starting spot!).

-Fullback James McCluskey also suffered a minor quad strain on Saturday and will be re-evaluated later in the week.

Ice Age

2008-09-22T17:56:00.002-04:00

When he was first drafted by the Falcons with the #3 overall pick, Matt Ryan was scrutinized about everything from his arm strength to his nickname. But, after just three games in the NFL, he is starting to win over the Atlanta faithful as well as his teammates.

Yesterday, in the Georgia Dome, Matt Ryan showed off his accuracy and arm strength on a 70 yard TD strike to Roddy White. Led by Ryan and RB Michael Turner, Atlanta blew out the hapless Kansas City Chiefs 38-14.

Behind Ryan, the Falcons are off to a 2-1 start which is enough for even the most cynical fan to be cautiously optimistic.

BC Wins Big (Ugly)

2008-09-21T11:44:00.000-04:00

After the loss to Georgia Tech, Boston College rebounded well beating Central Florida 34-7. At the end of the first half BC trailed 7-3 and it looked like BC might be in for another long day with the offense struggling - especially behind 5th year signal caller Chris Crane.

Fortunately, the Eagles turned it around in the second half and won this one going away. It was not without a bit of struggle by Crane who continued to make mental mistakes - constantly throwing into coverage including three interceptions.

Among other developments in this game, we saw:

-another solid performance from true freshman running back Montel Harris who was filling in for the dinged up Josh Haden,

-Sid Vicious miss another short field goal, and

-a budding QB controversy- although Coach Jags insisted there was not one - with Domonique Davis (4 for 7 for 30 yards and a TD) taking over for a couple of series in which the offense responded well.

Will we continue to see more and more of this dual threat redshirt freshman? It's likely as Crane has just not made the plays that most expected he would entering this season.

Stay tuned...

BC-UCF Preview

2008-09-19T04:38:00.000-04:00

After the frustrating loss to Georgia Tech, the post-game analysis, and the week off, the BC Eagles are ready to move forward and get back on the field. They will have that opportunity tomorrow afternoon at 1 in Alumni Stadium as Boston College welcomes the University of Central Florida for it's first ever visit to Chestnut Hill.

Among some of the more important things to look for in tomorrow's contest will be:

• Chris Crane's ability to improve and make the necessary decisions to move the offense and manage the game - especially in the red zone.

• With Alex Albright out for the season, and an already thin BC pass rush, watch for Defensive End Austin GIles, who will be starting in place of Albright. While we will certainly miss the pass rushing ability of Albright, Giles sounds like he is up for the challenge.

• As mentioned below, cornerback Deleon Gause will likely see only limited playing time due to his high ankle sprain, an injury which can linger for weeks. True freshman Donnie Fletcher will get the nod in place of Gause at corner for at least some of the game.

• While Boston College is looking at this game as a must win, UCF players are also looking at the BC game as one of their biggest of the season.

• As we saw in the Georgia Tech game, the BC defense sometimes has trouble stopping an athletic QB on the run. This week, the defense will face an equally difficult task in defending UCF signal caller Michael Greco, who is also very mobile.

Freshman Profile: Montel Harris

2008-09-18T19:54:00.001-04:00

This 5'10", 190 pound true freshman out of Jacksonville, Florida (Trinity Christian) may prove to be one of the bigger surprises for the Eagles this season. Even with great uncertainty in the backfield and no returning starters, Harris' name was not mentioned during the summer workouts. Instead, it was only after injuries to Jeff Smith and Josh Haden that Harris got his first collegiate action in the Georgia Tech game, rushing 5 times for 21 yards and grabbing one pass for 12 yards. This hard nosed tailback may remind many BC fans of Andre Callender with his pass catching ability out of the backfield - something to look for more and more as we get into the season.

BC v. UCF: FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME

2008-09-18T16:38:00.001-04:00

After the first two performances of the year, it is difficult to know what to expect from this year’s Boston College team - especially when matched up against a first time opponent like Central Florida. With that in mind, BC will look to keep things simple and play mistake free football focusing on these 5 keys to victory:

1. Chris Crane
Prior to the season, any national attention that BC was receiving focused on the absence of Matt Ryan and the questions surrounding incumbent 5th year starter Chris Crane. Although he opened with a serviceable performance against an out-manned Kent State team, he suffered greatly against a stout defense against Georgia Tech. In Saturday’s game, the Eagle’s won’t need an All-World performance from Chris Crane, but one in which he limits turnovers, bad decisions, and bad throws.

2. Special Teams
One of UCF’s main threats is Joe Burnett, their primary return man on Punts and Kickoffs. This guy is a burner has the potential to break one every time he touches the ball. Therefore, kick and punt coverage will me even more important than usual. On the BC side of things, Coach Jags will look to Sophomore kicker Billy Bennett to continue to boot kickoffs into the endzone and Ryan Quigley/Billy Flutie to avoid any mental errors on the punt team.

3. Defensive Secondary
With Deleon Gause still nursing an ankle injury, BC may once again be relying on true freshman cornerback Donnie Fletcher. While he won’t be asked to be spectacular, he will be counted on to avoid giving up the big pass play on defense. Despite giving up a couple of big runs in the Georgia Tech game, our front seven should be able to limit the Knight's running game forcing them to look to make big plays through the air.

4. Red Zone Offense
If you were asked to look back and point to one specific fatal flaw in the Georgia Tech game, it had to be BC’s anemic red zone performance. At the end of the first half, instead of putting 17-28 points on the board after our 4 trips into the red zone, we scored only 9 points on four filed goal attempts. If BC wants to win more than 6 games this year, that will have to improve.

5. Early Momentum
In a game like this, especially being 10.5 point favorites at home, BC needs to come out strong in the first quarter and, hopefully, get both the crowd and the team into the game. The longer and underdog opponent keeps a game close and hangs around, the more difficult it will be to prevail late.

Heisman Watch

2008-09-17T19:32:00.000-04:00

KNOWSHON MORENO, UGA, RB
The sophomore running back from the University of Georgia has been a sensation since the minute he landed in Athens from Middletown, New Jersey in the Summer of 2006. Although he was held under 100 yards in last week's 14-7 victory over South Carolina, look for this energetic back to finish strong and remain in Heisman contention.
TIM TEBOW, UF, QB
This returning Heisman Trophy winner became the first college football player to run and pass for 20 touchdowns in a season and was the first Sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy. This year, Tebow returns to lead what many believe is a team that will not only challenge UGA for the SEC Championship, but also the National Title.

CHASE DANIEL, MU, QB
This Senior QB from Southlake, Texas has already thrown 10 TD's in 2008 and maintains an impressive 197.48 QB rating. In last week's 69-17 blowout win over Nevada, Daniel threw for 405 yards and 4 touchdown passes. Say what you will about Missouri's schedule, this guy is one exciting player to watch. As the Big 12’s reigning offensive player of the year, Daniel returns for his final season at Missouri, hoping to lead the team to a Big 12 Championship and a BCS Bowl bid. Daniel's 4th place finish in last year's Heisman voting placed him as the first Heisman finalist in Missouri Tigers' history.

TODD REESING, KU, QB
Boston College fans should like this gritty, undersized QB from the University of Kansas due to his intelligence, short stature, and unique play making ability. Not only is Reesing a bright student (he wants to pursue a career in economics after graduation), he also has a great sense of humor. Clearly, though, making people laugh won't get you an invite to the Downtown Athletic Club in December. Fortunately for Reesing, he's got the strong arm and quick feet that just might get him the nod.

MARK SANCHEZ, USC, QB
After he injured his thumb early in the 2007 season, Sanchez found himself as the back-up to Senior John David Booty. Thus year, Sanchez takes the reigns of the best offensive team in the country and has the benefit of Super Coach Pete Carroll at his disposal. Last week's much anticipated match-up against Ohio Sate was supposed to be one for the ages, but the Buckeyes wilted in the California sun and Sanchez had his way, throwing 4 touchdowns en route to a blow out victory.

Watch List: Matthew Stafford, UGA; Sam Bradford, Oklahoma.

It's Knight Time

2008-09-16T20:31:00.000-04:00

News and Notes about this week's game against Central Florida:

Although many fans may not know much about the Knights of UCF, plenty of folks remember the resume fiasco involving head coach George O'Leary during his 2001 bid to become the head coach at Notre Dame. What folks might not realize is, since then, he has built a darn good football program at the Orlando, Florida school.

In other UCF news:

• In a show of excellent judgment, UCF Wide Receiver Richard Jackson transferred from Notre Dame and will play against BC this week - making his first appearance with UCF.

• UCF appears to be focusing on their team speed leading up to this weekend's game.

• The UCF players are playing the roll of underdog this week and looking for a chance to break out of the CUSA shadow of East Carolina.

• Like the BC squad, the Knights are trying to build on their loss last week in a close game against USF.

• In this UCF Blog there is a discussion about BC's potential leadership problem in the absence of the departed Matt Ryan.

On the Boston College side of things, one area of concern (in addition to our questionable QB play), is how the defense will perform in light of Alex Albright's season ending injury.

On a non-football related topic the Allston-Brighton Neighborhood Taskforce has brought new meaning to the phrase nosy neighbor.

ACC's Quest For Respect
As noted below, after a weekend of relatively strong play, the ACC is starting to gain some well earned respect around the Country. Sure, noone is going to confuse the conference with the SEC this year, but don't be so quick to throw the ACC under the bus with the Big (L)East either.

Elsewhere around the league, Georgia Tech is gearing up for an SEC match-up against Mississippi State in the conference's continuing battle for respect around the nation.

Meanwhile, down in Raleigh, TOB's Wolfpack is a heavy underdog in this week's contest against the Pirates from ECU. This is the first time since 1999 that the 'Pack have been underdogs against their in-state rivals.

More Bad News

2008-09-15T08:35:00.000-04:00

Alex Albright is out for the season with what has been initially diagnosed as nerve damage in his neck. According to Coach Jags, Albright will undergo surgery and miss the remainder of the season. This is a big blow to the defense and to the team.Throughout the last couple of seasons, one of the main reasons that BC has been competitive in almost every game is the consistency and tenacity of the defense.

Around the ACC

2008-09-13T16:14:00.001-04:00

With no BC game on tap today, take a look at what's going on throughout the rest of the ACC.

span style="font-weight:bold;">FEAR THE TURTLE
Things got off to a good start today with an unheralded Maryland Team taking it to the #23 California Bears 35-27. As you can see in the photo above, Cal QB Kevin Riley had his hands full as he was pressured by Maryland defensive tackle Dean Muhtadi, linebacker Rich Coata, and the rest of the Terp front seven all day.

Duke v. Navy
Meanwhile, in Durham, NC, the Duke Blue Devils held their own against an upstart Navy team 41-31. Although they trailed the Midshipmen 24-20 at half, Duke rallied for three touchdowns in the second half to earn a quality victory against a solid opponent. For a program that marks its progress in baby steps, I'm sure the folks in Durham are happy with this win.

Clemson v. NC State
The Tom O'Brien experiment continues to be a miserable failure for the NC State Wolfpack as Clemson easily handled NC State and Dana Bible's offense in a 27-9 route at Death Valley. Although NC State jumped out to a 6-0 lead on a 33 yard interception return for a TD (and a missed extra point - sound familiar?), Tommy Bowden's squad held NC State without an offensive touchdown and rallied to blow out the beleaguered TOB led squad.

VA Tech v. GA Tech
A week after escaping Chestnut Hill with a 3 point victory, Georgia Tech fell at Viginia Tech by the same margin with a final of 20-17. Georgia Tech's front seven played well again this week, but Tyrod Taylor was simply too much. Also, although GT QB Josh Nesbitt played well again today (rushing for 151 yds and throwing for 109), he fumbled three times, losing two.

FSU v. Chattanooga
This game shouldn't have been close, and, fortunately for Bobby Bowden and the Noles, it wasn't. FSU jumped out to a 30-7 lead at half and never looked back, winning 46-7 on a steamy afternoon in Tallahassee. FSU Sophomore QB Christian Ponder (starting ahead of Drew Weatherford) had plenty of time to work and threw three first half TD passes to put this game out of reach early.

Tales of the ACC's Demise Exaggerated

2008-09-12T10:20:00.000-04:00

In sports, everyone loves to kick someone when they are down. It doesn't matter if it is a player, a coach, a team, or in this case, a Conference. The problem is, although the ACC may be "down" from where it was in years past, as UNC proved last night, it is still a force to be reckoned with.

What is most surprising to the casual football fan, may be the pass that the Big East conference is getting in all of this. After the first couple of weeks revealed what many suspected to be a toothless conference with WVU getting blown out by East Carolina and defending Big East Co-Champ UConn squeaking by Temple in OT, the BigEast has somehow avoided the level of criticism directed at the ACC.

It could be the novelty of the Big East, the tendency to root for the underdog, or ESPN's inexplicable love affair with UConn. Whatever the motivating factors, it seems clear that the Big East, unitl now, has been given a disproportionate amount of respect.

Perhaps with a win tomorrow over UConn, UVA can help steer the conference back toward respectability. However, a review of the last couple of years of Big East - ACC match-ups is compelling:

2007
UConn 16 UVA 17
UConn 10 Wake Forest 24
Rutgers 24 Maryland 34
USF 37 UNC 10
PITT 14 UVA 44

2008
Rutgers 12 UNC 44

Based on these results, the Big East is 1-5 in head to head match-ups against the ACC.

Stay tuned to see how the rest of the season pans out...

9/11/01

2008-09-11T16:50:00.000-04:00

Deathwish

2008-09-10T09:40:00.000-04:00

An interesting story line came out of Central Florida's overtime loss against the University of South Florida when it was revevaled that USF Quarterback Matt Grothe apparently received death threats from the UCF faithful prior to the game.

In other more football related news and notes, Head Coach George O'leary's crew (including junior QB Michael Greco) gained confidence in their overtime game against #17 USF and hope to build on that loss when they head to Chestnut Hill to face the Eagles.

What's Next?

2008-09-09T08:54:00.000-04:00

On the bright side, Coach Jags is 1-0 after a week off - having had 10 days to prepare for last year's October 25 miracle in Blacksburg. However, the landscape couldn't be more different than a year ago when anything seemed possible.

During this year's first bye week, the team will have to contemplate its fate as it regroups to face a tough Central Florida team which will also be coming out of a bye week in which they will be undoubtedly stewing over their tough loss to USF.

Among other things, the Knights were unhappy with the the Big East Officiating crew which tagged UCF for 12 penalties for a loss of 148 yards.

Eagle in Atlanta

2008-09-08T13:38:00.000-04:00

With all due respect to the blogger with the same name, there was another Eagle in Atlanta on Sunday not only winning a game, but also the hearts of thousands of Falcons fans. In addition to throwing a a 63 yard TD pass on his first throw in the NFL, Matt Ryan did just about everything right on Sunday in leading the Falcons to a season opening 34-21 win over the Detroit Lions. Ryan, who was 9-13 for 161 yards and a touchdown, had a passer rating of 137.

Insult to Injury

2008-09-08T12:45:00.000-04:00

In addition to the ugly loss, BC also suffered a number of injuries throughout the early part of the game that may have proved to be the difference. Most troubling was the ankle injury suffered by true freshman Josh Haden. Although he retruned in the 4th quarter, he appeared to still be hampered and was limited to only 8 carries for 35 yards rushing. Will we see more of freshman RB Montel Harris in the Central Florida game?

The tailback by committee approach appears likely as operation Jeff Smith seems to have stalled slightly. One reason may be Steve Logan's insistence on running smaller running backs like Smith and Haden between the tackles and into the strength of Georgia Tech's front seven - which is one of the best in the nation.

Deleon Gause also reinjured his ankle which he originally tweaked during his infamous faux "fair catch" in the Kent State game. His return seems unlikely for the near future.

Ron Brace also appeared to suffer what appeared to be a muscle spasm late in the game.

THUD!

2008-09-08T01:19:00.000-04:00

Despite measured optimism by most BC fans, the team failed to deliver on Saturday losing to Georgia Tech 19-16.

The theme that carried the day was missed opportunities and lack of execution by the offense, particularly when the ball was in the hands of 5th year senior Chirs Crane. Among other miscues, misreads and just plain misses, Crane threw two interceptions, had one fumble and was tackled in the end zone for a momentum changing safety. Suffice it to say that his ACC debut left a lot to be desired leaving many wondering if or when the coaching staff will turn to other options at the QB position.

Is it too soon to be thinking about a Dominique Davis sighting in the backfield?

Breaking the Bone: GT's Triple Threat Option

2008-09-05T09:33:00.000-04:00

While technically not a wishbone offense (they call it a "flexbone" - whatever), Coach Paul Johnson's Triple Threat Option Attack requires tremendous discipline on both sides of the ball. The formation, which is based on the old school Wing-T (made famous by Arkansas State in the 60's with it's speedy halfbacks), may look very different to many college football fans. For our part, guys like Toal and Herzlich are going to be crucial in stopping Georgia Tech's triple threat attack.

On plays where QB Josh Nesbitt opts out of the first option between the tackles and tries to take it to the edge, one of the most important aspects of stopping the Triple Threat Option is for the Defensive end to "stay at home" and commit to the ball carrier - the QB - forcing him to pitch it outside. Hopefully the speed of our D-Backs will also help eliminate long runs by the backs on the outside.

The base flexbone offensive formation looks something like this:

The flexbone formation, which is derived from the wishbone, includes the quarterback, five offensive linemen, three running backs, and varying numbers of tight ends and receivers.

Before coming to Georgia Tech, Coach Johnson has been successful at running this triple option offense both at Georgia Southern (62-10 record with two I-AA National Championships) and, as many BC fans will remember, Navy.

This game definitely poses a challenge on both sides of the ball for BC, but in the end, I think that our front seven is just too strong and Paul Johnson's system too new to beat BC.

Boston College wins the ACC opener 24-14.

Burn to Shine

2008-09-04T09:48:00.000-04:00

Is Chris Crane ready to step out of Matt Ryan's shadow and into the spotlight?

As Saturday quickly approaches, both coaches are assessing their opponents and examining the match-ups.

Player Profile: Josh Haden

2008-09-03T22:45:00.000-04:00

Boston College is fortunate to have grabbed up this gritty speedster from Ft. Washington, Maryland.

As BC fans will learn (if they haven't already), Josh Haden is proud to be an Eagle and is ready to contribute now.

On letter of intent day, most kids just sign their names, but Haden decided to show his loyalty to BC in a more permanent way.

Can BC Stop This Man?

2008-09-03T15:37:00.000-04:00

In the week before the Boston College game last year, Georgia Tech freshman running back Jonathan Dwyer ran for 138 yards (on 9 carries) and 3 TD's against Samford.

Against BC, he ran for 16 yards (on 9 carries).

Last week, he ran for 112 yards (on 11 carries) and 2 TD's against Jacksonville State.

Will the BC D be able to contain Dwyer for the second year in a row?

Tech Braces for Boston College Defense

2008-09-03T10:20:00.000-04:00

Will the new look Yellow Jacket offense be able to handle BC's stout front seven on defense?

Based on his comments in the above article, Georgia Tech Center Dan Voss believes he is ready for the challenge of B.J. Raji and Ron Brace. We'll see on Saturday.

Preview the game here: AJC, ESPN, and The Kansas City Star.

Bee Problem?

2008-09-03T10:12:00.001-04:00

Does Georgia Tech Present a problem for the Eagles as they try to start their ACC Schedule off on the right foot?

As noted in the above article, it appears that the Eagles will be without the services of Jeff Smith on Saturday.

Note: The latest word from the BC campus is that Jeff Smith did participate in Wednesday's practice and is listed as questionable for Saturday's game.

Jeff Smith Status Still Unknown

2008-09-02T23:26:00.000-04:00

As we head into the weekend, BC fans are still concerned with the health of Jeff Smith.

Although Smith has shown tremendous promise, he has yet to live up to what many believe is his great potential.

In this article, coach Jags gives little info on the seriousness of Jeff Smith's shoulder injury.

Here's hoping that the "Jet" will not be grounded for Saturday's home opener.

Quien es Mas Macho?

2008-09-02T23:11:00.000-04:00

In addition to BC's dominance over Georgia Tech on the football field in recent years, and with all due respect to the
Georgia Tech academic community, we must examine the academic credentials of each of our ACC opponents.

In this case, it's advantage Boston College.

Sorry Techies (and you too Lehigh!)

Georgia Tech Heads to Chestnut Hill

2008-09-01T22:02:00.000-04:00

In perhaps the biggest game of the young season for Boston College, the Eagles host Paul Johnson's Georgia Tech Yellow jackets on the Heights this Saturday, September 6 for a noon time tilt.

One thing is for sure, Paul Johnson will be taking gambles on 4th Down.

Up Next: Boston College v. Georgia Tech

2008-08-31T15:28:00.000-04:00

Boston College v. Georgia Tech
September 6, 2008

12:00 pm
Alumni Stadium
Chestnut Hill, MA

Game to be broadcast on ESPN Gameplan as well as on ESPN360

It is also listed as the Raycom ACC Game of the Week (Thank-You Ahhbuckles)

BC Plays it Conservative Against Kent State

2008-08-31T01:56:00.000-04:00

Boston College played one of the cleanest games in memory this evening after recording neither a penalty nor a turnover in the season opener against an upstart Kent State team.

Although Chris Crane had only modest success in the passing game, he made no mistakes and the BC defense was up to the task in limiting Kent State's option offense.

The Eagles held on for the shut out - 21-0.

Though they play in the little regarded Mid-American Conference, Kent State gave BC a handful with senior QB Julian Edelman and one of the nation's smallest, and most underrated running backs (and the nation's leading returning rusher) in Eugene Jarvis.

Despite a few bold predictions, the BC offense (vanilla as it was) proved to be too strong for an undermanned and over-matched Golden Flash squad.

2008 Boston College Football Season Preview

2008-08-28T21:40:00.000-04:00