Bob Bicknell headed to Baylor

Former Eagle Bob Bicknell is headed back to the college game to be WR's coach at Baylor. Bicknell and new Baylor Coach Matt Rhule worked together at Temple over a decade ago. Since that time, Bicknell has bounced around a bit at the NFL level. It is good to see him back in the college ranks at Baylor.

Beyond the Rhule connection, Bicknell at Baylor makes sense. It is a chance to return to college with a Power 5 team that has real upside. It also exposes him to Texas recruiting and Texas high school coaches.

Bicknell's brother was always viewed as a potential BC coach. He nearly was hired when BC fired Jags. Bob was never really mentioned. He wasn't in the college game at the time and never did much to put himself on that path. A stint at Baylor isn't all it takes, but it does put him on the college radar (obviously timing and success at Baylor are also part of the scenario). Best of luck to Bicknell at Baylor. It will be nice to have more BC guys at this level.

Déjà vu with Turner and Bicknell

When Jags fired Jim Turner shortly into his tenure as Head Coach, BC kept it in the family by replacing Turner with Jack Bicknell Jr. Bick was the opposite of Turner in many ways and quickly won over the OLine. Bicknell will have to use some of those same people and coaching skills again as he is replacing Turner as an Offensive Line Coach with the Miami Dolphins.

Bick won't be doing it alone. He's technically the assistant OLine coach, but I assume he will do his part of changing the culture.

I don't know why Bicknell has bounced around the NFL since leaving BC, but based on the success he had replacing (and repairing a unit) after Turner once, I assume he can do it again.

My thoughts on all the BC names floated for the UMass job

No one is asking me, but since the media is leaking a whole bunch of guys with BC-ties to the UMass job, I thought I would weigh in on the opening. The most surprising to me is Blauds promoting Spaz for the job. He mentioned "sources" saying Spaz is interested. My guess on his source is Spaz himself. Spaz even thinking about the UMass job was shocking. Retirement must be miserable if he wants to get back into the coaching game in Amherst. But that doesn't really matter. UMass is not hiring him for a variety of reasons. His age and his record at BC are the biggest factors. But with Spaz a non-factor, who should UMass hire?

A competitive UMass team is good for BC. Added interest in college football in the region is a good thing. Better high school development is a good thing. And a respectable, yet consistently beatable opponent on BC's schedule is always a good thing. I want them to make a good hire. If only so we don't have to keep reading why college football cannot work in Massachusetts.

Mark Whipple and Don Brown are both being mentioned too. I don't know enough about the UMass politics and history to know if they would rehire one of their old coaches. Both seem relatively safe hires and have proven themselves away from UMass. Despite the stats, I would hate to lose Brown now as we would probably have to scrap his system and rebuild one side of the ball again. I don't know where Brown stands, but if he wanted to be the head coach at UMass, would he have ever left years ago?

I have yet to read Jags' name for the job. Once again, I don't know the politics, but doubt UMass would want someone BC fired. I think Jags could do well there. He's never led a true rebuilding project, but I think he could get enough talent out of the northeast and midwest to win in the MAC. I also think he'd build a decent staff (just like he did at BC).

Of all the names, Jack Bicknell Jr. makes the most sense. He had college head coaching experience. He has multiple ties to the region. He now has solid NFL experience to sell to recruits. I know he interviewed there years ago and didn't get the job. They probably should have hired him then and should hire him now. He's a safe hire, can handle the job and doesn't come with any of the baggage that some of the other candidates have.

Bill McGovern interviewed with UMass in the past. He lacks the head coaching experience, but is probably the best recruiter of this bunch. Because of his success as a recruiter, he would probably leave UMass in a better place. However, I doubt he'll get serious interest this time around.

The most intriguing name associated with the search so far is John DeFilippo. To UMass fans he's just a young up and coming coach. To BC fans he'll always be the son of Coach Flip. I've heard that John is a good coach. But I will also never get past all the stuff I also heard about the two Flips assessing and gossiping about the different coaches and position coaches that BC interviewed over the years. It's all second hand information (and probably unfair of me) but I would never want him anywhere near the BC job. UMass can have him.

The courtship of Alex Murphy and other links

When Erik Murphy never really considered BC, many took it as a sign that Skinner wasn't willing to go the extra mile for local (and a legacy) recruit. Steve Donahue is not going to make the same mistake. He was the first Coach to call prized recruit Alex Murphy on June 15 (the first day coaches are allowed to reach out). In addition to Donahue's aggressiveness, I think BC has a couple other factors that should lead Alex to BC. We have a favorable roster that could ensure early playing time and a scheme that plays to his strengths. I also think Erik's struggles in Florida show that the grass is not always greener at the "bigger" program.

I understand that lists are great for offseason filler and not much thought goes into them, but how can Reggie Jackson be the 20th most important player in the ACC? Honestly, if Donahue is really going to build the offense around him, then he should be ranked well ahead of Trapani.

Here is an update that includes a few BC names from the past now coaching in the NFL.

Bicknell honors his father and other links

Bob Bicknell is now coaching with Buffalo and credits his father for most of his success. I hope the Bicknell's patch things up with BC, because it was nice have Jack SR back around when Jack JR was on Jags' staff.

I didn't note this early in the week, but BC announced the newest members of our Hall of Fame. Congrats to all those who were honored.

HD considers Kuechly the 14th most important player in the ACC. Rivals considers him the 78th most important in their 100.

Jamie Silva is hosting his football camp next week in Rhode Island.

Ryan Glasper is trying to catch on with Connecticut's UFL team.

One of Phil Steele's formulas has us going 11-1 this season.

Coughlin on Bicknell and other links

In a statement regarding the Bicknell hire, Tom Coughlin reflected on Bick JR as a player. He also followed Bick's work at BC...but someone needs to tell TC we didn't win 10 games this year.

Yet another Raji link. And another.

Because it is the end of the week and I don't give them enough credit, be sure to check out BC Interruption and BC All Access.

Bicknell gone

Jack Bicknell Jr. is leaving BC. Reportedly he will work for old friend Tom Coughlin. I am happy that he found a soft landing and sad to see him go. Like his namesake, Bick was liked and respected by all. Blaudschun, who has been pro-BC, pro-Spaz throughout this entire affair posted what has been floating around in the gossip and on the message boards:

DeFilippo sweetened the pot by offering an "assistant head coach title'' with the job and a boost in pay as well as an understanding that somewhere down the road was a strong potential to be the head coach at the Heights.

Another unfortunate aspect of all this is that Bick, Logan and Spaz were all under that impression that they were next in line. Hopefully Bicknell will be back one day under better circumstances. It was nice to see his dad around the program again. Loyalty and love of BC has been tossed around a lot lately. I don't think there is a family that has put more love and sweat into BC football than the Bicknells.

Spaz hopefully has a strong candidate lined up to replace Bicknell. A good offensive line coach can make a world of difference.

Interim issues

If the timeline Blaudschun sets is real (and all the gossip seems to confirm it) then Frank Spaziani is only a few days away from being named coach. There are hundreds of questions to ask, but the two big ones for me are:

1. Why no real efforts at a national search? Gene boasted of the stack of names interested in the job. BC should explore any and all decent candidates. Despite fears of losing recruits, there is no reason to rush this. Find the right guy and this recruiting class will not matter. There is no looming game. Spring practice is down the road. Get the right guy and everything will be fine in the long run. This is an opportunity. Rushing it would be a mistake.

2. What makes Spaziani a better candidate now than he was two years ago? He's been passed over once. There were reasons then. Do those reasons not hold true now? If the arguement for Spaz now is consistency and ability to hold the staff in place (which is no sure thing with any internal guy) and recruits in place (which is no sure thing) then go with the better internal choice of Jack Bicknell Jr. He might not be the best candidate out there, but in my opinion, he is a much better candidate now than Spaz.

I am hoping this Globe article is a trial ballon that pops.