As I tweeted when Syracuse won, BC controls its own destiny. Win out and we are in the ACC Championship. Win that and we have a pretty good argument for the Playoffs. Seems simple, right? If you are on social media, you will see lots of people are playing the "what if" game. Let's break it down and also look at other things on the table.
Beat Virginia Tech...
If BC wins this weekend and Clemson holds their own against Louisville, the BC-Clemson matchup would likely be a primetime game on an ESPN network and also have an outside chance as being the location for Gameday! It would be one of the few battles of ranked teams that weekend. It would be a chance to have an ACC location for Gameday and return to BC after a long absence. Gameday remains an incredible tool for selling the program and would be another validation of the season. It would also provide energy to the home atmosphere that has been lacking in the years since our last Gameday.
Then beat Clemson...
At 8-2 and having just knocked out an elite team, BC would probably get close to Top 10 in the rankings. There is still a lot of bottlenecking in the polls, but more teams will lose in the next two weeks and very few two-loss teams would have such a win. Beating Clemson would also give BC the head-to-head tiebreaker in the division standings.
Win out the regular season...
Once you've knocked off Clemson and won in Blacksburg, you've done the hard part. BC would be a heavy favorite over FSU. Then it is Syracuse at home Thanksgiving Weekend with everything on the line. What could go wrong there?
Win the ACC Championship...
If BC really does run the table, we would also be a favorite in the ACC Championship. Win that and we are guaranteed a major bowl -- the first since Flutie. But at this point, we would also be in the playoff discussion. If you are following the Playoff release and the computer projections, you will see BC is in the low 20s. That basically means it could happen, but would be the longest of long shots. Because of the human element, I don't think a two-loss BC team would ever be included. But there is only one way to find out!
Now the first step is winning this weekend.
Showing posts with label ACC Championship Game. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ACC Championship Game. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 30, 2018
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
BCS changes and what it means for BC
The BCS meetings start this week and plenty of changes are being reviewed. While the degree of change is unknown, the direction of the meetings is great news for BC.
Semifinals Call it a Plus+1. Call it a playoff. It doesn't matter. It seems like there is finally consensus to have have a mini-postseason. A four team playoff will still be a political nightmare that would nearly always exclude a team like BC, but it is a start. Once Pandora's Box is open, the 4-team playoff will expand to an 8 or 16 team playoff. That format would give BC hope.
Home playoff games The bowls are fighting hard, but it looks like some portion of the playoff would be on campus. That would be huge for a team like BC. Bowls are never really neutral sites for us. We always travel far and don't bring fans. I know a home playoff game will be a rare occurrence at Alumni, but it is still better than playing in an empty pro stadium. I also think that home playoff games will lead to home Conference Championship games. Do you think 2007 and 2008 might have been different if the ACC Championship games were played at BC?
Minimizing the importance of "travel reputation" This movement sounds like it will kill the lower tier bowls. It also sounds like all ADs are tired of buying huge blocks of tickets. That means that the non-playoff bowl games that remain will need good TV. BC -- when playing well -- is a great TV draw. The culling of the smaller bowls, might mean BC plays in fewer bowls, but does anyone really care? I think excitement and travel related to a bowl would improve if it was a true honor.
More shared money The playoffs will mean more money. It will also be more evenly split among the major conferences. That's great news from BC and could allow us to upgrade our facilities.
The ACC sent Georgia Tech's Dan Radakovich as its representative so Gene won't have a seat at the table this week. But I hope he is a strong supporter of playoffs. It is the only solution for BC. And one day we will have a coach who can get us to the playoffs again.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Another option for the ACC Championship Game?
[Eds note: This might be a little too Atlanta-ish for BC fans but bear with me, as it might impact the ACC.]
Just when it seems like the nomadic ACC Championship Game has found a relevant home in Charlotte, Atlanta suddenly becomes an option! If Arthur Blank builds a new stadium for the Atlanta Falcons it will have a major ripple effect on both the SEC and ACC games.
For those of you not following the Falcons's stadium story, here is the quick summary. The Georgia Dome is aging and not owned by Arthur Blank. The Falcons owner wants to build a stadium in downtown Atlanta that he would own and control the ancillary revenues. Because he plans to pay for the construction, Blank wants to save a few dollars and build an open air stadium instead of a dome.
If the Falcons leave the Georgia Dome, the aging stadium's relevancy takes a big hit. Without the Falcons, it is less likely to get any needed upgrades and there is a question as to if it could even stay open.
The SEC has stated that it wants to keep its championship game indoors. If the Georgia Dome goes away, would the SEC move its championship to New Orleans? If the SEC did move their game, the ACC could easily play a few ACCCGs in Blank's new stadium. The new locale offers easy travel for most of the conference and plenty of hotel rooms. Plus -- like Jerry Jones before him -- I predict that Blank will pay top dollar to have marquee events on his field.
If the state of Georgia keeps the Dome just to keep the SEC game in town, the ACC might still be able to play their Championship in Atlanta. If the SEC is playing down the street, why can't the ACC play their game on the Friday before in Blank's new building? Or even late Saturday after the SEC game is over. If you have two stadiums there is no reason to think both games could be played on the same weekend. Plus, in this scenario, the ACC gets to be the party crashers and ensure that there is plenty of buzz and excitement during championship weekend.
The ACC has been trying to emulate the SEC's Championship for six years. But one crucial ingredient was always missing -- Atlanta. If the stadium musicals chairs causes the SEC to rethink THE ATL, I think Swofford and company would be smart to swoop in on the opening. It could offer stability and revenue and piss off a bunch of SEC fans.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
ACCCG in primetime and other links
The ACC and ABC/ESPN are moving the ACC Championship Game to prime time. The hope is that the new time slot improves ratings and attendance. TV ratings will certainly improve, but does anyone really think the evening kickoff will improve attendance? I don't think BC would have brought anymore fans if the past two ACCCGs had been in prime time. I also don't think a night game will generate any more interest among the locals. The key will always be the matchup. If a Florida team is involved or Clemson, then you will get a crowd. Otherwise, there will be plenty of empty seats.
Expectations are rising for next season's basketball team. (Thanks to Tom for the link.)
I didn't note that HD ranked Castonzo as the 23rd best player in the ACC. It will be interesting to see if any other Eagles make the list. I actually think Tennant should be ranked higher.
Athlon ranked BC No. 48 in their preview countdown.
The locals want more details on BC's campus expansion plans.
Jon Loyte is breaking into lower-level Arena football.
Sunday, December 07, 2008
Second viewing thoughts and grade report: ACC Championship Game
After the game a bunch of people asked “are you really going to watch that one back?” The losses suck to rewatch but I am glad I watched this one again. In person, I felt we lost in all aspects of the game. The second viewing confirmed that, only the second time around I realized some of my initial impressions were off (I felt the WRs were bad Saturday; they weren’t that bad when I watched it back) and made me realize which groups were also part of the problem (both lines).
Offense: C-
Davis’ first half was very promising. He made good decisions and good throws and moved the ball. I didn’t log one bad throw on my charting from the first two quarters. In the second half, as our game plan shifted (I’ll get to that later), he struggled. In my charting I gave him 10 bad throws (the WRs dropped five passes). He was best throwing on rollouts and with a moving pocket. What frustrated was that he could make some really nice, sharp throws (like the big gainer that Gunnell fumbled and the TD). Yet he’d float or force other passes. The other area that hamstrung the offense was his hesitation and ineffectiveness on running plays. Because he struggled, the zone option read was neutralized. He also didn’t exploit big plays out of the more traditional option. Later in the game when VT went prevent, Davis looked better moving around and had a big gain. At the end of the day, Davis played like a freshmen on a big stage. He wasn’t very good but I don’t think you can read much into his future based on this one day. Let’s hope he builds on this day like Ryan did after the 2004 Syracuse game.
I only need to focus on Harris in the running backs reviews because he was the only running back who played. It was a heroic effort on his part. 160 total yards and on nearly everyone he took a hard hit and kept driving. The kid’s second efforts are very impressive. Harris also did a much better job of blitz pick up. He was our offensive MVP yesterday.
Coming out of the stadium, I felt the WRs let Davis down and were a big part of the problem. Watching back, I realized they had problems but weren’t as bad as I perceived. In total they dropped five balls. Gunnell also had the costly fumble. Despite the fumbled Gunnell played well. Robinson won some one on one battles and made some good runs after catches. However, Robinson failed to pull in a slant near the endzone that VT picked to finally ice the game. Jarvis made some tough catches. Larmond got involved for the first time in a while. He was effective in finding open spots. Anderson’s one handed grab was nice. Purvis spent most of the day blocking and didn’t even get thrown to.
The offensive line carried the team down the stretch. Their struggles yesterday were the root of many of BC’s problems. They weren’t able to control the line of scrimmage on run plays, forcing Davis to chuck it. Also they had some breakdowns in pass blocking as the game progressed. The guy with the most problems was Lapham. Their speed caused problems for him on the edge. Castonzo also got beat twice on moves from the VT DEs. The interior guys were a little more effective. Ramsey was very good without noticeable mistakes. Tennant got beat on one of the Davis sacks, but he was awesome on the screens. Tennant is so good moving downfield on screens that it should be one of our featured plays next year. Claiborne was good. Sheil and Richman got in for Lapham late. Sheil got beat and called for holding. Richman looked fine (but it was garbage time).
I felt Logan called a decent game. I think our staff planned for a ball-control game and then had to adjust as the Hokies unexpectedly started scoring with ease. I feel the mistake Logan made was putting too much faith in the Davis’ strong passing in the second quarter. We got the first possession of the second half down 14-7. We kept throwing with only a smattering of run to keep them honest. I think if he had stuck with the run a little longer we could have kept the Hokies off balance and put Davis in better positions. Once we got down three scores, he had to throw. My criticism then was that we kept huddling and eating time. I know a comeback at that point is a long shot and you have a raw QB, but you’ve got to go hurry up/no huddle. Overall there was a lot of smoke in mirrors (raw QB, 1 RB) and we were going up against a good D and a good Defensive Coordinator. While at BC, Logan has already turned a lot of lemons into lemonade. Saturday there were no miracles or magic.
Defense: C+
Outside of Raji, the defensive line struggled and looked sluggish. Ramella, Newman, and Giles all missed tackles or got pushed off the line repeatedly. Brace was limited and didn’t play much of the first half. Scafe got most of the snaps in his place and wasn’t as impactful as Brace usually is. As I said, Raji was the best of the bunch but not as dominant as he’s been. The whole group got pushed repeatedly on VT’s stretch plays. They also didn’t generate much pressure on Taylor. How many times did Giles, Newman and even Raji get a hand on Taylor only to watch him escape? Willette and Ramsey weren’t involved as much. (Credit also to VT for using the end around as a decoy. It kept our ends from crashing down on the real runners.)
The linebackers as a group had their roughest day since UNC. Francois missed tackles and was out of place throughout. McLaughlin, who we needed to stop the run up the middle, was a step off and also missed tackles. Herzy played well but struggled at times. He got eaten up on blocks a few times as WRs and backs chopped him at the knees. He also let Taylor slip by him a few times.
The DBs were actually better than the front seven. The longest pass allowed was for only 14 yards. They did a decent job in stopping the run as the front seven was getting gashed. Bowman played very well. Davis was good. Anderson had the pick. Rollins looked good. Fletcher recovered from his rough week against Maryland. Gause had some hard hits.
I don’t think Spaz called a bad game necessarily. I actually think most of our problems were in execution. We didn’t win the battles at the line like we have all year. The linebackers weren’t as steady as they have been. The secondary had a pick but couldn’t change the complexion of the game because what was happening up front. I also give Spaz credit for making adjustments that worked. Although we didn’t shut them down, we did slow them a bit in the second half. My one gripe is that we didn’t blitz (or even run blitz) much as the game wore on. Why not take a risk or two once VT has shown they can move the ball on us?
Special Teams: C-
VT’s early advantage was due in part to good field position. And we gave them good field position through special teams.
The kickoffs had decent distance and hang time. The coverage wasn’t very good with the exception of a kick they bobbled.
Quigley’s punts were shallow for most of the day. Flutie placed his punts fairly well…we just couldn’t keep it out of the endzone.
Virginia Tech had good punts that either kept it out of bounds and away from Gunnell or led to an obvious fair catch situation.
Overall: C-
Beating a team twice in one year is tough for a reason. You’ve been exposed (good or bad) and are left to adjust and anticipate what your familiar opponent is going to try. I think the VT coaches deserve credit for adjusting their rushing game and gashing our defense like few other have this season. Beamer’s guys also slowed our rushing game and put it all on Davis’ shoulders. As we adjusted and tried to take advantage of some of the throwing lanes, they then adjusted in the second half and came after Davis. The other bit of criticism our coaches deserve is the emotional aspect of the game. I concede that this is more subjective but our guys just seemed out of it early on. And once things got going, we couldn’t capitalize in the second half. It wasn’t our day and with it all on the line, that leaves a bad taste.
Offense: C-
Davis’ first half was very promising. He made good decisions and good throws and moved the ball. I didn’t log one bad throw on my charting from the first two quarters. In the second half, as our game plan shifted (I’ll get to that later), he struggled. In my charting I gave him 10 bad throws (the WRs dropped five passes). He was best throwing on rollouts and with a moving pocket. What frustrated was that he could make some really nice, sharp throws (like the big gainer that Gunnell fumbled and the TD). Yet he’d float or force other passes. The other area that hamstrung the offense was his hesitation and ineffectiveness on running plays. Because he struggled, the zone option read was neutralized. He also didn’t exploit big plays out of the more traditional option. Later in the game when VT went prevent, Davis looked better moving around and had a big gain. At the end of the day, Davis played like a freshmen on a big stage. He wasn’t very good but I don’t think you can read much into his future based on this one day. Let’s hope he builds on this day like Ryan did after the 2004 Syracuse game.
I only need to focus on Harris in the running backs reviews because he was the only running back who played. It was a heroic effort on his part. 160 total yards and on nearly everyone he took a hard hit and kept driving. The kid’s second efforts are very impressive. Harris also did a much better job of blitz pick up. He was our offensive MVP yesterday.
Coming out of the stadium, I felt the WRs let Davis down and were a big part of the problem. Watching back, I realized they had problems but weren’t as bad as I perceived. In total they dropped five balls. Gunnell also had the costly fumble. Despite the fumbled Gunnell played well. Robinson won some one on one battles and made some good runs after catches. However, Robinson failed to pull in a slant near the endzone that VT picked to finally ice the game. Jarvis made some tough catches. Larmond got involved for the first time in a while. He was effective in finding open spots. Anderson’s one handed grab was nice. Purvis spent most of the day blocking and didn’t even get thrown to.
The offensive line carried the team down the stretch. Their struggles yesterday were the root of many of BC’s problems. They weren’t able to control the line of scrimmage on run plays, forcing Davis to chuck it. Also they had some breakdowns in pass blocking as the game progressed. The guy with the most problems was Lapham. Their speed caused problems for him on the edge. Castonzo also got beat twice on moves from the VT DEs. The interior guys were a little more effective. Ramsey was very good without noticeable mistakes. Tennant got beat on one of the Davis sacks, but he was awesome on the screens. Tennant is so good moving downfield on screens that it should be one of our featured plays next year. Claiborne was good. Sheil and Richman got in for Lapham late. Sheil got beat and called for holding. Richman looked fine (but it was garbage time).
I felt Logan called a decent game. I think our staff planned for a ball-control game and then had to adjust as the Hokies unexpectedly started scoring with ease. I feel the mistake Logan made was putting too much faith in the Davis’ strong passing in the second quarter. We got the first possession of the second half down 14-7. We kept throwing with only a smattering of run to keep them honest. I think if he had stuck with the run a little longer we could have kept the Hokies off balance and put Davis in better positions. Once we got down three scores, he had to throw. My criticism then was that we kept huddling and eating time. I know a comeback at that point is a long shot and you have a raw QB, but you’ve got to go hurry up/no huddle. Overall there was a lot of smoke in mirrors (raw QB, 1 RB) and we were going up against a good D and a good Defensive Coordinator. While at BC, Logan has already turned a lot of lemons into lemonade. Saturday there were no miracles or magic.
Defense: C+
Outside of Raji, the defensive line struggled and looked sluggish. Ramella, Newman, and Giles all missed tackles or got pushed off the line repeatedly. Brace was limited and didn’t play much of the first half. Scafe got most of the snaps in his place and wasn’t as impactful as Brace usually is. As I said, Raji was the best of the bunch but not as dominant as he’s been. The whole group got pushed repeatedly on VT’s stretch plays. They also didn’t generate much pressure on Taylor. How many times did Giles, Newman and even Raji get a hand on Taylor only to watch him escape? Willette and Ramsey weren’t involved as much. (Credit also to VT for using the end around as a decoy. It kept our ends from crashing down on the real runners.)
The linebackers as a group had their roughest day since UNC. Francois missed tackles and was out of place throughout. McLaughlin, who we needed to stop the run up the middle, was a step off and also missed tackles. Herzy played well but struggled at times. He got eaten up on blocks a few times as WRs and backs chopped him at the knees. He also let Taylor slip by him a few times.
The DBs were actually better than the front seven. The longest pass allowed was for only 14 yards. They did a decent job in stopping the run as the front seven was getting gashed. Bowman played very well. Davis was good. Anderson had the pick. Rollins looked good. Fletcher recovered from his rough week against Maryland. Gause had some hard hits.
I don’t think Spaz called a bad game necessarily. I actually think most of our problems were in execution. We didn’t win the battles at the line like we have all year. The linebackers weren’t as steady as they have been. The secondary had a pick but couldn’t change the complexion of the game because what was happening up front. I also give Spaz credit for making adjustments that worked. Although we didn’t shut them down, we did slow them a bit in the second half. My one gripe is that we didn’t blitz (or even run blitz) much as the game wore on. Why not take a risk or two once VT has shown they can move the ball on us?
Special Teams: C-
VT’s early advantage was due in part to good field position. And we gave them good field position through special teams.
The kickoffs had decent distance and hang time. The coverage wasn’t very good with the exception of a kick they bobbled.
Quigley’s punts were shallow for most of the day. Flutie placed his punts fairly well…we just couldn’t keep it out of the endzone.
Virginia Tech had good punts that either kept it out of bounds and away from Gunnell or led to an obvious fair catch situation.
Overall: C-
Beating a team twice in one year is tough for a reason. You’ve been exposed (good or bad) and are left to adjust and anticipate what your familiar opponent is going to try. I think the VT coaches deserve credit for adjusting their rushing game and gashing our defense like few other have this season. Beamer’s guys also slowed our rushing game and put it all on Davis’ shoulders. As we adjusted and tried to take advantage of some of the throwing lanes, they then adjusted in the second half and came after Davis. The other bit of criticism our coaches deserve is the emotional aspect of the game. I concede that this is more subjective but our guys just seemed out of it early on. And once things got going, we couldn’t capitalize in the second half. It wasn’t our day and with it all on the line, that leaves a bad taste.
Pics from Tampa
Sorry I didn't take more pictures. These type of games don't lend themselves to pulling out the camera.
Saturday, December 06, 2008
Tripped up in Tampa
I am pretty sure Sisyphus was a BC fan. Tough day. We got beat in all aspects of the game. And we are left one step away from the ultimate goal...again.
No regrets though. I think those of us there had fun.
I'll have second viewing thoughts and grades up late Sunday.
Friday, December 05, 2008
Game Watches: ACC Championship Game
This is the big one. Enjoy it will fellow BC fans across the country. If I've overlooked any, post a note in the comments or email me.
Albany Game Watch
Legends Sports Lounge
286 Lark St
Albany, NY
Atlanta Game Watch
Famous Pub
2947 N. Druid Hills Rd (Toco Hills Shopping Center)
Atlanta, GA 30329
Boston Game Watch
Brighton Beer Garden
386 Market Street
Brighton, MA
Chicago Game Watch
Finley Dunnes Tavern
3458 N. Lincoln Avenue
Chicago
Cleveland Game Watch
Winking Lizard Tavern
14018 Detroit Avenue
Lakewood, OH
Dallas Game Watch
Christies Sports Bar
2811 McKinney Avenue, Suite 22
Dallas, TX
Denver Game Watch
Wyman's No. 5
2037 E. 13th Avenue
Denver, CO
Los Angeles Game Watch
Sonny McLean's
2615 Wilshire Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA
Miami Game Watch
Bokamper's Sports Bar and Grill
1280 S Pine Island Road
Plantation, FL
Milwaukee Game Watch
Zim's Sports Bar
770 N. Milwaukee Street
Milwaukee, W
Minnesota Game Watch
Majors Sports Cafe–Golden Valley
6440 Wayzata Boulevard (off of 394)
Golden Valley, MN
New Jersey Game Watch
Liberty Bar & Grill
61 14th Street
Hoboken, NJ
New York City Game Watch
Still
3rd Ave & 17th Street
Orange County, CA Game Watch
Sharkeez - Newport Beach
114 McFadden Place
Newport Beach, CA
Orlando Game Watch [Seriously? Orlando BC fans, hop in the car and go to the game!!!]
Beef O'Bradys
2904 Curry Ford Rd
Orlando, FL
Phoenix Game Watch
Gallagher’s
7575 N. 16th Street
Phoenix, AZ
Portland Game Watch
On Deck Sports
910 NW 14th Street
Portland, OR
Philadelphia Game Watch
Champs Americana
330 Goddard Boulevard
King of Prussia, PA
Rhode Island Game Watch
McFadden's Restaurant & Saloon
52 Pine Street
Providence, RI
San Diego Game Watch
RT's Longboard Grill
1466 Garnet Avenue
Pacific Beach, CA
San Francisco Game Watch
Shanghai Kelly's
2064 Polk St. (cross Broadway)
San Francisco, CA
Seattle Game Watch
Spitfire
2219 4th Avenue
Seattle, WA
Southwest Florida (Naples) Game Watch
Lansdowne Street
24851 S. Tamiami Trail
Bonita Springs, FL
Triangle (North Carolina) Game Watch
Rudino's Pizza & Grinders
1937 High House Rd
Cary, NC
Washington, DC Game Watch
Porter's Dining Saloon
The corner of 19th and M, Sts. NW and is walking distance from the Dupont Circle, Farragut North, and Farragut West Metro stations
Albany Game Watch
Legends Sports Lounge
286 Lark St
Albany, NY
Atlanta Game Watch
Famous Pub
2947 N. Druid Hills Rd (Toco Hills Shopping Center)
Atlanta, GA 30329
Boston Game Watch
Brighton Beer Garden
386 Market Street
Brighton, MA
Chicago Game Watch
Finley Dunnes Tavern
3458 N. Lincoln Avenue
Chicago
Cleveland Game Watch
Winking Lizard Tavern
14018 Detroit Avenue
Lakewood, OH
Dallas Game Watch
Christies Sports Bar
2811 McKinney Avenue, Suite 22
Dallas, TX
Denver Game Watch
Wyman's No. 5
2037 E. 13th Avenue
Denver, CO
Los Angeles Game Watch
Sonny McLean's
2615 Wilshire Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA
Miami Game Watch
Bokamper's Sports Bar and Grill
1280 S Pine Island Road
Plantation, FL
Milwaukee Game Watch
Zim's Sports Bar
770 N. Milwaukee Street
Milwaukee, W
Minnesota Game Watch
Majors Sports Cafe–Golden Valley
6440 Wayzata Boulevard (off of 394)
Golden Valley, MN
New Jersey Game Watch
Liberty Bar & Grill
61 14th Street
Hoboken, NJ
New York City Game Watch
Still
3rd Ave & 17th Street
Orange County, CA Game Watch
Sharkeez - Newport Beach
114 McFadden Place
Newport Beach, CA
Orlando Game Watch [Seriously? Orlando BC fans, hop in the car and go to the game!!!]
Beef O'Bradys
2904 Curry Ford Rd
Orlando, FL
Phoenix Game Watch
Gallagher’s
7575 N. 16th Street
Phoenix, AZ
Portland Game Watch
On Deck Sports
910 NW 14th Street
Portland, OR
Philadelphia Game Watch
Champs Americana
330 Goddard Boulevard
King of Prussia, PA
Rhode Island Game Watch
McFadden's Restaurant & Saloon
52 Pine Street
Providence, RI
San Diego Game Watch
RT's Longboard Grill
1466 Garnet Avenue
Pacific Beach, CA
San Francisco Game Watch
Shanghai Kelly's
2064 Polk St. (cross Broadway)
San Francisco, CA
Seattle Game Watch
Spitfire
2219 4th Avenue
Seattle, WA
Southwest Florida (Naples) Game Watch
Lansdowne Street
24851 S. Tamiami Trail
Bonita Springs, FL
Triangle (North Carolina) Game Watch
Rudino's Pizza & Grinders
1937 High House Rd
Cary, NC
Washington, DC Game Watch
Porter's Dining Saloon
The corner of 19th and M, Sts. NW and is walking distance from the Dupont Circle, Farragut North, and Farragut West Metro stations
Get pumped video
This is the way for BC fans to start their day.
Thanks to Vincent for another Oscar worthy clip.
Thanks to Vincent for another Oscar worthy clip.
Thursday, December 04, 2008
BC-Virginia Tech (ACC Championship) preview
This is what I wrote in my lead paragraph in last season’s ACC Championship Game preview:
Throughout the season I’ve heard numerous games called “the most important game in BC history.” All the talk seemed to lack perspective and diminished BC’s long and storied past. Now as we prepare for Saturday, we might actually be witnessing the most important game in BC history. Never before has the team had a chance to win a championship on the field. Also, winning the ACC would be the culmination of four decades worth of effort begun under Father Monan and Bill Flynn to take BC athletics to the next level. This is THE game.
All of that holds true, but there is a new aspect to this game: Jags’ legacy. Unlike last season, where much of the credit went to Ryan and the seniors, this has been about the staff taking the pieces they have and maximizing their talents. A win Saturday would not only be the culmination of the rise of BC football, it would also be a testament to an outstanding two-year run for a young coach.
Narrative talking point that you’ll tire of by the end of the game. “Both teams force big plays from their defense and special teams…blah blah blah…BC plays ‘Beamerball’ too.” Don’t get me wrong, I love the fact that our defense creates huge momentum swings. Give me a non-offensive touchdown any day. I just think that because the non-offensive plays were such an important part of the last game, that this time around both teams will be very conservative and not much will happen in the ‘Beamerball’ department. The talking heads will have talked about something that didn’t happen again.
Three Simple Keys
1. Force Taylor to throw the ball. This was one of my keys last time around and still holds true. Keep him in the pocket and force him to pass. Taylor ran for 137 yards against UVA. The Hokies won. Miami contained him for 43 yards. The Hokies lost.
2. Establish Davis as a run threat. If he can get yards with his legs, it will set up the option-read for Harris/Haden and also put less pressure on Davis to win the game with his arm.
3. No Special teams mistakes. There were many factors in our loss last year, but I think our inability to kick a field goal or extra point were huge momentum swings. We cannot make those same sort of mistakes again.
Gambling Notes
-- The favorite is 1-2 in the ACC Championship Game
-- BC is 1-1 in Tampa
-- Virginia Tech is 1-1 in ACC Championship Games
The current line is BC-1
Factoid
This is the fourth ACC Championship Game. Of the eight participants, only one, Wake Forest, was a charter member of the ACC.
Scoreboard Watching
The Big XII Championship Game is the only other contest that impacts the Orange Bowl. If Mizzou pulls off the upset, it might force enough things to happen so that Cincinnati doesn’t go to the Orange Bowl to face the winner of our game.
I hope to see…
Sean Glennon stay on the bench. If Taylor struggles, VT could very well put Glennon in the game. I don’t think much of Glennon, but his style and ability could cause us problems. He moved the ball against us last year and Chris Turner showed last week that an accurate QB can pick up yards against our D.
BC is in trouble if…
Davis turns the ball over more than twice. BC survived the last VT game with two Crane “Pick 6s”. We also survived two fumble returns against Wake. Our luck is bound to run out. If Davis coughs the ball up more than twice, I don’t think we will win.
Bottom Line
Last year ACCCG preview I ran with hunches and momentum and “magical seasons” as reasons for victory. This year I am going with stuff that is a little more concrete. We match up well with Virginia Tech. We are playing better football than Virginia Tech. We’ve been on this stage enough. We’ve won three must wins. We are winning this game.
Final Score: BC 24, Virginia Tech 9
A letter to a blimp pilot
Dear Captain:
First let me say that I respect your years of training and the work you do every weekend. As a pilot you take on great responsibility every time you get behind the controls. So don’t take this as me telling you how to do your job. Consider it more of a suggestion (or even a plea). Whatever you do this weekend, do not take overhead shots of Raymond James Stadium. Tampa is a lovely city. The weather is supposed to be nice Saturday. Use your aerial view to capture shots of the beaches or the Bay. How about a nice overhead of Busch Gardens or Downtown? Anything but a crowd shot. You see, last year this picture was taken at the ACC Championship Game.
Since then it has been used to mock the conference and BC all over the internet. You can’t blame BC. These games were supposed to be battles between Florida powers. How was a private Catholic School from Boston expected to travel on relatively short notice? This year doesn’t look much better. Ticket sales are slow and the locals have resorted to giving the seats away. Most BC fans are resigned to our poor traveling reputation. At this point we only care about winning the game. A victory will do more to change perception than a few thousand more tickets sold ever would. That said, kind Sir, we could still use your help this weekend. Use your powerful zeppelin for good. Show off Tampa. Don’t try to embarrass the ACC.
Sincerely,
A BC fan with a whole section to himself
First let me say that I respect your years of training and the work you do every weekend. As a pilot you take on great responsibility every time you get behind the controls. So don’t take this as me telling you how to do your job. Consider it more of a suggestion (or even a plea). Whatever you do this weekend, do not take overhead shots of Raymond James Stadium. Tampa is a lovely city. The weather is supposed to be nice Saturday. Use your aerial view to capture shots of the beaches or the Bay. How about a nice overhead of Busch Gardens or Downtown? Anything but a crowd shot. You see, last year this picture was taken at the ACC Championship Game.
Since then it has been used to mock the conference and BC all over the internet. You can’t blame BC. These games were supposed to be battles between Florida powers. How was a private Catholic School from Boston expected to travel on relatively short notice? This year doesn’t look much better. Ticket sales are slow and the locals have resorted to giving the seats away. Most BC fans are resigned to our poor traveling reputation. At this point we only care about winning the game. A victory will do more to change perception than a few thousand more tickets sold ever would. That said, kind Sir, we could still use your help this weekend. Use your powerful zeppelin for good. Show off Tampa. Don’t try to embarrass the ACC.
Sincerely,
A BC fan with a whole section to himself
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
Guest Blogger: Gobbler Country
Don't you feel like you know the Hokies by now? I do. With that said, I still wanted to get an outside opinion so I asked Gobbler Country to return as a guest blogger. I kept the question short and to the point. His answers are below.
1. What is the biggest difference in the team since the first meeting?
Gobbler Country: The biggest difference is we know we aren't a very good football team. Going into the BC game, we we had won five straight games and assumed we could beat a Matt Ryan-less BC team with ease. Well, that didn't happen. In fact, the BC game was probably (hopefully?) the beginning of the end for Bryan Stinespring and the offense has been just as bad in each successive game as it was against BC, with the exception being the Maryland game.
We know we aren't very good and our margin for error is zero. Therefore, the defense has been playing a lot better since the games against BC and FSU. And while the offense still isn't putting points on the board, we are running the ball better. There really isn't a big difference between the Hokies you saw in October and the Hokies you'll see on Saturday. But the main difference is we're more self aware of our flaws and what we need to do to hide them.
2. Do you think Sean Glennon will play Saturday?
GC: I hope not and here's why. After the UVa performance, the only way I see Glennon making his way on the field is if Tyrod gets hurt or if Tyrod turns into a human turnover like he did against Duke. If either of those happen, we're Nashville-bound.
3. What is your prediction for Saturday?
GC: We'll win because I won't be there. As far as how we'll win, I'm sure it will come down to a late field goal or turnover. This one is going to be boring, close, clean and quick. You have two teams that are going to try and run first against defenses that are really good at stopping the run.
Don't blink or you'll miss this game. It won't be like when Texas Tech is on TV and you're an hour in and the first quarter is almost over. In baseball terms, you've got two pitchers who work fast and induce a lot of ground balls going Saturday in Tampa. You also have the two fewest-penalized teams by yards in the league.
The team that wins will be the team that takes advantage of what mistakes the other team makes.
FOR MORE ON VT, CHECK OUT GOBBLER COUNTRY.
1. What is the biggest difference in the team since the first meeting?
Gobbler Country: The biggest difference is we know we aren't a very good football team. Going into the BC game, we we had won five straight games and assumed we could beat a Matt Ryan-less BC team with ease. Well, that didn't happen. In fact, the BC game was probably (hopefully?) the beginning of the end for Bryan Stinespring and the offense has been just as bad in each successive game as it was against BC, with the exception being the Maryland game.
We know we aren't very good and our margin for error is zero. Therefore, the defense has been playing a lot better since the games against BC and FSU. And while the offense still isn't putting points on the board, we are running the ball better. There really isn't a big difference between the Hokies you saw in October and the Hokies you'll see on Saturday. But the main difference is we're more self aware of our flaws and what we need to do to hide them.
2. Do you think Sean Glennon will play Saturday?
GC: I hope not and here's why. After the UVa performance, the only way I see Glennon making his way on the field is if Tyrod gets hurt or if Tyrod turns into a human turnover like he did against Duke. If either of those happen, we're Nashville-bound.
3. What is your prediction for Saturday?
GC: We'll win because I won't be there. As far as how we'll win, I'm sure it will come down to a late field goal or turnover. This one is going to be boring, close, clean and quick. You have two teams that are going to try and run first against defenses that are really good at stopping the run.
Don't blink or you'll miss this game. It won't be like when Texas Tech is on TV and you're an hour in and the first quarter is almost over. In baseball terms, you've got two pitchers who work fast and induce a lot of ground balls going Saturday in Tampa. You also have the two fewest-penalized teams by yards in the league.
The team that wins will be the team that takes advantage of what mistakes the other team makes.
FOR MORE ON VT, CHECK OUT GOBBLER COUNTRY.
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
Words of wisdom for BC students and fans
Photo courtesy of Matt F.
As I was working out the logistics of this weekend, my wife raised a fair question, "didn't you say this was a once in a lifetime opportunity last year?"
I answered quickly, "It was and so is this year!" That's right BC students, you are getting a second chance at a once in a lifetime opportunity. The school is giving you tickets. All you have to do is get down to Tampa. Last year I threw out every solution I could think of short of hitching a ride on a freight train like hobo. Now there are much simpler solutions. Airtran, JetBlue, and Delta all have reasonable rates from Boston to Tampa. In some cases you don't even need a hotel room...you can fly early Saturday morning and and fly back Saturday night. It would be the best $250 you have ever spent.
These adventures are not about the costs. They are about the experiences. As silly as it sounds, it means something to say you were there. Listen to alumni and recent grads. Soon you'll be trying to figure out babysitters or vacation days. The carefree moments are few and far between once you become part of the rat race.
For you seniors, this time next year you'll be sitting in a cube reading about two ACC teams getting ready for the ACC Championship Game. As much as I trust this staff, the odds say that BC won't be one of those teams. If you throw the credit card down and buy a plane ticket, you could witness BC's most important win in 60 years.
Alumni and other members of the BC family, I won't try to guilt trip or prod. I know the dilemmas. If not for calling in a favor or two the Mrs would not be joining me this weekend. That said though, you understand what's on the line and how truly rare these situations are. If you are leaning towards going and live on the East Coast, seriously look into same day flights. Don't miss this chance.
Depending on the schedule, I only get to a game or two a year. I never go to game watches. I am so off kilter and antisocial during some of these games, it's best that I watch them alone. That said, I wouldn't miss this because it is a chance to add my voice to the small chorus cheering on this group of BC Guys. It's also a chance to share an experience with the other faithful.
Last year hurt. As soon as time expired, I was racing for my car. I didn't want to spend another minute in Jacksonville thinking about what could have been. But I never regretted going. If you can get there this Saturday, join us. You will never regret it.
Attention Atlanta area BC fans!
There are still some ridiculously low fares on Airtran to Tampa. You can fly Saturday morning and return Saturday night for less than $150 round trip. Mrs. ATL and I are doing that, so is Senor Atlanta and BC Atlanta Guy Mod6A.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
If I had told you...
-- That we would lose Alex Albright, Clarence Megwa, Brian Toal, James McCluskey, and Chris Crane to season ending injuries
-- That Chris Crane would lead the ACC in turnovers
-- That Montel Harris would be our leading rusher
-- That we would face elimination games in our final three regular season games
-- That Dominique Davis would lead a comeback at Wake Forest
-- That Dominique Davis would start a must win with the ACCCG on the line
-- That we'd allow non-offensive touchdowns against NC State, North Carolina, Wake Forest, and Virginia Tech
-- That we would play eight true freshmen
-- That Steve Aponavicius would only make 13 of 20 FG attempts
Would you believe that we would win the Atlantic and now be one game away from winning the ACC?
Hell of a job by Jags.
-- That Chris Crane would lead the ACC in turnovers
-- That Montel Harris would be our leading rusher
-- That we would face elimination games in our final three regular season games
-- That Dominique Davis would lead a comeback at Wake Forest
-- That Dominique Davis would start a must win with the ACCCG on the line
-- That we'd allow non-offensive touchdowns against NC State, North Carolina, Wake Forest, and Virginia Tech
-- That we would play eight true freshmen
-- That Steve Aponavicius would only make 13 of 20 FG attempts
Would you believe that we would win the Atlantic and now be one game away from winning the ACC?
Hell of a job by Jags.
Saturday, December 08, 2007
Special offer for BC fans in Florida
Quick note for any BC fans who live Florida or will be down there during the holidays -- the school is making special arrangements for the bowl game. See this note below:
Charters for the Champs Bowl
The Boston College Alumni Association has joined together with BC Athletics and the BC Fund to offer discounted travel packages for our alumni and friends in the state of Florida. Packages will include a game ticket, access to the pre-game tailgate, and roundtrip bus transportation to and from four Florida locations. This package, a $150 value, is being offered to you at a price of $75 per person. Please see below for pick-up times and locations. All buses will return to the pick-up locations immediately following the game.
To take advantage of this amazing opportunity, please contact Jen Breer at 617-552-2471 or breerj@bc.edu.
Our Eagles need your support, so act now!
Florida Pick-up Locations:
East Coast
Miami
JW Marriott
1109 Brickell Avenue
Miami , FL 33131
Departure time: 8:00 a.m.
Fort Lauderdale
Broward County Courthouse
201 SE 6th Street
Fort Lauderdale , FL 33301
Departure time: 9:00 a.m.
West Coast
Naples
Sam's Club
2550 Immokalee Road
Naples , FL 34110
Departure time: 8:00 a.m.
Tampa
International Plaza - Dillard's
2223 N. Westshore Boulevard
Tampa , FL 33607
Departure time: 10:30 a.m.
I'll be coming down from North Florida. These trips are a good deal and this is a great chance to see this group of seniors one last time. If you're in the state, don't miss this game.
Charters for the Champs Bowl
The Boston College Alumni Association has joined together with BC Athletics and the BC Fund to offer discounted travel packages for our alumni and friends in the state of Florida. Packages will include a game ticket, access to the pre-game tailgate, and roundtrip bus transportation to and from four Florida locations. This package, a $150 value, is being offered to you at a price of $75 per person. Please see below for pick-up times and locations. All buses will return to the pick-up locations immediately following the game.
To take advantage of this amazing opportunity, please contact Jen Breer at 617-552-2471 or breerj@bc.edu.
Our Eagles need your support, so act now!
Florida Pick-up Locations:
East Coast
Miami
JW Marriott
1109 Brickell Avenue
Miami , FL 33131
Departure time: 8:00 a.m.
Fort Lauderdale
Broward County Courthouse
201 SE 6th Street
Fort Lauderdale , FL 33301
Departure time: 9:00 a.m.
West Coast
Naples
Sam's Club
2550 Immokalee Road
Naples , FL 34110
Departure time: 8:00 a.m.
Tampa
International Plaza - Dillard's
2223 N. Westshore Boulevard
Tampa , FL 33607
Departure time: 10:30 a.m.
I'll be coming down from North Florida. These trips are a good deal and this is a great chance to see this group of seniors one last time. If you're in the state, don't miss this game.
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
A higher state of consciousness, more fun in Jax, Champs trip facebook
One thing is clear from everyone who went -- Jacksonville was a good time. Two Atlanta BC guys BC Mike and Mod6a sent along these pics.
For those of you heading to Orlando, current BC student Huelsebu has set up a facebook page for the trip.
For those of you heading to Orlando, current BC student Huelsebu has set up a facebook page for the trip.
Sunday, December 02, 2007
Shots from Jax
I took a few pics but haven't pulled them off my camera yet. Plus I wasn't in a great mood to capture the day. The first half was tense and you know how the second half went. Fortunately Brian F. and his crew picked up the slack.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Checking in from Jax
I-95 South into Jacksonville felt like the Hokie Highway. Checking into our hotel felt a little better as I started to see some BC fans. The weather is nice and supposed to be better Saturday. To give you the mood of the city, you can read this at EDSBS.
For those of you going to the game, I'll be in Section 108, row D wearing the BC pants. Say hello if you have the chance.
For those of you going to the game, I'll be in Section 108, row D wearing the BC pants. Say hello if you have the chance.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
BC-Virginia Tech preview
Throughout the season I’ve heard numerous games called “the most important game in BC history.” All the talk seemed to lack perspective and diminished BC’s long and storied past. Now as we prepare for Saturday, we might actually be witnessing the most important game in BC history. Never before has the team had a chance to win a championship on the field. Also, winning the ACC would be the culmination of four decades worth of effort begun under Father Monan and Bill Flynn to take BC athletics to the next level. This is THE game.
Theme that won’t be discussed on television. There will be plenty of talk about the ACC-Big East dynamic and BC potentially taking the “next step” by winning the ACC. I don’t think you’ll hear much discussion of Virginia Tech’s rise and how conference affiliation dramatically changed that entire program. Prior to joining the Big East in 1990, they were a nice program with a steady but not spectacular history. They lacked identity and their schedule was a hodgepodge of random ACC schools, second-tier southern programs like Memphis and Tulane and a random service academy thrown in. It all changed when the Big East came calling. The Hokies -- more than any other Big East program -- bought into everything and sold it like hell to their recruits and fans. Thursday Night Games – “anytime, anywhere.” Carquest Bowls – “we’ll show up and make some noise. Miami speed – “we’ll be faster.” When the opportunity came to upgrade again to the ACC, they fought like tooth and nail for inclusion. And with the move have upgraded their moribund basketball program. There are many things I dislike about VT but I respect that they changed the culture of their program and their fans. BC should remember that as we try to figure out what went right and wrong this bowl season.
Three Simple Keys
1. Protect Ryan. The Hokies only sent four last time and they had Ryan off balance all night. This time around we need to be ready for anything. The offensive line must build on their solid performance against Miami and control the line of scrimmage.
2. Contain Taylor in the red zone. He burned Virginia with some timely runs when drives had stalled. Because we haven’t faced a running QB of his caliber this season, I have no idea who will be responsible for spying Taylor, but whoever gets the call needs to have a great game and keep Taylor from turning broken plays into TDs.
3. Avoid penalties. We were whistled nine times for 83 yards in Blacksburg. The situation should be a little better at a neutral field, but we still need to play smart. Those calls handed VT its two scores.
Gambling Notes
-- The underdog has won both ACC Championship Games
-- Virginia Tech is 2-4 in games played in Jacksonville Municipal Stadium
-- Jags is 3-0 as an underdog
The current line is BC+4.5
What would be a pleasant surprise? A mistake free game. Since our trip to Blacksburg we’ve had at least one or two cringe-inducing plays per game. Style points do not matter, but I think all of our cardiologists would recommend a game without a turnover or some stupid penalties.
What would be a letdown? Losing (obviously). There is still hope we could land in the Peach Bowl, but we’re likely to bounce down the ladder to a bowl none of us care about.
What would be a shocker? VT blowing us out. I know they are looking for revenge and are playing great football yada yada yada...I just don’t see us going down without a fight. Even in our worst game (Maryland) we were onside kicking at the end.
Bottom Line
Like the last VT game, I have a very positive feeling about this one. No hard data. No great insight. Just a good vibe. (How's that for analysis?) I think the setting will make a positive difference for BC and we’ll control the game.
Final score: BC 28, VT 17
Theme that won’t be discussed on television. There will be plenty of talk about the ACC-Big East dynamic and BC potentially taking the “next step” by winning the ACC. I don’t think you’ll hear much discussion of Virginia Tech’s rise and how conference affiliation dramatically changed that entire program. Prior to joining the Big East in 1990, they were a nice program with a steady but not spectacular history. They lacked identity and their schedule was a hodgepodge of random ACC schools, second-tier southern programs like Memphis and Tulane and a random service academy thrown in. It all changed when the Big East came calling. The Hokies -- more than any other Big East program -- bought into everything and sold it like hell to their recruits and fans. Thursday Night Games – “anytime, anywhere.” Carquest Bowls – “we’ll show up and make some noise. Miami speed – “we’ll be faster.” When the opportunity came to upgrade again to the ACC, they fought like tooth and nail for inclusion. And with the move have upgraded their moribund basketball program. There are many things I dislike about VT but I respect that they changed the culture of their program and their fans. BC should remember that as we try to figure out what went right and wrong this bowl season.
Three Simple Keys
1. Protect Ryan. The Hokies only sent four last time and they had Ryan off balance all night. This time around we need to be ready for anything. The offensive line must build on their solid performance against Miami and control the line of scrimmage.
2. Contain Taylor in the red zone. He burned Virginia with some timely runs when drives had stalled. Because we haven’t faced a running QB of his caliber this season, I have no idea who will be responsible for spying Taylor, but whoever gets the call needs to have a great game and keep Taylor from turning broken plays into TDs.
3. Avoid penalties. We were whistled nine times for 83 yards in Blacksburg. The situation should be a little better at a neutral field, but we still need to play smart. Those calls handed VT its two scores.
Gambling Notes
-- The underdog has won both ACC Championship Games
-- Virginia Tech is 2-4 in games played in Jacksonville Municipal Stadium
-- Jags is 3-0 as an underdog
The current line is BC+4.5
What would be a pleasant surprise? A mistake free game. Since our trip to Blacksburg we’ve had at least one or two cringe-inducing plays per game. Style points do not matter, but I think all of our cardiologists would recommend a game without a turnover or some stupid penalties.
What would be a letdown? Losing (obviously). There is still hope we could land in the Peach Bowl, but we’re likely to bounce down the ladder to a bowl none of us care about.
What would be a shocker? VT blowing us out. I know they are looking for revenge and are playing great football yada yada yada...I just don’t see us going down without a fight. Even in our worst game (Maryland) we were onside kicking at the end.
Bottom Line
Like the last VT game, I have a very positive feeling about this one. No hard data. No great insight. Just a good vibe. (How's that for analysis?) I think the setting will make a positive difference for BC and we’ll control the game.
Final score: BC 28, VT 17
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