Through our short passionate history with Notre Dame the game has often fallen on the schedule at just the right time to save a season. In fact, many TOB critics felt his overemphasis on the Irish led to BC losing focus before the Catholic Rivalry game. But even his predecessor Dan Henning used the Irish to create some goodwill with BC fans after his rocky debut. Here is a quick look back on BC wins that changed the course of the season.
1994
Lead up: Henning was an unpopular choice among most BC fans to replace Coughlin. His start didn't do him any favors. After losing to a very good Michigan team in the opener, BC struggled at home against Virginia Tech. A win over Pitt was Henning's only W coming into the Notre Dame game. This was the Irish's first trip to Chestnut Hill and the memories of the 1993 game were still fresh.
What happened? BC kicked ass and won 30-11. It sparked the best stretch of football of the Henning era.
2002
Lead up: TOB had already beaten the Irish a few times by 2002, but he needed the win in this game. BC entered the game 4-3 with all three losses coming in Big East play. The Irish were undefeated and the talk of college football under new head coach Ty Willingham.
What happened? In a defensive struggle, BC won 14-7. The win was the TOB's first over a top 10 team. It sparked another run, as BC won four of its next five games.
2003
Lead up: BC entered this game 4-3 and were coming off an embarrassing loss to Syracuse the week before. There was also a QB controversy brewing between starter Quinton Porter and backup junior college transfer Paul Peterson.
What happened? Porter had one of his better days. However terrible special teams play kept the game close. BC won 27-25. The game did not spark a run as BC lost the next two games. It wasn't until Porter went down with an injury and Peterson took over that this team reached its potential.
2004
Lead up: The season started off strong with BC winning its first three games. Then the team hit a rough patch losing two of their three games prior to ND.
What happened? Peterson sparked a huge second half comeback and BC won 24-23. The win sent BC on a tear over the next three games...only to be derailed in the home finale against Syracuse.
I am more concerned with the remaining ACC games, but the reality is most BC fans are focused on this weekend's game. As our little history shows, a win this weekend could be a real shot in the arm.
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8 comments:
and a loss this weekend could be the end of Jags and Logan
It will hurt them, and give us something else to gripe about, but it will not be the of them... that is more ridiculous than most things posted after last weeks game. Jags is not going anywhere in the next year - think Charlie Wies at ND re: last year
I would really like us to win this Saturday night.
Go Eagles - Beat the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame - like 93, 94, 99, 01, 02, 03, 04 (05 and 06 DNP) and 07.
Let's even the all time series at 9 wins apiece - this is very important!!!! We have won 5 in a row - don't for one second take that for granted please!
Gionta, come on. It is one game.
Don't the first few lines of this story sound familiar?
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3682203
Terrible story.
We cannot lose this game. That is non-negotiable. As far as I am concerned, it is more important to keep the arrogant pukes from South Bend in their place than to win the remainder of the schedule. These guys need to leave everything on the field, and Logan had better pull several shiny and sparkly plays out of his ass for this one. I repeat - Losing this game is not an option.
i am confident the Eagles will man up this wknd, at home, at night behind a home crowd that will be INSANE... Shea Field before the last ND home game at night was off the hook and I think the fans will represent. Lets Go Eagles...
Yes We Can! si se puede
Let's don't forget that a win here gets us bowl eligible and that the rest of our games are against three tough teams. I'm not saying that we won't win against FSU, Wake and Maryland, but it's nice to get that 6th win out of the way
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