ACC Media not as excited as some national pundits

Phil Steele thinks BC is a Top 25 team. The football media that watches all the ACC are not as optimistic. They voted BC 4th in the Atlantic Division. While none of this matters right now, I actually trust Steele over the collective wisdom of the ACC folks.

While they have access to Addazio and have to keep tabs on BC, most of the ACC media members are not paying attention to BC. They are in other markets and for many, BC is just a weird fit. We've had some nice moments, but for most there is no reason to expect more than 7-6, which sounds 4th place-ish. Steele, on the other hand, has formulas and stats that he leans on. So if his stats say BC is experienced in XYZ or did this or that well or has an easier schedule than perceived, he can run with it. Steele's metrics are not perfect and he often points out when they went wrong. But being different and occasionally picking a surprise team is how he built his name.

Truthfully, if I had been at the Media Days and voted, I would probably have selected BC 2nd in the division. I don't trust Addazio nor do I think this team is great, but I think it is a down year for the division and all the teams have flaws and question marks.

See the press conferences

There is still not a lot coming out of the ACC Media Days. (Maybe Saturday?) Here is video of Addazio, Sweeney and Allen talking to the press.

Addazio doesn't say much in press conference

At this point I don't expect Steve Addazio to create some sort of controversy or get the College Football world's attention like Larry Fedora did. However, I wouldn't mind a little insight into the team or some specifics for the fans. If the opening press conference was any indication, we are not getting much out o the ACC Media Days. The biggest news -- which we already knew -- was that Brown was back and will be cleared by the time practices start in August.

Otherwise it was generic talk about team chemistry. There was an answer to a weird question about teams adjusting to the weather. He reiterated his desire to play good D and run the ball. Addazio also talked a little about his history with Paul Pasqualoni. But that was it. Very little about what's going on in football. Nothing on the uptick in recruiting. He didn't even get a chance to talk up facilities.

On Friday most of the one on one interview content will seep out. Hopefully he said something in those sessions that give us an idea of what to expect, how this year will be different and how he is dealing with the expectations.

Video roundup from ACC Media Day

Some of this you might have seen. Some of it will be new. Either way, Addazio and his players did their job. They represented the school well and got out that message that BC will compete this year. 

Reading too much into Daz's ACC press conference

I wanted confidence. I got it. Addazio seemed happy and excited about the season ahead. The correlation between his confidence and BC winning might not be great, but it gives me some hope going into the season. None of these coaches say much, but Addazio did say a few things that we can over analyze. Here are a few of my takeaways.

1. The QB job is Anthony Brown's for the taking. In his press conference Addazio mentioned Anthony Brown first. That's telling. He acknowledged that Wade would be the starter today and had more first team reps in the Spring, but he still mentioned Brown first and made it clear the job is up for grabs. Since most of the media prepared their questions with Wade in mind, Addazio did address Wade and said he thinks the veteran is finally coming into his own. Wade will get a chance. But Addazio's gut is clearly with Brown.

2. Addazio has heard the criticism of the offense. He makes reference to scoring excitement and that comes off a little condescending as if fans know nothing. But he misses the point. BC's offense hasn't just been low scoring and boring, it has been highly inefficient and detrimental to the world class defense. It sounds like we will keep the bowl-game tempo and also have the pro+spread concepts. My fear is that it sounds like a grab bag approach again. Why do three things well, when you can do a dozen things poorly! My hope is the oline and run game are mature enough just to run over people. If this season comes down to offensive schemes and execution, we're done.

3. The D should be great again. Despite the personnel loses, Addazio rattled off the whole returning roster and is pleased with the talent. With just those returning stars playing at their same level as last year, we have a Top 30 D. If those guys improve and the new guys make an impact, BC should have a Top 10 D again.

As more reports and content come out in the coming days, I will post it. But for now, it looks like Addazio is feeling good. I hope he has reason to feel that way.

Addazio will unveil the "narrative" at the ACC Media Days

The ACC Media Days start Thursday. BC won't be the focus, but Addazio will run through the conference's media gauntlet. Based on what he says, we will know how confident he is in the team's chances for this year.

Early on in his tenure, Addazio said this was a five year rebuild. Now here we are in Year 5. In theory this should be when everything comes together. Yet at times last fall and even in the spring, Addazio hedged a bit with his expectations. If he is hedging this week, I am taking it as a sign that things are bad. This guy has been pointing to this season since he started. If he doesn't think he can deliver, then this will be a lame duck, lost year.

I understand that there is very little real content at these sorts of events. Coaches and players answer with standard rehearsed, empty quotes. But we will still be able to read into Addazio's key points. I want to see and read that he believes we can compete with anyone on our schedule. If he keeps talking about youth and building the program down the road, it is going to be a frustrating season.

BC picked 5th in ACC Media Poll

Last week I predicted that the ACC Media would pick BC last in the Atlantic Division. Much to my surprise, they didn't. In fact, the media didn't even pick BC sixth. Instead our Eagles are expected to finish 5th. Maybe Addazio's enthusiasm and the confidence in BC's D is changing opinions.

The results of the poll show clear tiers in the division. At the top there is Clemson and FSU. Then some space before Louisville and NC State. BC is just barely ahead of Syracuse and then Wake. That's probably fair.

Just like my pessimism last week, this still doesn't mean much. BC has to go out and play the games, regardless of where they were expected to finish.

Where will the ACC voters rank BC?

Later this week, the ACC Coaches and players will head to North Carolina for the ACC Media Days. Coming off of last year, BC will not be a hot topic. In fact, we will be an afterthought. Outside of BC's players and fans, not much is expected. So as the ACC asks the attending media members for preseason predictions, I expect BC to finish last in the Atlantic.

Why the last place? I think Syracuse's new coach and the idea of them opening up their offense will earn points with the ACC observers. Wake is bad too, but they will have enough local writers there that some will put them above BC. I think the goodwill lost with the Don Brown departure will offset any positives related to the change on the offensive side of the ball.

The voting won't impact anything on the field but it does give insight into how we are perceived. Hopefully we get to prove them all wrong.

Low expectations for Basketball coming out of ACC Media Days

I have some hope for BC's young basketball roster. The rest of the conference does not. The collected ACC Media voted BC last in their preseason conference poll at the ACC Media Days. The vote wasn't even close. BC was last by a wide margin. But look at those other teams near the bottom (Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech). Why can't BC finish ahead of them?

BC also failed to garner any votes for the various preseason all conference teams and preseason award winners. Given how many minutes all the freshmen will play, someone is likely to earn some all freshman honors.

Nothing Christian nor our player representative Dennis Clifford and Eli Carter said made headlines. I do take solace in Christian saying this year's team is more talented than last year. That's a big statement considering he no longer has Hanlan. I hope he's right and if he is BC will certainly surprise people.

The biggest news out of the media event was the absence of Rick Pitino. College Sports is filled with plenty of hypocrites and jerks, but Pitino is in a class by himself.

Addazio at the ACC Media Days

The coach hit on all his talking points in his ACC Media interviews. He mentioned 60 of the scholarship players being freshmen and sophomores. He talked about Wade. He mentioned Ireland and Fenway. He joked about the Offensive Line. But I am not concerned about the talk. We will hear all these stories for the next few months. My positive takeaway is Addazio's confidence.

Watch the video above. This is a guy who likes his team and thinks he can win. That sort of confidence will help the young team and help his staff come together.

I don't think confidence is the only key to winning. If it was Addazio's second season at Temple would have been better. But I do think that he's on the right path.

Recapping ACC Media Day 1

Monday was the players' chance to talk to the collective media at the ACC Meetings. BC's guys, Harris Williams and Mehdi Abdesmad, represented themselves and the school well. Here are the ACC's highlights of the two:

You have to admire both players' composure. English is Abdesmad's second language. And Williams works in references to the Wall Street Journal, NASA and Michelangelo. There will be more stories on both in the coming days as the writers start turning Monday's interviews into features and articles.

These sorts of events don't win games, but they do establish a culture. When you have seemingly smart, good guys representing the school, it sets a tone for the team and for the fans.

Addazio should be fun on Tuesday.

Here are the guys trying to do a little play-by-play of Matt Ryan's comeback at Lane Stadium. I think Meter's job is safe for now.

One other note about the ACC Media Day...even though BC grad Courtney Cox works for the ACC Network, she's still an Eagle.

Media Guide released!

Another sign the football season is near: BC released their media guide. The timing coincides with the ACC Media Days that started Sunday. It might not mean much to the casual BC fan, but the media guide is a huge project for the Sports Information Department. Congrats to them on publishing the 2015 version.

Is it worth reading the media guide? It is full of fact and figures, so it can be a little dull. However, the athlete profiles are always well done. For many of the players, their Media Guide bio is our first detailed introduction to them. The media guide is also a great source for team history and records.

The summer roster was also released. The only real news there is that Nat Dixon is still listed. On social media it seems like he might have left the team. I am sure the Sport Information department will clear that up soon.

Reading too much into Williams and Abdesmad going to ACC Meetings

It is the offseason, so we are supposed to read tea leaves. BC fans found good news Wednesday in the announcement that Mehdi Abdesmad and Harris Williams will represent the school at the annual ACC Meetings. Selection is a collaborative process by the coaches and Sports Information. The intent is to select team leaders (usually upper classmen), who are expected to have big seasons and can represent the school well with the media.

This will be Williams second time at the event. He represented BC last year in anticipation of a big senior season (that was cut short by an injury in the UMass game). Abdesmad is also returning from injury. I am going to take both's selection as a sign that they are both 100% and ready to lead.

Last year's ACC Media Days didn't produce any memorable quotes or interviews. The event can be real hit or miss depending on the players and the questions asked. With little expected of BC, this year could be a bit boring too, or maybe the combination of Williams, Abdesmad and Addazio will prove interesting and the sign of good things to come this season.

Addazio fired up: Coaches' turn at the ACC Media Day

Day 2 of the ACC Media Days meant it was Addazio's turn to talk. He was his usual passionate, confident self. Media Poll results also came out and the assembled group picked BC to finish 6th in the Division. For the Coach, that is just more motivation.

“It doesn’t sit well with me, I’m not going to sit here and lie to you,’’ Addazio said. “But, I understand that. One season doesn’t mean a lot. I think, if anything else, it’ll fuel the fire. I’ll make sure we’ll talk about that as a football team when we get back.

Addazio didn't say anything ground breaking. He was repeatedly asked about replacing Williams and the new offense. Occasionally during his one on ones, something interesting would pop up, like Swiggert's progress.

Here is the Coach talking about expectations for this season. I like using Charlotte as a goal, but any bowl would be an accomplishment.




OVerall it was an effective day for Addazio and BC. He said the right things and represented BC well.

ACC Media kick off links

Sunday was the players' day to speak with the ACC media. Andy Gallik and Dominique Williams performed well and answered questions in a thoughtful, safe and consistent way. As much as we would love for these guys to be a colorful quote, it is probably best that they have smart but boring answers.

Both players answered plenty of questions about replacing Andre Williams.

As you can see from BC's coverage, there was still fun to be had.

The school also released its updated roster Sunday. The only big news was an official status on Shakim Phillips. BC is also using "GS" as a new listing for 5th year/graduate students. Seeing all the GSs on one page is a reminder that this staff has been very creative in adding depth and patch working their roster.

Suggestion to the ACC: move the ACC Media Days to Bristol, CT

If you follow any of the national college football writers on social media, then you know the SEC kicked off its annual Media Days on Monday. There were streams, cut-ins to other ESPN shows, clips, and plenty of pundit talk. This comes as no surprise since ESPN partners with the SEC on their new network. Because they have the most rabid following and a bunch of colorful coaches, the SEC has turned a series of press conferences into an event. All the other conferences are just playing catch up. The ACC has tried various ploys to get more attention, but I think there is only one move left: move the Media Days to ESPN's Corporate Campus.

While Bristol is not ideal for non-ESPN employees and doesn't offer the boondoggle aspects of most of the traditional ACC Media Days locations, it does offer a bonanza of coverage. If ESPN hosted the event it would make their "car wash" sessions seem quaint. Coaches and players could be on all ESPN outlets all day for three days. The rest of the media might not like it, but who cares? As long as the recruits see the ACC schools as elite and as long as ESPN becomes that much more invested in talking and promoting the ACC. 

I don't know if this has ever been floated, but it should. The ACC has nothing to lose. They can always go back to Amelia or Pinehurst or wherever. But having Media Days at the center of the sports world makes too much sense not to try. It is what a smart, ambitious, forward thinking conference would do. It is what the SEC would do and that should be enough to beat them to Bristol.  

Fitzgerald's summer and other links

Ryan Fitzgerald is playing well in the Bruins Developmental Camp. The article speculates that BC might move him back to Center from Wing.

In case you missed it, Andy Gallik and Dominique Williams will represent BC at the ACC Media Days next week. Gallik is expected. Williams is somewhat of a surprise. But having him there is a good sign. It means the staff expects him to have a strong season.

Interest is heating up in BC target, Donovan Mitchell. Louisville is the latest to offer the 2015 guard.

ACC Kickoff Day 2 Highlights

The second day of the ACC Kickoff focused on the coaches. Addazio did the rounds, including this sitdown with the ACC Network.

The assembled media picked BC to finish last in the division. I don't think anyone was surprised. After a 2-10 season, how can you not?

Addazio made positive impressions on the media.

Steve Addazio just used his nametag as a prop. Pretty sure his predecessor wouldn't have done that.
— Patrick Stevens (@D1scourse) July 22, 2013

Some writers are still surprised that our head coach is serving as his own recruiting coordinator.

I was surprised that the Globe has not written anything. Based on his tweets, it seems like Vega is there. Maybe I overestimated his excitement about returning to the BC beat.

ACC Kickoff Day 1 Recap

Divitto and Rettig were very busy Sunday. They did a whole round of TV and print. Both did a great job representing the school and are getting me excited about the season. Here are some of the better links from Day 1. Monday will have more on Addazio and a few features on the players.

The "dude" thing is gaining notice. I loved the way Divitto explained it. At this point you either get it or you don't. 

Addazio taped some TV spots that aren't live yet, but fortunately BC's twitter account tweeted some of the highlights.

Chase Rettig gave all the right answers and conducts himself well. However, I don't get the feeling that he loves doing this sort of thing.

"You either are a dude, or you're not. If you're a dude, you know what it means to be a dude." BC LB explains dudedom http://t.co/M0TFAQ6Ec9
— SB Nation (@sbnation) July 21, 2013

Behind scenes at 2013 #ACC Football Kickoff MT @BCFootballNews: QB Chase Rettig gets #ACCFootball interviews underway pic.twitter.com/6utJXEOuWG
— Jack McCluskey (@jack_mccluskey) July 21, 2013

The players together.

Here is Meter at the BC table.

What to expect at the ACC Media Days

The ACC kicks off its Media Days Sunday. The event is actually a decent opportunity for BC. With so much of the assembled media not from New England, this is one of the few times we will ever get coverage in traditional ACC country. Plus our representatives usually come off well and it gets noticed. This is also Addazio's first time representing BC among the conference media. I expect them to welcome his passion and candor. Joining the coach will be Chase Rettig and Steele Divitto. The team usually selects seniors whom they expect to have a big season, so view it as a vote of confidence for both players.

There will be plenty of coverage on all different outlets, so look for these themes and questions as the events unfold.

-- Addazio getting asked a lot about Tebow and Hernandez. This is the most predictable portion of the weekend. Fortunately Addazio is used to it by now. I expect him to give generic non-answers and when appropriate steer the conversation back to BC.
--Steele Divitto to make an all conference team. The QB position is too much of a logjam for Rettig to get on a preseason ACC team, but I think Divitto will. Don't mistake his votes for respect among the ACC Media. Many times players who attend get an added boost because they are top of mind.
-- Everyone to get asked about Boston Strong and the Marathon. With the way our collective memory works, many have already forgotten about the bombing, but I think the media will ask...even if it is just as simple as "how did not having a Spring Game impact your preparation?"
-- BC folks will be asked non-nonsensical questions about Pitt and Syracuse. Someone will ask something about the new "northern" schools joining in some fashion since BC is still viewed as the odd duck by many old-time ACC reporters. The only issue I have is that none of our current players ever went through a conference switch and don't really have a relationship or rivalry with Pitt or Syracuse.
-- The voters will put BC near or at the bottom of the division. Expectations are low. Very low. I don't care though. I just hope Addazio can use it as motivation.