Lessons for BC from the UVA win

Like Clemson in Football, UVA's basketball win is a reminder that BC is in the right conference and championship success is possible. You could argue that UVA's basketball history is superior to BC's (I would disagree) but they were a traditionally underachieving/middle of the pack ACC team when Bennett was hired. (Bennett was only hired one year before we hired Donahue.) We are not that far off. Here are some lessons from UVA.

Invest in facilities
Before they hired Bennett, UVA built a state of the art arena for basketball. BC doesn't need to duplicate John Paul Jones Arena's capacity, but could and should duplicate all the bells and whistles and of course practice venues and locker rooms.

Find the right coach who has the right system
Bennett's critics would argue he is all system (his dad's pack line D), but it has served him well at two Power 5 stops. His teams are always among the best defenses in college basketball. When things were at their best at BC -- Davis, Williams, Skinner -- we had a clear system in one of both ends of the court.  The benefit of having something, anything that you can turn to (2-3, flex, packline, havoc) is that you can plug in players year to year and you focus on executing instead of just trying to match your opponent possession to possession. If you are at a talent disadvantage a system can be an equalizer. With the right coach, superior talent and the right system, you can blow most of your opponents away.

You need good recruits, but not the best
This is a good summation of how both Virginia and Texas Tech did this without elite recruits. With one and dones on the way out, finding the right guys and developing them is going to become all that more important.

We've seen Clemson down. We've seen UVA down. Now both are on top. That should motivate and inspire BC fans and hopefully BC leadership.

KofiMania

HE. HAS. DONE IT!@TrueKofi HAS WON THE #WWEChampionship at #WrestleMania!!! pic.twitter.com/nrn2a8kSLm

— WWE (@WWE) April 8, 2019

I know plenty of you don't know or care about professional wrestling. That doesn't matter. What you need to know is that at the biggest wrestling event of the year -- Wrestlemania -- a BC guy -- Kofi Kingston -- won the WWE Championship.

Pro wrestling is not a real sport, but becoming champion is about hard work, charisma, athleticism, and getting people to believe in you. Kofi put in many years and represents himself, Boston College and the WWE with passion, integrity and humor. Congrats to him on reaching his goal. Ever to excel.

What to make of the Spring Game

BC held its annual Jay McGillis Spring Game Saturday. I think we all know we can't read much if anything into the game. Throw in the Offense vs Defense, injury holdouts, and no tackling format and the value becomes even more questionable. So it begs the question, why doesn't BC do more to turn it into a truly unique event? Here are just a few ideas:

Instead of playing in a nearly empty Alumni, why not move it into the Field House. Fans can feel closer. Recruits will see our best facility and it will feel more intimate. 

Allow select fans to call plays or be in the huddle or on a head set. 

Create fan experiences/contests for breaks in the action (field goal attempts, races, throwing into a hole, etc).

I understand this is a nice day for the fans and kids who do attend, but at what point does BC try to make it a bigger event? That's not going to happen with the current style of football or the unique game set up. It will have to be by making the game more desirable to fans and a clearly separate experience from the typical Alumni game. 

As for Saturday's actual game, the highlights are above.

Bowman's departure confirms Christian's lame duck status

After BC's season fizzled out, some speculated that Ky Bowman might return in an effort to improve his standing among NBA scouts. Obviously he felt that leaving now made the most sense. While some disagree with me, I think Bowman's departure seals Jim Christian's fate at BC.

The only good news for Christian is that BC's little depth is on the perimeter. Some combination of Tabbs and the incoming freshmen will be able to backfill Bowman's minutes and some of his productivity. What is unknown and in my opinion unlikely, is that any will command enough attention to change what the other team does. Bowman had some off nights, but every time he had the ball, he shifted what the other team would and could do defensively. That opened things up for others and when needed, Bowman could just keep the ball and get off a decent shot.

And yet even with someone as skilled and respected as Bowman, Christian couldn't piece together a winning season. How will he now with less experience and arguably less talent? Maybe Pop's D improves...maybe Tabbs takes a huge leap and stays healthy...maybe one of the new guys proves to be great. But here we are again hoping that everything breaks Christian's way in order for BC to have a competitive season. Hoping is not how you build an ACC program.

Ironically Bowman's saga at BC can be seen as an indictment against Jim Christian's ability to run an elite basketball program. Finding Bowman deep in the heart of ACC country is the type of skill a staff at BC needs. We need to find guys others overlook and turn them into stars. The diamonds in the rough concept was the foundation of Skinner's best days and was critical to some of BC's best teams in the '70s and early '80s. But finding those guys is only Step 1. A truly successful coach would find those types and then actual build a roster and a program around them. Christian has shown he is missing that skill.

Bowman officially gone

Last year when Ky Bowman entered the NBA Draft, he didn't hire an agent so that he could come back to BC for his junior year. This year, he left no wiggle room. He has an agent and will not play college basketball again.

I wish Bowman nothing but the best of luck. He has been one of the few bright spots in a frustrating decade of BC Basketball. It looks like the NBA remains a long shot, but maybe he will impress through his workout process. He will have professional options somewhere.

Time again to talk Bruce Pearl

Following an SEC Championship, Bruce Pearl is now leading Auburn on a deep NCAA Tournament run. Any time Pearl has success, there are plenty of BC fans who wonder "what could have been." I was one of those fans for a long time. While I still love watching Pearl, I know that BC was right to never really pursue him as a BC coach.

Regardless of what people say, the only real window to ever get Pearl was when Donahue was fired. All the other times, either BC had a successful coach in place or Pearl had a job that could pay more than BC. When Donahue's final season was falling apart a strong AD could have locked up Pearl and dealt with the internal politics of getting him hired. Clearly Brad Bates was not that AD. Maybe Gene could have pulled something like that off. Maybe Jarmond. But Bates clearly didn't have the foresight or understand the politics to get BC to sign off on Pearl. That was probably for the best.

Pearl's time at Auburn has been filled with basketball success but plenty of off the court issues. Two different assistants have been arrested for illegal bribes. Pearl didn't talk to or work with former Auburn AD Chris Myers. He also hasn't been afraid of using the media to fight for a raise or get his named mentioned for other openings.

I am for changing the system and suspicious of BC's purity, but had BC hired Pearl we would be dealing with a whole host of problems and embarrassments. I want change and success, but Pearl was never going to do things in an acceptable way for BC.

Hockey season comes to an end

Hockey is usually the high point of any BC sports year. However, this Men's season was one to forget. The team struggled early, had a few runs, but more than anything kept tripping over themselves and coming out flat against beatable opponents. Things finally seemed to come together in the Hockey East Tournament. BC made it to the finals and nearly stole an NCAA Tournament bid, but ultimately came up short losing 3-2 to Northeastern. 

This is the end of the line for this crew. There is still plenty of talent returning. Now we just have to see if this year's problems were a blip or a sign of things to come. 

Hockey East won't punish BC for racial issue

Like many of you, I am just hearing about this racial issue during the BC-Providence game this weekend. Hockey East announced they won't discipline anyone because they don't know who from BC made the remark to Providence's Vimal Sukumaran. There are no official reports on what was said and no one from BC has owned up to the remarks. The game officials did say they heard the remarks but weren't sure who said them.

I don't know what was said, so it is hard for me to react. Anything racial is unacceptable and should result in punishment. I understand why BC would want this to go away. I wish they would help determine who said what so this could be resolved in a productive way. Right now it will just serve as another distraction with recruiting and the media and an unfortunate note on an unfortunate season.

BC keeps wasting everyone's time: Jim Christian returning for 6th year

There will be no official statement. No vote of confidence. No explanation. Maybe there will be a friendly article Wednesday or Thursday, but BC is bringing back Jim Christian for another year. This is the BC way now. We just waste our players', fans' and even coaches' time. Because barring some sort of miracle, we will be having the same discussion a year from now about Jim Christian. His record at BC is 62-100 (18-72 in ACC games) and he is very likely losing Ky Bowman from a team that just went 5-13 in ACC play. Maybe the freshmen really over perform. Maybe he tightens things up schematically. Maybe there are enough shakeups with the ACC middle class to unlock a spot for BC to elevate just a bit. That's a lot of maybes. The odds are the guy who has been a Power 5 coach nine years and only finished above .500 two of those seasons will probably be below .500 again.

In their leaks, BC was sure to slip in that the school is dedicated to building up the resource for basketball. That's not news. They've been actively raising money for basketball for a while now and will make announcements on what the enhancements are once they reach a gift threshold. But I don't believe better facilities is ever going to make a difference with this staff. We've seen enough missteps and poor efforts to know that this isn't just about a basketball practice facility.

Martin Jarmond is out there talking to the people. I am sure he will hear complaints and have established talking points (injuries, taking time to build, etc.) but I think he is going to face a lot of cynical donors and fans. And a year from now we will be talking about a rebuild with someone else that could have started this spring.

Christian rumor dump

If is Friday night and Jim Christian is still the Men's Basketball coach at BC. As I've been saying, the longer this goes on without any news means Christian is staying. I don't know what will happen, but here is a sample of things I've heard. None of this is verified by anyone in the BC Athletic Department. (I try to get official answers from BC whenever I think they will provide one. I know they won't say anything during a coaching change.) Some of these items even contradict each other, but that is how it is when dealing with this sort of chatter.

-- The assistants have been fired
-- BC was preparing a buyout payout for Christian on Wednesday
-- The assistants have thought this was coming for a while and have been looking for new jobs
-- Jarmond really likes/liked Christian and was openly defending him and this season to donors as recently as Christmas time
-- Jarmond looked frustrated on Senior Day as did Father Leahy
-- The basketball alumni do not care for Christian
-- There are fundraising efforts going on for improved basketball facilities
-- If there is a change, BC will look to traditional BC and BC-type names
-- The extension makes Christian safe
-- The extension is not punitive to BC
-- Christian is well liked among some of the bigger basketball donors

I know BC doesn't have to say anything if he is staying but the recruits might need to know and the fans are going to want some sort of explanation.

And now we wait

Frustration and speculation at the end of the football season nearly reached a breaking point. In three weeks we went from Game Day back to seven wins. The media kicked the hot seat talk into overdrive and Addazio people (apologists, agents, and friendly media) talked about his lack of a contract. And no news came from BC for days. When they finally got around to the extension, people joked that it read like a hostage letter. But even with all the talk, there was still a reasonable argument for not firing Addazio (recruiting, winning seasons, etc). There are no justifiable reasons for keeping Jim Christian.

But we don't know if Jarmond will make a move. As I tweeted, the people closer to BC think Christian is safe while the people more removed -- fans, media, agents -- think he is gone. What we have learned from Addazio is that the longer there is no news, the more likely Christian is coming back.

Since Gene left, BC is pretty tight lipped about these things. Don't trust leaks or gossip. I will share what I hear, but even then be skeptical. Also remember the Donahue twist, where he was telling people he was coming back only to be fired the next day. When a head coach is not getting a straight message, than no one is.

I have made it clear that I want to start anew. I hope Jarmond agrees and has a plan to get BC basketball back on track.

What to make of Mike Rhoades?

I think we've all been through enough coaching changes to know how this game works. At times the school floats names to see if the fan base is receptive. BC did that under Gene but doesn't anymore. Other times the media speculates and sometimes agents and people close to a guy float a name. That's how I first heard of Mike Rhoades as a potential Jim Christian replacement.

Rhoades is the current VCU head coach. VCU used to be seen as a great proving ground for coaches. Yet Shaka Smart is on the hot seat in Texas and Will Wade is in the middle of an FBI sting, so the VCU stamp of approval means a bit less. However, Rhoades seems very different from both of those guys. He was a D3 head coach for many years and then turned things around at Rice. Unlike Wade, he's not known for being an ace recruiter. Instead he is considered more of a scheme guy and developer of players. And unlike Smart, it seems he adapts his games and system to his roster and is not so dependent on press, press and more press.

I don't know anything substantial about Rhoades. I do prefer his profile to Christian's, in that he doesn't come to BC with a failed stop on his resume. He's had natural progression and is very experienced and still relatively young. If we are going to take a risk on someone, he seems to have a decent upside.

As to why his name is being floated? Maybe his season has been such a success and surprise, he is trying to leverage it now. Maybe Wade left a mess at VCU too and he is expecting issues. Who knows? But if anything, Rhoades is a reminder that there are plenty of guys out there that BC can and should talk to if we make a change.

The debate on Jim Christian seems to be losing steam

Two weeks ago there were plenty of vocal defenders of Jim Christian. After Saturday's loss to NC State, there are fewer BC folks advocating for him to return. Perhaps it is the current losing streak. Or maybe people are frustrated with the lack of energy and hustle on a Senior Day. Twitter isn't always the best focus group, but the casual fan has shown their lack of interest in Christian's product by not going to games. Yet none of it really matters. There are only two BC folks with any real power on this process. They are Martin Jarmond and Father Leahy.

After the NC State game, i was on twitter saying this is now Jarmond's call. From all I have heard, he has the autonomy to make the final decision. Plenty of others say he doesn't and it is Father Leahy's decision. I guess we will soon find out what they think of Christian and if they also have a plan to return BC Basketball to respectability.

Former BC assistant Preston Murphy caught in ties to bribery scheme and why it matters

Creighton put Preston Murphy -- who worked as an assistant under Skinner and Jim Christian -- on administrative leave while they investigate his ties to the College Basketball-FBI saga. There are no known reports of Murphy breaking any laws or NCAA rules while he worked at BC. But this is still important to BC and BC Basketball.

One thing this FBI investigation has proven is that paying players is rampant in college basketball. I don't know if BC is doing it or has done it, but plenty of P5 schools have been caught red-handed. If BC is not cheating, than we are playing with one hand tied behind our back while the big boys buy the best players. If we are cheating, then this is all that more pathetic, because we are not getting good ROI on any pay for play. But this system is clearly corrupt and clearly broken and the Murphy news should be a reminder to BC that our only move is to lead for NCAA change. While I am for paying players, I believe BC's leadership is not. Either way, BC should take a stand and lead to real reform...whether it be legal payments or true amateurism that is strictly enforced and violators are punished. Until then guys like Murphy will keep getting caught in the middle.

Don't be afraid of mid-major coaches

The last two basketball hires have not been successful. (Depending on your perspective, you could say even worse about them.) Because we're a bit snake bitten, you see some fans wanting to avoid the same mistakes that got us here. Many are hoping BC avoids an up and coming name from a smaller program (mid major) and instead hires a more established, proven coach. While I don't mind spending on a more established name, I don't think BC should avoid mid-major coaches. Outside of Cousy and Chuck Daly, nearly all our successful coaches came from what would now be considered a mid-major program. Take a look:

Al Skinner -- Rhode Island

Jim O'Brien -- St. Bonaventure

Gary Williams -- American

Tom Davis -- Lafeyette

 

The primary challenge Donahue and Christian had in making the jump from mid-major to BC was recruiting and talent. Donahue looked for certain specific traits and guys who were under the radar. In the end, that plan didn't work for him. Christian went after more traditional p5 talent. His problem was not finding enough of it to compete. If we go the mid-major path again, the coach just needs to have a plan for finding talent and maximizing it against some of the best players in the country.

Ironically, what I like about hiring a mid-major guy is that in theory, he has coached enough games to know how to manage and scheme at an elite level. Yet I would say the Xs and Os have been disappointing for both our past coaches (Donahue could never develop a D and Christian screwed up many late game situations). 

In the end, if we don't follow the mid-major path, we limit our pool to big names and assistant. At this point I don't want to rule anyone out.

Would the Big Ten consider Martin Jarmond for Commissioner?

Jim Delany, the Big Ten's Commissioner for the last 30 years, announced he will step down in 2020. In the meantime, a search will start for a new commissioner. While the college football world speculates what Delany's retirement will mean for playoffs or a P5 breakaway, the impact to BC might be more immediate, as I think Martin Jarmond will be considered a candidate to succeed Delany.

While the role of commissioner has changed under Delany, in the end these positions are highly political. A candidate is going to need the support of all the Big Ten members, but Ohio State will have strong influence. With his background with two Big Ten schools and relationships in the league, I could see some pushing for him. Beyond being a candidate that multiple schools could get behind, I think Jarmond would also serve well as the face of the league. If Delany was seen as dictatorial, cold and stubborn, Jarmond would come off as engaging, young and open to new ideas.

His age and the potential for perceived bias towards Ohio State might make Jarmond a non-starter, but I could see how his rising profile coincides with the perfect opening.

Some good recruiting news

Since I have a feeling we will be discussing basketball a lot of the next three weeks, I wanted to ignore the Georgia Tech loss (for now) and focus on the good news -- Addazio's recruiting. He just picked up a verbal from New Jersey LB Korey Smith. Rivals ranks Smith as a 4 star. 247 has him as a 3 star. He has offers from UNC, Pitt, Purdue, Rutgers, Syracuse and Vanderbilt. He was injured for much of his last football season, which had some of the bigger schools holding off. If he is healthy this fall, I expect even more big names will swoop in.

As for now Smith seems like another very solid piece. He said on the right things about academics and keeps up our presence in New Jersey. Welcome aboard and congrats to the staff for pulling in another recruit with plenty of good options.

Ryan Anderson weighs in basketball debate

The twitter debate about BC basketball marches on but new perspective joined the dialogue. Former BC star Ryan Anderson started tweeting to the thread with his opinions. The former player, who also played at Arizona, thinks it all starts with financial commitment. He mentioned facilities, travel and budget. BC has addressed some of these issues since Anderson left, but still has more to accomplish. I agree with him and think we should make an investment in basketball that shows our commitment. But I don't think spending money is the only answer. I still think you need the right coach too. Here are Anderson's tweets.

Coaching isn’t and never has been the problem

— Ryan Anderson (@M12terAnderson) March 2, 2019

Keep JC. Hire Dudley in some assistant role. His knowledge of the game is elite and would be huge for the program. Increase facilities to ACC levels. Recruits care about facilities and game atmosphere more than anything...

— Ryan Anderson (@M12terAnderson) March 2, 2019

Can’t compare those guys to this generation. Different era of sports. Recruit from northeast area walks into the BC locker room, attends a game, tours the facilities, and y’all really expect him to commit over Cuse, Nova, etc? Unfortunately kids signing bc of those reasons mainly

— Ryan Anderson (@M12terAnderson) March 2, 2019

Commit to the program. Fund the program. Change the culture from top to bottom. BC is a beautiful school filled with great ppl (reason I came) but realized when coming to AZ how much can be better at BC but it takes money, effort, and fan support BEFORE the team is good

— Ryan Anderson (@M12terAnderson) March 2, 2019

There’s tons of examples I could point to but bottom line is simple yet hard. Make the players choose BC. When the facilities, game atmosphere, traveling, and everything that goes into being a student athlete matches the other acc schools and we don’t win then it’s the coach...

— Ryan Anderson (@M12terAnderson) March 2, 2019

Until then you’re giving the coaches knives to a gun fight in these recruiting battles for players and it ain’t fair.

— Ryan Anderson (@M12terAnderson) March 2, 2019

Just sharing some revenue and endowment numbers

As the debate rages on about BC's commitment to men's basketball (and sports in general), I wanted to refresh people's knowledge of where we stand on two key figures: endowment and sports revenue.

(I am focusing on Catholic colleges, since it is one of our unique selling points and many Catholic schools have proven they can sustain winning, national basketball programs.)

Endowments

• Notre Dame -- $9.45 billion
• Boston College -- $2.31 billion
• Georgetown -- $1.66 billion
• Saint Louis -- $1.14 billion
• Holy Cross -- $1.01 billion
• Fordham -- $779 million
• Loyola-Chicago -- $750 million
• Villanova -- $711 million
• Marquette -- $668 million
• Depaul -- $595 million
• Loyola-Marymount -- $450 million
• Gonzaga -- $275 million
• Seton Hall -- $242 million
• Providence -- $213 million

Conference Revenue annual payouts

• ACC -- $26.9 million
• Big East -- $2.86 million
• West Coast Conference -- $1.8 million

How ditching one and done helps BC Basketball

The NBA seems ready to rescind its one and done rule. That is good news for BC.

Since the NBA creatied the one and done, BC hasn't enrolled a single one and done recruit. We've never even been in serious consideration for any one and done recruits. Whether it is admission's expectations, coach's philosophies or recruits' perspectives on BC, it hasn't happened and seems unlikely to happen in the near future. Unfortunately many of our conference rivals have had success with one and dones (Duke primarily). That puts us at a disadvantage in those critical conference games.

The very best players are relatively easy to identify (bigger, stronger, faster, etc.). With those four or five best guys not coming to college, the talent disparity between that next level of recruit (call them Tier 2) and Tier 3 (the guys BC usually gets) is not as wide. This empowers programs who can develop and scheme to success.

But we don't need to just project what might happen. We have evidence. From the 1995 Draft Class with Kevin Garnett to the 2006 Draft Class (the first with one and dones), BC had some of its most successful years. Just look:

BC between (95-96 season and 05-06 season)
-- Seven NCAA Tournament appearances
--  Two Conference Tournament Championships
-- Two Conference Regular Season Championships
-- Eight winning seasons
-- 99 conference wins, 85 conferences losses

Watching the best players skip college for high school doesn't mean BC will instantly start winning again. But it does shift things enough, that a coach who has good schemes and good development can thrive. Is Jim Christian that guy? That argument is for a different post.

Tabbs narrative featured prominently in win over Louisville

BC won a solid home game against Louisville Wednesday night. There was a lot to like (improved play in 2nd half, good Pop post moves, etc) yet the most interesting part of the broadcast might have been the extended discussion of Wynston Tabbs. I mention it because these talking points come from the announce team's interaction with BC coaches and Sports Information. It feels like BC has an excuse ready for this disappointing season and will clearly be emphasizing that if the team finishes strong.

Would this team have been better had Tabbs been healthy? Clearly. He is an ACC level player, would have taken some of the pressure off of Bowman and improved our D. Heck he still might give us a boost. No one is promising if or when he will return, but if he is back by the ACC Tourney, BC might pull off some upsets.

However, I don't know if Tabbs' injury excuses the play this season. Tabbs played in the loss to IUPUI. He played in the loss to Hartford.

I don't know where Jarmond is on Christian. When you read hot seat talk from plugged in guys, I do give it some weight. I wish our challenges were as simple as one player's health. But we all know the issues -- effort, late game management and overall depth. It will take a lot more than one win over Louisville to convince me that this program is one player away. 

What other ACC schools might make basketball changes this year?

This is the third part of a series to look at the future of BC Basketball.

Timing is probably the most under appreciated aspect of making a coaching change. There are years when everyone fires their coach and only a few A listers flip, leaving the bridesmaids to go to their C - List. Other times no one fires their coach leaving the few schools that do selecting a better coach than they ever could have expected. It doesn't seem like a bunch of top basketball jobs will open this offseason. But closer to home the ACC could see some change. And if schools make a change, how will that affect BC's potential search?

Miami -- Jim Larranaga era of Miami basketball has been one of their better stretches. He has one conference title and four NCAA Tournament appearances. However, he's about to turn 70, the 'Canes are having a rough season and Miami is tied to the most recent NCAA pay for play scandal. I could see Larranage stepping down this year. If Miami does make a change, I could see them looking at the same type of candidates BC would approach. They have some of the same issue (budget, fan support). The unknown in their change is if looming NCAA problems scares coaching candidates away.

Clemson -- Can you believe Brad Brownell has been at Clemson nine seasons? I know he has beaten BC plenty of times (including this weekend), but overall this decade of Clemson basketball has been almost as forgettable as BC's -- two NCAA appearances and a losing conference record. The success of the Clemson football team makes this job much more enticing than when Brownell took it a decade ago. The school has more money and more name recognition. If Clemson decided to go all out, they could probably land an elite coaching. 

Wake Forest -- Danny Manning has been bad at Wake (yet even he got Wake to the tournament once). He's angered donors, fans, AAU coaches and transfers. Wake would love to fire him. The only thing stopping them is his buyout. But if Wake doesn't end the season strong, I think Wake will make a change. If they make a change, I think they would be looking at some of the same names as BC and Miami. I think their job is a little more desirable than BC or Miami's due to fan support and proximity to the other North Carolina schools. 

Syracuse -- Even before his tragic car accident this weekend, you have to view every Jim Boeheim season as potentially his last. The man is 74 years old. He decided to extend his career to coach his son, but things like the accident might lead him to reevaluate. If he does retire, I just assume Mike Hopkins would take over. In a way that is a loss, since BC could have and probably should have hired Hopkins five years ago. 

Thoughts on Spring Football press conference

Steve Addazio held a press conference Wednesday to kick off Spring Football. There were a few news worthy tidbits from him and his two coordinators, plus a few things you could read into what they each said. Here are a few of my thoughts...

Addazio is pretty confident
Considering how many players departed and a change in coordinators, Addazio seems pretty confident. The guy wears his emotions on his sleeve so I don't think he is bluffing or puffing up the outlook for recruiting purposes. Maybe he thinks with a healthy Brown, Dillon and the Tight Ends, we will be that much better on offense.

Bajakian and Addazio had no prior relationship
Bajakian's candor was refreshing. Not only did he not know Addazio, he didn't know any of the current offensive staffers. In the past, Addazio has clearly put a priority on guys who he knew and worked with at prior jobs. And even when he didn't seem to have a prior working relationship (Reid), there were clearly multiple connections and a clear shared history. That's not the case with Bajakian. I think that's a good thing. This is a critical position and an important year. Had Addazio limited his search to just guys he knew and coaches who are in his direct network, it would have been limiting (see our season with Fitch as OC). The risk is that Addazio and Bajakian don't work well together and never get on the same page. I am willing to take that risk.

The Bill Sheridan promotion seems safe but uninspiring
Addazio clarified how his defensive staff will work. It had been rumored that Reid would retire and Campanile would take over as the sole DC. Clearly that didn't happen as Camp went to Michigan, Reid stayed but in a lessor role and Addazio promoted Sheridan to DC. This will provide a certain amount of continuity. I will break down Sheridan's history as a coordinator later this spring. However, for a guy whose reputation is for X and Os and not necessarily connecting with players, the press interaction didn't change that perception. With Reid still around as the old guy the players like, perhaps Sheridan can just focus on schemes. Sheridan also explained it would still be very collaborative.

BC falls apart in OT vs NC State

I hate holding up one game as an example of a whole season or whole era, but BC's loss to NC State Wednesday night was a pretty good example of BC's basketball this year and under Christian. Down 14 in the second half and with Chapman out, the team rallied to take the lead. Then some back and forth with a mix of hustle plays and bonehead mistakes. BC had a chance to win in regulation but a curious iso shot by Bowman (no drive?) missed and we went to OT...and OT was awful.

BC couldn't rebound in OT and nothing fell. The final score doesn't even capture how far apart the teams were in those five minutes. NC State had new life and BC was lifeless. The lesson is don't let a good team hang around at home. BC had a chance to put them away in regulation and didn't. 

Now the rollercoaster moves onto Clemson. 

BC wins on night to honor Curley

The best part of BC Basketball's Sunday wasn't a much needed win. Instead it was seeing the school honor Bill Curley. The 90s star saw a banner hung to the Conte rafters and many of his old teammates to be part of the celebration. On the court BC handled Miami for the most part, although it was a sloppy and ugly game.

Miami was very physical, yet the refs weren't blowing whistles constantly. Instead it lead to uneven and chaotic play. Bowman was recovering from the flu and missed lots of shots. Pop, Mitchell and Chapman filled the void.

RIP Jefferson Crowther

There are many people who aren't BC athletes or coaches, but who are adjacent to BC in some way who become part of the fabric of Boston College. Jefferson Crowther was one of those people. The father of Welles Crowther, Jefferson had become a fixture of the annual Red Bandanna game and a key voice in telling Welles' story. He passed away Wednesday.

Like his son, Jefferson's impact will be felt at BC for years to come.

Winning basketball games is good

Because I came out earlier this year as a Fire Jim Christian guy doesn't mean I want to see BC lose. The win over Pitt was nice, especially given the short bench and fluky injuries again. Hell, if BC goes on some sort of run I might even admit I was wrong. However, I don't think they will win enough games to justify another year of Christian. But for now congrats to all on beating Pitt.

Is it finally time to hire Ed Cooley?

This is the second part of a series to look at the future of BC Basketball.

BC has hired basketball coaches twice since firing Al Skinner. Both times BC could have hired Cooley. (He interviewed during the Donahue process. He supposedly withdrew his name before any interview when BC fired Donahue.) While BC struggles to recruit and win consistently, Cooley has had the best stretch at Providence since the late '80s/early '90s. Cooley is a proven head coach, has strong BC ties and New England ties and can recruit. He would seem to be a no-brainer. Yet there are plenty of BC fans who really dislike the idea of Cooley coming back to BC.

The problem with Cooley is two-fold. One he is closely associated with Skinner. That should be a good thing, but others see it as holding onto the past and trying to recreate something that is long gone. The other is the idea is that Cooley is just a recruiter and nothing more. His Providence teams are always talented but lose games they shouldn't and rarely make postseason runs.

Cooley has also made very public statements about never wanting to leave Providence and Providence being home, but I think we could still get him to come to BC. It would be expensive, but making the jump to the ACC at a place where he is known would be hard to turn down (this assumes, BC doesn't nickle and dime him on salary, staff and expenses).

While I do see Cooley's upside as limited, I would gladly welcome him back. I don't think he would win national championships at BC, but I do think he would have us in the NCAA Tournament every year. Considering where we are now, that sort of winning would be welcome.

Addazio lands Mass star OLineman

The consensus best player in the state and one of the best lineman in the country committed to Addazio Tuesday. Kevin Pyne is huge and rated highly by everyone. Given BC and Addazio's track record, he should develop into an elite OLineman. But aside from what he can do on the field, Pyne confirms that Addazio's pitch still works and that the potential lame duck status is not hurting recruiting.

Now that Addazio's passed that test, the next hurdle will be how he recruits New Jersey. With Campanile laying the ground work, Addazio picked up lots of New Jersey talent. Let's hope he can do it without his recruiting ace teeing things up.

Don't overreact to the York extension

BC announced an extension for Jerry York Tuesday. Of course reactions varied. Some loved the idea. Some hated, but most -- like me -- didn't understand the urgency. In the end, I am not going to take Jarmond to task for extended a BC legend. The Men's program is in a slump, but York has more than earned the right to fix things and leave when he wants. Perhaps the extension will help give elite recruits a little more comfort that they will actually play for York vs his eventual replacement.

Does Thad Matta's baggage make him a better or worse fit for BC?

This is the start of a series to look at the future of BC Basketball.

BC Basketball has a long history of great coaches...Chuck Daley, Tom Davis, Gary Williams and Al Skinner. But other than Bob Cousy, none of the BC greats arrived at The Heights as an established A List name in College Basketball. Now as BC looks to fix its Men's Basketball program, there is an A List candidate floating out there who happens to have a prior working relationship with our Athletic Director. That guy is former Ohio State Coach Thad Matta. But Matta is not a typical elite coach waiting to jump back into the Rat Race. In fact, there are so many issues surrounding Matta, that some wonder if he will ever coach again. Because of Matta's unique circumstances, I don't know if he is realistic for BC, a disaster waiting to happen or just the right guy at the right time.

What you might not know
Matta's decline at Ohio State wasn't your typical guy loses touch with age, can't coach, can't recruit stuff, you often find when a long-time winner is fired. He is only 51 and won more than 20 games in 12 of his 13 years in Columbus. Matta's struggles late were primarily due to his health. About a decade ago, he had a failed back surgery that left him with a permanent limp and made sitting, standing and the grind of traveling painful. Although he was fired from Ohio State, it was painted by some in the media as a relief to him.

Last year he had the Georgia job. They made an offer and he supposedly accepted (there was even pictures of him at the Athens airport after the interview in all sorts of UGA gear). But before the contract was signed and announced, he turned Georgia down. The narrative was that he and his family had a change of heart.

This doesn't sound like a guy who wants to get back into coaching. And more recent articles all paint him as happier and healthier than he's ever been.

But the idea that he keeps interviewing for jobs, leads me to believe he hasn't closed the door on coaching forever.

The Jarmond question
Matta moved away from Columbus after he was fired. And supposedly has hard feelings how his final days played out. Clearly there is acrimony with Ohio State AD Gene Smith. But how does he feel about Martin Jarmond? Would his prior working relationship with Jarmond make him and his family feel more comfortable at BC than they would working for a different AD?

Also, would Jarmond even want to hire Matta. His mentor clearly felt Matta wasn't not capable of coaching Ohio State. Jarmond would know nearly everything Smith knows about Matta. Would he draw completely different conclusions than his old boss?

Would it even work?
Matta can coach. He's recruited elite players. He worked at a Catholic school prior to Ohio State. His list of former assistants is beyond impressive and shows he knows how to build a staff. BC could provide access to an elite conference without the immediate pressure cooker that might come from taking a different P5 job. He has never had a losing season as a head coach. As Coach K, Boehiem, and Williams near retirement, he would quickly become one of the most accomplished guys in the conference. There are so many reasons to make this move and spend more money than BC has ever spent on basketball. But...would it even work? If Matta is going to turn BC around, he would need drive, passion and energy. That is not a BC issue. That is a elite basketball issue. If Matta's heart is not in it, this will be a bad experience for both sides.

I don't expect Matta to be BC's coach next year. But Martin Jarmond owes it to BC and himself to at least reach out to Matta and see if he is ready to coach again and if coaching at BC makes more sense to him than the other jobs he's considered.

What matters: Loss to Cuse, Bowman benching or hot seat talk?

Basketball lost another ho-hum game to Syracuse. BC hung for a while, got in a big hole, cut the deficit but never really threatened. We've seen it before. We've seen it against Syracuse. The D was inconsistent and no one really exploded other than Bowman. Which is connected to...

Christian announced before the game that Bowman would not start due to undisclosed violation of team rules. I don't know what Bowman did. I don't know if the punishment worked. I do know that this sort of tactic has not been used much by Christian. So why now and why Bowman? This comes off as ineffective at best and desperate at worst. I hope it was worth it, but when the team keeps losing, we don't know.

When and how this ends is going to become the most consistent storyline of the next month. Pete Thamel grouped Christian in his coaches hot seat column. He didn't speculate on replacements or a number of wins that would save JC. It seems like the biggest issue is that BC needs to shake its basketball malaise. Thamel is pretty plugged in at BC, so I think this is probably not a great indicator of Christian's future. But the speculation is more interesting than anything happening on the court. 

Two looks at BC talent

Tuesday the final official signing day happened but it wasn't big news for BC. They added one New Jersey lineman. That left BC as the 12th ACC team in Rivals and in 247. But that system has proven meaningless as BC is always 12th or 13th or 14th in the ACC and still finish 7-6. We are not blowing doors off. But the higher ranked ACC recruiting classes aren't either (hello Miami, Florida State and Virginia Tech). Did those teams feel that much more talented than BC? Do they ever? Other than Clemson, there is rarely an ACC team we face where I feel like they have an overwhelming talent advantage.

If you are looking for validation that BC has a better feel for their talent needs and development, how about looking at the Combine invites.

Schools representing the most players invited to the 2019 NFL Combine:

(11) Alabama, Clemson
(10) Ohio State
(9) Georgia, Ole Miss, Washington
(8) Florida, Kentucky, Miss St., Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Wisconsin
(7) Boston College, Penn St., Stanford

— NFL Draft (@NFLDraft) February 7, 2019

2019 NFL Combine invites per school:

Clemson 11
Alabama 11
Ohio State 10
UGA 9
Ole Miss 9
Wash 8
Florida 8
Kentucky 8 👀
Oklahoma 8
Miss State 8
ND 8
TAMU 8
Wisc 8
Boston College 7 👀
Penn State 7

— Jared Tokarz (@NFLDraftInsider) February 7, 2019

This also doesn't account for other guys who have a good chance of getting drafted even without the Combine (Jeff Smith). BC is finding and developing talent. I do believe that talent wins. I do believe in bigger stronger faster. But these recruiting systems are flawed and not a perfect predictor of anything. I don't trust Addazio with a clock, but I do trust him looking at high school kids and projecting what they can become.

Addazio is also good at managing the roster and is working 5th years right now too. BC's roster will be better than most in the ACC, not the 12th or 14th best.

However, there in lies the problem. BC has all these Combine level players, yet can't win at an elite level. That's on Addazio too. He's a great recruiter and a pretty good developer, but he's not a great coach. At seven years, I don't think that is going to change either.

No Christian pile-on after loss to Duke

I find it interesting that our fanbase reacted differently to Tuesday's loss to Duke vs Saturday's loss to Notre Dame. I don't know if people are checked out or just expect to lose to the stacked Dukies. Here is a tweet from SI's Chris Mannix (a BC guy) after Notre Dame that was echoed around BC sites.

About done with BC basketball. This year will mark ten years since its last NCAA tournament appearance. For a team that was a staple in the tourney in the early 2000's and made some nice runs in the 90's, this has become embarrassing. https://t.co/1jKf8yMosV

— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) February 2, 2019

But you would hardly find anything that negative or critical after the Duke game, even though BC got killed in the second half.

My frustration is that the improved effort of the first half wasn't carried into the second half against Duke. And while I am aware of the talent differences, beyond some good moments of zone in the first half, there was never a feeling that we had any real plan to slow the Duke wave in the second half.

There is a month of basketball left and Christian's seat is toasty. My position is clear, but I have no idea what Jarmond thinks. Maybe the angry mob is no longer angry and instead checked out. But in the big picture is that might be worse for BC sports.

BC gets much needed win in Beanpot opener

The good guys beat Harvard Monday night 2-1 to earn a trip to the Beanpot Final next Monday. With all that has happened this year, the Beanpot would be a nice boost and way to build momentum. BC hasn't been in a Beanpot Final since 2016. The guys take on UMass-Lowell before heading back to the Garden next week.

Congrats to Brian Flores

As noted by a few tweets during the game, Brian Flores put together and called one of the greatest Super Bowl schemes of all time while barely getting acknowledged during the game. It was a great end to his New England career. He is now set to become the next Head Coach of the Miami Dolphins. Even while at BC Flores was underappreciated. Miami is lucky to have him and BC should be proud of what he's accomplished, represented and what his future holds.

Could BC be back in the mix for Kamara?

No one said recruiting is easy...for anyone. Take the case of New Jersey LB Mohammad Kamara. He committed to Temple. The coach he committed to left, so he opened things up and was close to coming to BC. Temple hired Manny Diaz, so he stayed with Temple. Miami hired Diaz away from Temple and left Kamara high and dry. Now he is signed to Temple and Rob Carey...a coach he had no relationship with. Fortunately Temple is going to release him from his LOI and ask for a waiver for him with the NCAA. This should make him available to any school, including BC.

I don't know if he will come back to the Eagles though. I think BC has the space and the need, but our main New Jersey guy -- Anthony Campanile -- is now on a different coaching staff. Kamara should be officially allowed to commit elsewhere in a week. Let's hope BC and he didn't burn any bridges.

BC comes up short vs Syracuse

What can you say? To win, we need everything to go our way and it didn't against Syracuse. Bowman and Chatman got their points, but weren't particularly efficient in doing so and no one else really filled the other voids. This is all tougher with Tabbs' lingering injury too. 

The frustration really comes in on two fronts. BC played bad D for long stretches, couldn't get good rebounds late and didn't capitalize when Syracuse cooled off a bit. 

The little streak is over. Now let's hope they regroup.

Feedback on BC guys after Senior Bowl

Four of BC's highest profile players were at the Senior Bowl last weekend. Overall they seemed to make a good impression, but it wasn't universal. Here are some article and potential teams of interest.

Will Harris played and practiced well and supposedly is moving up the Colts Draft Board.

Christ Lindstrom got rave reviews from practice and the game. The Giants are supposedly interested. The Jaguars also gave him a long look.

Zach Allen entered with plenty of hype but came out a mixed bag. This article thinks the week hurt him. The Raiders are still interested but even their write up says his actual Senior Bowl game wasn't great. 

Bowman saves best for last in win over Wake

KY BOWMAN FOR THE LEAD

HOW DID HE DO THIS?@BCMBB | @ACCMBB pic.twitter.com/Fwuk13bVrh

— FOX Sports South (@FOXSportsSouth) January 26, 2019

For all the issues I've raised with Christian, sometimes coaching is as simple as have the better players. That is sort of how the Wake game played out. BC trailed for stretches of the second half, but in the closing minutes our best players made plays and their didn't. Bowman's dagger set the tone, but Pop and Mitchell were key late too.

BC is back at it this week against Syracuse. Let's hope Tabbs is healthy and all the guys come to play.

BC gets another grad transfer

Former Miami Offensive Lineman Hayden Mahoney is now an Eagle. As a grad transfer, he is eligible to play right away. Mahoney comes from Malvern Prep in Pennsylvania and was recruited by BC out of high school. He started nine games for Miami this year and has played a lot for the Hurricanes that past two years. I assume he is coming to start at BC.

Even if he doesn't prove to be a starter, like Dalton before him Hayden is a great insurance policy. We know he can play ACC-level Football and he doesn't tie up BC's long-term plans. Addazio has shown in the past that he is good at getting the most out of grad transfers -- especially at OLine.

I also think it is good to bring back kids who spurned us in the recruiting process the first time around. This can become a great selling point to parents and coaches. Addazio can claim "look at ______. He went to____ and never developed like he should have. In one season at BC, he is a star..."

The value of the Red Bandanna game

As you may have seen, BC moved the game against Kansas from Saturday to Friday, September 13. Long story short, this was always BC and ESPN's intention, but Kansas only agreed to it this week, hence it was changed just after the official ACC schedule announcement earlier this month. Friday games can be inconvenient for fans attending the game, but BC and ESPN wanted a BC Friday home game because the "Red Bandanna" game has become important to both the school and the company.

By having a locked in date and time, BC can prepare uniforms, special merchandise and work closely with the Crowther family. ESPN can use a whole week of shows -- especially close to the anniversary of September 11 -- to promote their own award winning feature and pump the ratings for an otherwise ho-hum matchup. It also helps fulfill the ACC's Friday night contractual commitment.

Every year the Red Bandanna game has been a great showcase for BC. I always worry about it feeling exploitative, but clearly the Crowther Family embraces it. Ideally it would have been better to tie things up before the ACC released schedules, but these things happen. The Kansas game was going to be an iffy ticket driver on a Saturday. Moving it to Friday alone wouldn't help, but making it a special game might.

UPDATE: BC wants to make it clear that nothing has been decided about the Red Bandanna game. ESPN and other BC folks strongly feel it will be this game.

BC adds depth to recruiting class

BC seems to be taking a different approach to recruiting this year. Last year after the Early Signing Period, they were seemingly done with the 2018 class. This year, they are still filling roster spots before the second signing deadline. Tuesday, New Jersey Lineman Christian Mahogany verballed. 

Mahogany is plenty big (6'5 and 300+ lbs) and comes form a solid program in Paraums Catholic. He holds offers from Pitt, Syracuse and Rutgers. While BC didn't get him early, he seems like a very real candidate to hit the field one day.

The other recent recruit was Penn State grad transfer Danny Dalton. The Massachusetts Tight End committed to BC originally out of high school before flipping to Penn State. He now comes back to Boston looking for a little redemption and to reach his potential. Dalton might not be a huge get, but it is a win-win for BC. He adds depth and only uses a scholarship for two years. Anything good that comes from him is a bonus.

Report: Eric Lewis set to join staff

Multiple reports have former Colorado State assistant Eric Lewis joining BC as a replacement for Campanile as a DBs coach. Lewis has no obvious prior connection to Addazio. He's worked in the NFL and in college. He is the son of longtime Packers assistant Sherman Lewis.

I will wait to see what BC says about Lewis. He seems perfectly fine as a replacement given his varied experience. What concerns me is that he doesn't come across as an ace recruiter nor have a natural recruiting territory, which is probably the biggest void left by Campanile departure.

Hoops gets much needed win over FSU

This was how it was supposed to be. Bowman lit it up for 37 and Chatman made a bunch of 3s as BC upset No. 11 Florida State. Aside from the best players stepping up, the other key to what was "supposed to be" this season was a healthy and active roster. BC got big minutes from Mitchell and Tabbs. The D was rough in the first half, but BC adjusted and really helped slow the Noles down in the second half.

I know that I've already written off the season and said fire Christian, but I don't want it to be that way. Winning is fun. Seeing great players is fun. Upsetting ranked teams is fun. I just can't get over how inconsistent this team is. Maybe I've been wrong and now healthy, they will go on a run. I hope so, but...

In the mean time, congrats to the guys on the win. BC takes on Wake Forest next week.

BC beats Providence again

Maybe BC just needed some games against Providence to get better. They beat the Friars again Saturday. This leaves their Hockey East record respectable (8-3-2) while the overall record still lags (8-11-2).

BC shutsdown Servpro Bowl t-shirts

A few hours after ESPN et al cancelled the First Responder's Bowl, a small t-shirt company in Louisiana made a satirical shirt commemorating BC's win in the aborted game.
According to Twin City Designs, no one really noticed. Then this week, I and a very other BC folks saw it on Twitter and it finally went viral. Sadly, and predictably, BC put an end to all the fun by enforcing their trademark.

Well guys it's been a fun. fun ride the last 3 days but apparently the brass at BC have taken exception to me using their name and mascot and clamped their trademark claim down it, so I'll be having to take it off line. I really appreciate the love the last few days from everyone

— Twin City Tee Co (@twincityteeco) January 17, 2019

Twin City probably could fight this move, but it is not worth it. As much as BC fans enjoy the shirt and the sentiment, I doubt the revenue from the shirt would cover the legal fees. BC has every right to protect their trademarks, however, their handling of the situation is disappointing.

This is a simple, fun shirt that highlights the absurdity of what happened. While I don't think BC wants to remind people that the bowl was cancelled after ten minutes, adding some humor takes the edge off a bit. Ideally BC would have slapped together a quick, one-time agreement to allow Twin City to sell the shirts and let it be. Instead they look like a big bully who is worried about not getting their cut of a few t-shirts.

Thoughts on the Football schedule

BC and the ACC released the 2019 schedule Wednesday. Here it is:

2019 Schedule
Virginia Tech -- Aug. 31
Richmond -- Sept. 7
Kansas -- Sept. 14
at Rutgers -- Sept. 21
Wake Forest -- Sept. 28
at Louisville -- Oct. 5
NC State -- Oct. 19
at Clemson -- Oct. 26
at Syracuse -- Nov. 2
Florida State -- Nov. 9
at Notre Dame -- Nov. 23
at Pitt -- Nov. 30

Here are some thoughts:

Saturday, Saturday, Saturday
For the first time in a long time, BC won't be playing any Friday games. For those who watch from the comfort of our couch, that is a loss. But for the team and ticket buying fans, that is a huge win. Friday games can be a challenge for fans from outside of Boston. This should boost attendance a bit. The downside is that we don't get a national showcase game -- unless we are great -- like we have with the Friday games.

Backloaded road schedule
BC plays four of their last five on the road. That is not ideal. But we can't do much about when we host and when we don't. The ACC controls conference games. Throw in the late road game at Notre Dame, and that leaves BC travelling a lot late in the season. Having just sat through a flat home crowd for Syracuse, I don't mind avoiding Thanksgiving weekend home games.

Power 5!
We knew this ahead of time, but seeing it on paper might be a reminder that BC is playing the most Power 5 heavy schedule in the country. I know Kansas and Rutgers will be bad, but it still counts for something. Addazio's track record against P5 isn't great, but I still see seven wins for this team.

The best thing on the internet today

We didn't get that ridiculous trophy. We didn't even get a quarter of football. But the incomplete First Responder Bowl did give us some notoriety. Twin City Design created a t-shirt in honor of our aborted bowl game.

I am getting one because we have to commemorate the most famous ten minutes of BC Football that never officially happened.

Good and meh of Mike Bajakian

Steve Addazio finally hired his new Offensive Coordinator and it is long-time NFL and college coach Mike Bajakian. While not a household name, Bajakian checks a lot of Addazio's known boxes and also brings plenty of play-calling experience at the college level.

The Good News
There is plenty to like about the hire. Bajakian's been an OC and play caller at Central Michigan, Cincinnati and Tennessee. He's a New Jersey native who has and will continue to recruit the Garden State. He's also has recent NFL experience that Addazio wanted as he tries to modernize and make the Offense more Ram-like.

What Addazio would never say, but what I find good (but not great) is that Bajakian is remarkable consistent in his production as a play caller. His offenses have never been elite, but they've been above average and definitely more efficient that what Addazio particularly produces. Take a look at his year-by-year Offensive S&P ranking:

Tennessee 2014 -- 51st
Tennessee 2013 -- 49th
Cincinnati 2012 -- 52nd
Cincinnati 2011 -- 66th

Cincinnati 2010 -- 47th
Central Michigan 2009 -- 60th
Central Michigan 2008 -- 46th
Central Michigan 2007 -- 31st

Three different locations, conferences and rosters and he consistently put teams in the top half of College Football offenses.  

As another frame of reference, here is how those same programs did before and after Bajakian

Tennessee before Bajakian: 10th, Tennessee after Bajakian left: 45th
Cincinnati before Bajakian: 1st, Cincinnati after Bajakian left: 82nd
Central Michigan before Bajakian: 44th, Central Michigan after before Bajakian: 93rd

In general, things improved when he got there and dropped when he left.

 As another frame of reference, this has been Addazio's Offensive S&P while at BC

Loeffler 2018 -- 95th
Loeffler 2017 -- 101st
Loeffler 2016 -- 124th
Fitch 2015 -- 125th
Day 2014 -- 50th
Day 2013 -- 30th

The Meh
Bajakian is not a household name, an older time Addazio bud, or an up and comer. In fact there are no overt ties to Addazio's network. That is somewhat refreshing but also a bit scary. Will he get along with his new boss?

I also don't love that he hasn't recruited in a while. I know he has recruited before, but every year away can be like dog years. High school coaches change, technologies change, kids communicate in new ways. Bajakian seems like a bright guy, so I hope he adjusts back to recruiting quickly.

A quick social media search and touching base with my one Vol fan friend confirmed that he was well liked at Tennessee but never viewed as critical or program changing.

Final Thought
Bajakian's consistency could be very valuable to BC. If we get the Offense in the top half of college football, it will probably lead to more than seven wins. I just hope he is given free reigns and not micromanaged by his boss.

Hoops keeps losing

A late game comeback came up short on Saturday as BC lost to Notre Dame in South Bend. There were a few late calls that hurt BC, but Notre Dame was decimated by injuries and we still couldn't beat them. We have problems.

The D was not great, but the bigger challenge remains Chatman. He is not making shots and making really bad decisions.

I don't know what the short-term answer is. Every lineup combo has a few obvious issues. The team doesn't seem particularly motivated. I don't see Christian and his staff making drastic changes to our style of play. I guess the only hope is for the team to get healthy soon.

I am not worried about Addazio finding coordinators

With Anthony Campanile heading to Michigan, Scot Loeffler in Bowling Green and Jim Reid supposedly considering retiring, Steve Addazio might be looking at a total overhaul of his coordinators. As disconcerting as that might seem, I am not worried. One thing Addazio has done well is manage his staff. With his extension in hand, I am assuming he will fill the open slots with good fits again.

We know from the attempted hire of Liam Coen what he is trying to do on Offense. He even mentioned he wants a OC who will compliment his run-first mentality with NFL/Ram-like passing concepts. Everyone in football is copying Sean McVay, so it may be hard to get an actual Ram assistant coach, but that's the desired direction. I expect some news on the OC front in the next week or so.

Even with Campanile's loss, Addazio may have some wiggle room on D. Reid's status remains unknown. There was speculation that he would retire. Maybe with Campanile gone, Addazio can talk Reid into coaching one more year. 

Losing Campanile as a recruiter hurts most. Given the lame duck status, recruiting this year was already going to be difficult. Without the ace, it gets harder. 

If Addazio still believes in long-term success at BC, then he can't just find good coordinators. He needs to empower them so that BC finally exceeds the ceiling Addazio has had regardless of who is calling the plays. 

Now we wait on Campanile news

When the rumor broke about Anthony Campanile talking to Rutgers, BC quickly shut it down. Now there is news that he is talking to Michigan. BC has yet to refute it. Unlike the potential Rutgers move, this switch would make a little more sense. Michigan offers more money and prestige (within the profession). Based on some of the speculation, he may get his current "Co-DC" title there too. The only true downside is if Harbaugh leaves for the NFL in one year and Michigan cleans house. But at this point, I would say Harbaugh is more likely to be coaching Michigan in 2020 than Addazio is coaching BC in 2020.

The other added aspect of this sort of move is Campanile sets himself up for a return to BC if Addazio is fired after next season. It is rare to promote a staffer of a fired head coach to the head spot. Fans and administrators usual prefer a fresh face. However, assuming Campanile and Brown put together another Top 10 D, Campanile would certainly become a name floated to replace Addazio.

We should know shortly what Campanile will do. Once these names get floated, it is usually wrapped up quickly.

BC looked directionless against UVA

UVA is better than BC. No argument there. BC was not even close to full strength (Mitchell out, Tabbs recovering, Chatman not 100%). Everyone who follows BC knew it would take some sort of miracle to win. The problem with BC's loss, is they looked so passive and unprepared for long stretches.

BC went scoreless for a long stretch in the second half. It wasn't just that UVA played good D as usual. It also wasn't that the shots weren't falling. It was that the guys had no idea where to even attack. They didn't move well. They dribbled out to take ill-advised 3s. It was a total mess.

Bright spots? Pop, I guess. But he is such a bad defender that his offensive productivity needs to be that much more.

We knew the start of ACC play was going to be tough. This made it seem hopeless.

What's good for Clemson is good for BC

I rooted for Clemson last night for a variety of reasons. First, I've always enjoyed games there and their fans are always refreshingly nice. Second, their success helps the ACC. It improves our TV money. It improves the perception of the conference among the media, recruits and fans. Clemson helps legitimize everything associated with the ACC. You can't dismiss the conference -- as so many are wont to do -- if it is producing champions. Finally, I rooted for Clemson because their success makes BC's potential success that much more attainable.

Although it wasn't all that long ago, when BC joined the ACC, Clemson was arguably a peer program. At the time, their historical winning percentage was nearly identical and they were branded as constant underachievers. Even the first few years of Dabo were a bit uneven. However, through patience, embracing who they were, maximizing their program's advantages and identity, and through putting together a great recruiting and coaching staff, they became a juggernaut.

I know BC's advantages and identity are not the same as Clemson's. But that doesn't mean we are getting the most out of who we are and what we can be. I hope seeing it done in our own division, is a reminder to BC leadership and fans that it can be done in Chestnut Hill.

Congrats to Clemson. I hope one day to thank Clemson too, for forging a path that BC followed.

Cheevers declares for NFL Draft

Saturday night BC cornerback Hamp Cheevers announced he was skipping his senior season to declare for the NFL Draft.

Cheevers had a great season and led College Football in interceptions. Even with the shortened career, he has to be viewed as another classic case of BC finding a "two star" player who was ignored by bigger programs and giving him a program to develop. My only fear is that the same issue that kept Cheevers out of bigger programs -- his size -- will work against him in the NFL Draft process.

I wish Cheevers the best and thank him for his time at BC.

There has been no statement from Addazio, so I don't know if this was unexpected. Cheevers loss does hurt our defensive backfield. I hope that the young guys are ready to step up. I also hope that Addazio is going to maximize scholarship usage if this departure was not in his planning.

🙏🏾🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/QbXmKWEmFM

— Hamp Cheevers 📍 (@Hamp_hc4) January 6, 2019

Basketball comes up short at VT

BC took the lead into the half after a solid defensive performance. However, the second half was not as good. BC came out flat, got whistled for seemingly everything and watched the Hokies build up lead. BC chipped away down the stretch but it wasn't enough. The Hokies held onto the win.

The story of the game were the officials. I know it is whiny. I know that the difference in fouls was only 4 (BC 22, VT 18), but it killed our momentum and we had two guys foul out.

The Hamilton brothers were solid. Chatman looks to be getting back to his usual form. Bowman was ok...too many misses and turnovers.

Virginia Tech was favored and at home, so this was always going to be a tough game. But it would have been nice to put together two solid halfs instead of one.

About the comments section

I have said for years I wanted an open comments section. I don't really have the time nor desire to monitor all the comments, but wanted people to have a forum. I welcomed critics. I let people do what they want for the most part. My hope is and was that people would use their best judgement. That has worked at times and not at others. So now, I am changing it up. There are new settings and approvals. We will see how this works.

Women's Lacrosse start season as No. 1

Expectations are high for BC Women's Lacrosse after two straight trips (and losses) in the National Championship Game. This year they start as No. 1 in the USA Lacrosse Top 20. Let's hope they finish the season as the best team.

The ranking is an accomplishment and a sign of respect for what the program has become. For all those who want a Men's team, keep cheering on the Women. Their continued excellence is the best argument for sports expansion at BC.

Urban Meyer: The BC Fan Rorschach Test

As I was watching the Rose Bowl and Urban Meyer retired (again), I first thought "he'll coach again." Next my thoughts drifted to the ultimate "what if" of would I want him coaching my team. Despite thinking he embodies so many of the consistent flaws in some college coaches -- he's myopic, he's hypocritical, he's a bully, he's thin-skinned, -- I still admitted that I would welcome him to BC in a minute. The guy might be the best game manager in the last 30 years, certainly knows how to build a program and has won everywhere.

As for it ever happening, it won't. I know that. But Meyer's connection to Jarmond and the slight chance that he'd want to comeback and do it differently and the "right way" means that there is the slightest of slight chance. Like getting struck by lightning. Meyer's snakey history of picking his spots where he can win big and quickly, and the fact that taking the BC job would mean undercutting one of his former assistants probably more than offsets Jarmond's history with him.

But I am willing to admit my hypocrisy even on the hypothetical. I want BC to win and he's proven he can do it. But to give you a sense of how BC fans see ourselves, all you have to do is look at the replies to my tweet about Meyer.

Twitter poll for BC fans: if Martin Jarmond could talk Urban Meyer out of retirement, would you want him coaching BC?

— Bill Maloney (@bcatleagle) January 2, 2019

Some would never want Meyer and some would be over the moon. Very few are in the middle. It shows that BC fans value what BC stands for and that we are different. I think we could still be BC regardless of our coach.

I just hope that one day we get a coach at Meyer's level and he stays around long enough to win something big.

Fire Jim Christian

This is my final post of 2018, so I might as well have it deal with the biggest issue of 2019.

BC Basketball lost to Hartford in overtime. We were without Mitchell. Tabbs was limited and Chatman rusty. Those are just excuses though, because there is no reason this BC team should be losing to that Hartford team. It's coaching. The lack of depth. The lack of a consistent defensive system. The curious ingame decisions. That's all on Jim Christian. Too often he has more talent and yet his team plays down to his opponent. If they played up to their opponent more often, than we could discuss saving him. But they don't. They are too often flat and without direction. This is not working and it is on the coaching. There is some talent and there are some coaching moments worthy of praise, but not enough of either to compete in the ACC.

This post might look foolish in a month. BC might get healthy and start rattling off impressive wins. I doubt it though. I don't think Christian has it in him to turn this around.

Martin Jarmond used his goodwill to save Addazio despite a frustrated fanbase. He can ask for patience if Christian has another losing ACC season and we are an NIT bubble team, but why waste everyone's time and money. This is not working.

The Coaching Carousel is a reminder that BC is a good job

Having been through many coaching searches, I am always frustrated by the belief among our fans and some of our decision makers about what sort of job BC is. BC people will say how tough our job is, even though our historical winning percentage is better than half of the P5 teams (and the list of coaches who have take BC to bowl games doesn't read like a Hall of Fame list of coaches).

BC people will say that we can't afford a certain type of coach. Sure if we are trying to hire away a current coach from a football factory, but look at this round of hires. Look how many former head coaches couldn't even get interviewed for openings. Look at how many P5 assistants weren't even mentioned for jobs. Look at guys like Les Miles taking deader than deadend jobs like Kansas.

When BC does make another big change, we may end up with a C-lister. Who knows? We don't know how Jarmond will operate. But I hope he looks for and hires the best candidate out there, because it is always a buyers market, even if BC doesn't act like it is.

Addazio does well in Film Room again

As Alabama pulled away early in the first half, I tended to switch from the primary broadcast to ESPN's Coaches Film Room, which included Steve Addazio. However, as Oklahoma made it interesting, I kept it on the Film Room because I found it more more compelling, in part because of Addazio.

While Addazio does come off well in these things, he wasn't the star Saturday night. That was Herm Edwards. The Arizona State coach served as the quasi-host but also has such a big personality that he dominated the game. Addazio picked his moments and once again explained line play well. I also feel like he had good chemistry with Edwards, so maybe we should schedule a game with Arizona State.

The biggest takeaway for me was Addazio was clearly the most conservative coach in the room. Whenever strategy came up (onsides, going for two, punting) he tended to take the conservative option. I hope these sorts of settings has him reevaluating his view.

I also found his longing for option play interesting. I don't think he is going to change the offense, but he did seem to want to work in some option concepts. And it is not a bad idea, as long as we can execute it well.

These sorts of opportunities for Addazio are not program changers. But it is good for him and BC to keep getting this sort of exposure. Clearly ESPN likes him because he keeps getting invited back.

Verizon and ESPN battling over ACC Network

Multiple outlets are reporting on Disney's showdown with Verizon's Fios system, as the two sides can't agree on a new price for the Disney family of networks. The main point of contention is ESPN's new ACC Network. If the sides cannot agree, all Disney networks might be taken off the Verizon system. Most of you are probably saying "who cares?" but Fios' four million subscribers are mostly in the northeast corridor and include plenty of BC alumni.

These games of chicken happen nearly every time a college network rolls out. The Big Ten dealt with it (and eventually won). The Pac 12 dealt with it and is sort of losing, as they still are not on Directv and several west coast outlets. I think ESPN will probably win this battle as unlike the Big Ten and Pac 12, they have very powerful leverage with the ESPN Networks as well as the Disney channels. Plus Verizon has multiple rivals who will gladly use this to get people to switch providers.

The ACC Network doesn't officially launch until next football season, so there will plenty of work arounds established if the two sides never reach agreement.

A fitting end

At some point in sports and BC fandom, you feel like you've seen it all. Then there is something totally unexpected, like a cancelled bowl game. BC's got out to a 7-0 lead, things were looking good, lightning forced a delay and then another and another and finally the bowl organizers and the schools agreed to cancel the game. It is officially a no contest and never happened. And with all of these crazy bowl games, that is supposedly the first time ones ever been cancelled by weather.

As frustrated as those of us who carved out time to watch were, the people who have my sympathy are the players and fans who made the trip. They sacrificed their time and money and Christmas for a game and they got ten minutes of football. We say bowl games mean nothing, but this one really did. What a waste of time and money.

This was a strange season with some great highs and frustrating lows. To end in a no contest is fitting. No one knows what to make of this season. I will have some season in review posts in the coming weeks, but it is poetic that Addazio finished with seven wins again.

Could this have been avoided? Supposedly the bowl organizers knew weather could be a factor but decided not to play the game earlier. Hindsight is 20/20. With the losing streak, the Alumni Stadium problems during the Syracuse game, the Addazio extension, the Texas A&M issues, and now this, it hasn't been an easy few weeks for Martin Jarmond. Let's hope his 2019 ends on a better note than 2018.

If there is any lesson here (beyond the planning) is that these games really are meaningless. BC might as well push for an expanded playoff, because it will be hard to get fans to care about these sorts of games again.

In-game comments post: Boise State

This is our last BC Football game for nine months. It is also the end of a strange and up and down season. I want to end with a win and it is safe to say Addazio could use one.

Leave your thoughts and comments below.

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Throwback: Mele Kalikimaka

On this day in 1994, we played Kansas State in the Aloha Bowl.

On this day in 2000, we played Arizona State in the Aloha Bowl.

We won both games. I liked watching BC Football on Christmas. I never went to the games in Hawaii but I liked the idea of one day going to Hawaii to watch BC Football. Maybe one day.