BC gets another QB commitment

Shortly after landing their first QB, Addazio and crew are back for more. This weekend they got a verbal commitment from Fordham Prep QB Matt Valecce.

Committed. I am a Boston College Eagle! 🦅 pic.twitter.com/jcU5Klsf7w

— Matt Valecce (@mvalech4) May 6, 2017

Valecce is not a super recruit, but he is well known to the staff. They've had him in camp and have followed him for a few years. The QB also had offers from Pitt and Rutgers.

BC now has decent depth at QB. Many of these young guys will never see the field as a QB. You just hope that with all the guys coming in, one emerges as something special.

Basketball adds another commit

Jim Christian is using every scholarship he has on late bloomers. He added another one Friday in Kansas wing Steffon Mitchell. I have nothing against late offers. My favorite BC Basketball player of all time -- Jared Dudley -- was one. However, they are long shot propositions. As Mitchell even said, he only started talking to BC a month ago. I like that he is hungry and wants to prove himself at the highest level, but other than that we don't know much about him. Jim Christian and his staff can't know all that much either...or as much as they would on a kid they had been recruiting for years.

I hope this pays off. Congrats to Mitchell and I hope you become the next Jared Dudley.

ESPN assures the ACC there will still be an ACC Network

ESPN's mass layoffs and declining subscriber base has the Worldwide Leader scrambling. They are trying to prove to Disney and Wall Street that they will continue to grow and pump out money. But the changing market place and their massive rights commitments have some partners wondering. One of the commitments under the microscope is ESPN's future ACC Network. Considering it hasn't even launched yet, it would seem to be vulnerable. But ESPN assured the ACC that the network is still coming.

This is one of those times where I am not really worried about BC or the ACC. If anything, partnerships like this are much safer to ESPN than their rights deals with the NBA or NFL. First the ACC is locked into a long, long deal with ESPN. While the startup costs for the network are big, there is huge upside for ESPN in the second decade of the deal. Most of the league deals are much shorter and promise no ROI. Second, the ACC deal is still cheaper content than the NFL or NBA. It might not drive the same eyeballs, but the advertising demographics remain good and college football gets better ratings than professional basketball.

Now the initial model for conference networks was bilking cable subscribers. Clearly that aspect of the deal is looking less viable. Grandma in North Carolina doesn't want to pay a premium to watch BC-Syracuse in football. But even if the subscriber base is not as lucractive, ESPN and the ACC still have avenues to make money off of ad revenue and in turning the ACC Network into some sort of tier or subscription. I know most BC fans would pay six or seven dollars a month for the service.

As for cord cutting, ESPN remains a good technology partner. The ACC Network is using ESPN's infrastructure so it will be available on most devices.

But even if all this goes to pot and there is no network, the ACC will get a huge buyout. If the buyout remains the worst case scenario, that is not a bad thing. The ACC can take the ESPN's money and find a new TV partner.

Recruiting stuff

It is still a bit quite on the recruiting front. We know from Twitter that the coaches have been on the road, but there have not been many verbals. One recruit who is saying the right things about BC is Florida WR Javian Hawkins. He is undersized, but performing well at various camps and has a good connection with Brian White.

BC almost never recruits JUCO players, but there is some interest in Northeast Oklahoma's TE Jake Ross. He doesn't have any offers from Power 5s, but is gaining more and more attention.

Garland Owens football joke is not a bad idea

Early Tuesday, Garland Owens tweeted this:

......... pic.twitter.com/rDvOiHx6f7

— Garland Owens Jr. (@Owens_5) May 2, 2017

It got everyone instantly excited. But the basketball reserve was just teasing us. He was just getting ready for some intramural football. However, our collective enthusiasm was justifiable. Owens might not be an elite basketball player, but his physicality and athleticism make him a great candidate to try football for a season.

If it hit social media, I am sure Addazio's staff knows about Owens. I hope one of the staffers follows through, because Owens could be interesting at WR or even at DE. I don't know if the staff has a scholarship to give him, but if you can get him to greyshirt until one opens up this summer (because they always do), that would allows Owens to stretch his college years and maybe get an NFL look. As of now I can't see a future in basketball. Being a converted college basketball player will get him an NFL tryout.

I don't know if Ownes even wants to play football. But maybe his joke will get him thinking.

Christian rolls the dice with Vin Baker Jr

Jim Christian has another recruit and the recruit has a familiar name. It is Vin Baker Jr., the son of long-time NBA big man Vin Baker. Adding a recruit this late is usually not something to get overly excited about. Flipping a kid from Bryant doesn't lead to many ACC wins. But Baker Jr. is a risk Jim Christian can and should take.

One of the reasons Baker Jr. was even available was due to his size and late growth spurt. He reportedly grew four inches in the last year. He also played on low profile AAU teams. This might mean he is not an ACC caliber player. Or maybe, he is the classic late bloomer. We know he has some genetic links to elite basketball. Coming up as a guard but now moving to a Wing/Forward, might mean he has an interesting skill mix and will be able to take advantage of larger, slow defenders. We won't know any of this until he gets on campus and performs. That unknown is Christian's gamble.

I say Christian should gamble. Since he can't land enough elite prospects, Christian needs one of these diamond in the rough types to develop. Why can't it be Baker? His dad was a late bloomer too and hat is why he ended up at playing at Harford. It would be nice to see the son blossom the same way. Doing it in the ACC might be harder, but if he does succeed, it will drive more attention.

And if Baker Jr. is not an ACC talent, he can always bail on the Height. I am sure that Christian's replacement would appreciate the freed up scholarship.

Addazio gets verbal from Jersey QB

One of the reasons Addazio added Defensive Back's coach Anthony Campanile was to boost BC's recruiting efforts in New Jersey. It is starting to pay off, as one of New Jersey's top QB recruits John Langan verballed to BC over the weekend. The Bergen Catholic recruit carries offers from Syracuse, Rutgers and Temple. A few traditional powers are interested in him as an "athlete" and potential LB.

BC should have a pretty good sense of Langan as a player and a person, because his high school coach is Anthony Campanile's brother Nunzio.

Welcome Langan and hopefully he helps lead a big Garden State push for this recruiting class.

Bills draft Milano

The Saturday of the NFL Draft is a quick event. Picks start flying and suddenly a round is over. Guys can get overlooked like that. Fortunately it wasn't a problem for Matt Milano. BC's star will be playing for Buffalo this season. He was selected in the 5th round, the 163rd pick overall in the draft.

The good news for Milano is going in the 5th round. The difference in pay from a later round isn't high, but the odds of making the final roster are better. Teams expect production out of the 5th round. Milano is a versatile player. Hopefully he can get some quality playing time this year.

Rams draft Johnson

For the second year in a row, a BC Defensive Back overcame expectations and got drafted in the third round. The Rams took John Johnson Friday night with the 91st pick overall. This should be a good fit as the Rams are implementing a new D and he will learn under one of the best in Wade Phillips. Big congrats go out to Johnson. Overlooked by other ACC schools, Johnson got better every year while at the Heights and was a key member to some great defenses. I wish him the best of luck in Los Angeles.

There are still plenty of rounds of the Draft to come. Hopefully Milano will get his shot too.

Ohio State football series pushed back again

For the second time, BC's future football series with Ohio State is getting rescheduled. The games are now scheduled to take place in 2026 and 2027. I wouldn't count on either game ever happening.

What makes this unique for BC and Ohio State is that Martin Jarmond is technically in charge of scheduling at Ohio State, and starting in June will be in charge of BC's schedule. Neither BC or Ohio State attributed any quotes to Jarmond nor did the school reference his ties to both schools. There is not quote from Addazio or Bates either.

The reality is that as much as Jarmond is "in charge of" scheduling, he is really just doing what Urban Meyer wants. By pushing the series back, it makes it that much more likely this game won't happen. It also increases the odds that Meyer won't have to face his friend Addazio. Based on coaching trends, it is unlikely that both will still be in their respective jobs. Plus Addazio will be 66 at kickoff.

I don't know if Addazio wants this game either. His recent schedule moves have been against lower-tier Power 5 teams. He is looking for very winnable games. It is likely that even in 2026, BC would be an underdog to the Buckeyes.

I am disappointed. I would like to see more opponents like Ohio State, not fewer. The landscape in college sports keeps changing, so I have no idea what 2026 will bring. TV deals and more conference shakeups, not to mention a potential rights fees bubble, could mean that teams play more conference games or it could mean ESPN has even more say over non-conference games. Now that BC has a opening, I hope Jarmond uses it to find a great replacement for Ohio State. As I have said and written many times, it is worth the risk for BC.

Maybe Jim Harbaugh should be one of Addazio's role models

The past few seasons, I have said that Addazio should model himself after Dabo Swinney. Be an emotional leader who dives deep into recruiting and delegates a lot to his coordinators. Maybe the real model should be Jim Harbaugh.

I know Harbaugh is far from perfect. He's a college coach, so there is a healthy mix of ego, hypocrisy, obsession and misguided priorities in his life. However, the guy has passion. And the guy turns that passion into interesting opportunities. Last year as part of spring ball, he took his team to Florida. This year, it went bigger and he took the team to Rome. Since you can't pay these players, a truly educational trip like this is a justifiable form of compensation. It is great PR too. Heck, we might get more BC alums to travel to Rome for a Spring game than we would hosting one in Alumni.

An added bonus is that Harbaugh got to meet Pope Francis and hand him a Michigan helmet. Given the Pope's history as a Jesuit, do you think he would turn down a visit from America's only FBS Jesuit football team?

Make this happen, Martin Jarmond.

Coach Harbaugh & Pope Francis!! 🇭🇺 🇺🇸 〽〽〽 #GoBlue #HailToTheVictors #FaithFamilyFootball #TheMichiganDifference #HarbaughEffect pic.twitter.com/VUvJ7G7yh8

— Michigan Nation24/7 (@247Wolverines) April 26, 2017

More Draft stuff

This has been around many of the BC message boards, but it is worth the attention. According to ESPN, BC is one of the college programs where our draftees out-perform their draft status. I wonder if our players will get a little more respect as Addazio's recruits become eligible for the Draft.

Here is the video of Mike Mayoc's visit with Johnson.

MUST SEE VIDEO: @MikeMayock is back on campus with @nflnetwork to interview @iamjohnthethird leading up to Thursday's #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/PVB03RoGGb

— BC Football (@BCFootball) April 25, 2017

Jarmond says all the right things

BC officially introduced new Athletic Director Martin Jarmond in a Monday Press Conference. We've been through a few too many of these the past few years, so I was glad to find the energy different with Jarmond. He seemed more at ease than some of the other people BC has trotted at to the media. He didn't go over the top in his enthusiasm nor did he have any stage fright. Jarmond seems confident and charismatic, which are a big part of the job.

The session was light on details, but that really can't be a surprise. The guy is not even officially in the job yet and hasn't met the whole staff. He may have very specific plans for BC, but now wasn't the time to share them.

He emphasized BC's balance of academics and athletics and even sprinkled in a reference to the spiritual (which is a slightly new twist). While still not battling the specifics of parking, food, tailgates, etc, he did address that the fan's game day experience starts at home and BC needs to make the trip to campus inviting and easy. Jarmond avoided a pointed question about both basketball programs and did say that he has hired and fired people before (it is just not on his resume).

I also appreciated his humor. He joked with alumni Tom Leyden that the school will soon be asking him for money. I can't see Brad Bates ever joking about something like that. But the joke, his background and his reference to BC's financial commitment show that we have a AD focused on fundraising. That doesn't guarantee success, but having more resources won't hurt any program.

Press Conferences don't make a team or program. They are only really notable when they are screwed up. Jarmond did better than most, but I don't think anyone is going to remember this day. What he does in the next two years will be more important.

Welcome Martin Jarmond pic.twitter.com/KTpJgEUnQt

— #BCEagles (@BCEagles) April 24, 2017

Baseball gets much needed sweep

For the first time in two years, BC Baseball swept n ACC series. The final win came on a complete game shutout from Brian Rapp. BC improved to 6-15 in ACC play. Hopefully this is a sign of a late season rebound. Next up, the team takes on UMass-Lowell on Tuesday.

Trying to read into the Spring Game

Those of us who watched the BC Spring Game know the drill. We watch because we love BC Football and the Spring Game is the only outlet for our addiction between the Bowl Game and the first game of the new season. The Spring Game is not a good predictor of anything related to real football. Because, like Saturday's 2017 Spring Game, this always feels more like a unique practice. 

The new twist this year that keeps the game from being a true look at BC was the lack of tackling. The play was dead as soon as a player had slight control on another. I am fine with limited contact. These guys shouldn't be bashing each other up now. But that I don't know how you can really evaluate BC's Defense off of today. 

The offense was a bit more telling. BC continued their tempo change from the Bowl game. Darius Wade looked decent and made numerous good throws. Antony Brown also got plenty of reps. While his athleticism and arm strength are noticeable, his throws were not as accurate. Hilliman looked sharp and healthy. Wilson also had a nice run. There were more than a few drops, but the WRs were fine.

The only true take away from all of this is that the offense is still evolving. For all of the talk -- including from Addazio -- that Brown was "the guy," he does not look ready to lead the team. Fortunately the season does not start tomorrow and he can get better. Wade, who was forgotten last year, looks capable. Aside from the QBs, the offense also seems ready to embrace modern tempo. That could change a lot about BC's games. All of those unknowns will be answered eventually...just not in a Spring Game.

Christian gets another guard in the recruiting class

Georgia prospect Avery Wilson committed to BC Friday. Wilson's offer list is not particularly impressive, but like some other recent recruits, he has good athleticism and could be considered a late bloomer. Due to our lack of depth, he should get playing time right away. As much as I would love Christian to be bringing in elite recruits, I have no problem with taking a shot on a good athlete. Welcome Avery. I hope you help provide a spark and surprise next year.

Can Martin Jarmond fix Boston College Sports?

BC doesn't have a problem on its hands with Martin Jarmond. It is the opposite. The new Boston College Athletic Director has a huge problem on his hands. The problem is BC sports. At this point in time, BC Athletics has a fanbase problem, an execution problem with their most high-profile sports, a fundraising problem, a facilities problem, a local and national perception problem, and another dozen issues in some of the non-revenue sports. All of the problems are solvable. I had hoped for a more experienced operator who had been hardened in previous political battles. I will take someone who seems to have youthful energy, ambition and a vision. Jarmond is going to need all of it.

The good news is that Jarmond has a history and passion for fundraising. That was one of the known prerequisites for this search. Raising money at Ohio State and Michigan State is a completely different animal from BC, but if Jarmond's quick accent shows anything, it is that he can adapt and rise to the occasion. Development is hard and a lot like sales. There are many dinners, and coffees and rounds of golf, and at the end of each one, you have to ask the person across the table for more money than he or she ever planned on giving. Bates was never comfortable doing that. It looks like Jarmond can. That alone will be a breath of fresh air and should help BC's sports revenues grow. I am happy for the people in BC Development who have gone a long time without an AD they could leverage in their jobs.

Bringing in someone from a sports factory like Ohio State is an interesting decision for BC. We do so many things differently. BC won't change how we handle admissions or academic tutoring, but maybe we will become more like Ohio State in our sports operations. Instead of doing things on the cheap and how we've always done them, maybe Jarmond can instill some new methods and minimums to give our athletes and coaches an even playing field.

But years from now -- when we look at Jarmond's legacy -- it will be how he handles Football and Basketball. I am less concerned about Basketball. Jarmond is a former DIA basketball player. Jim Christian is a lame duck. Jarmond has nearly a year to get things in place and find a new coach next spring. He has never hired a basketball coach, but has been around the sport for a long time. I will trust him on that. Football is a different issue. The Urban Meyer clique did have influence on this process. They went to bat for Jarmond. Jarmond and Addazio already have a relationship (Addazio was keynote speaker at an Ohio State coaches clinic just a few weeks ago). Bates never stood up to Addazio. Will Jarmond tell Addazio to ignore the critics? Will Jarmond tell Addazio to watch his temper with lower level employees? And most importantly will Jarmond make a difficult decision on Addazio if we go 6-6 again next fall? We won't know until things play out.

The reaction among BC fans and in the Athletic community has been overwhelmingly positive. This is the honeymoon. I now hope that Jarmond can fix BC before the frustrating BC-ness of our sports operations break him.

BC names Martin Jarmond new AD

Congratulations to BC's new Athletic Director Martin Jarmond. He has a big job ahead of him, but seems up for the challenge.

I will have a more in-depth post later.

Heights says it is Jarmond

Source: Deal with Martin Jarmond is 100% done. He's going to be the new AD at Boston College.

— Michael Sullivan (@MichaelJSully) April 20, 2017

More as it unfolds.

Explaining my Martin Jarmond tweets

In the ever-changing BC AD search a new name emerged Wednesday: Ohio State assistant AD Martin Jarmond. The name first leaked out on the BC message boards, then the Heights and finally via SI's Pete Thamel. I immediately went to Twitter to share my skepticism on the reports. Because this post could be meaningless in less than 24 hours (see the Mike Dee talk), I will try to keep things short. I don't believe Jarmond is the choice and I would be less than thrilled if he is the hire.

My skepticism on Jarmond being the candidate is based on how quiet this process has been. For better or worse, this is a Father Leahy decision and he has shown no history of sharing his opinions or news with sports reporters. The only thing I hear from BC people is that this is all Leahy and he is not talking. So if Jarmond is truly a finalist, it is his side that is talking to the media or BC folks speculating. If Jarmond's representatives are leaking to the media prior to a deal being finalized, they are playing with fire. It is the surest way to lose a BC offer. I would also be surprised by Jarmond based on the prerequisites that BC wanted in a candidate. While he has fundraising experience, Jarmond has never run his own department and has never hired or fired a coach. Of course, BC can say they want something and totally flip on that requirement, but it would be somewhat out of character for Father Leahy given his decisions since firing Gene D.

As for my skepticism on Jarmond's ability for the role, I just think BC is not in a place where we want someone learning on the job. We have major building projects to execute, decisions to make on our three biggest coaches (I am including a plan for when York steps down), and a fan and donor base to build up. Jarmond might be an Athletic Director wunderkind, but I would prefer someone who had a longer track record and a proven history of success.

We will see how this plays out. As the constant naysayer in this process, I will be wrong eventually. I just don't think it will be with Jarmond.