Yet another BC travel post

Leading up to the Champs Bowl, I heard plenty of complaints about our bowl situation. I am equally frustrated and think BC should lead the charge for a full playoff. Until that unlikely day comes we are stuck with the current the ACC bowls. I've done enough brow beating and pleading for BC fans to travel the past two months. Now I'll take a different tact -- selling the merits of travel.

Bowls are fun
Some are more fun than others, but the Champs might be the best of the non-New Years Day games. The players and staff had a really good time. They went to all the parks. Enjoyed the night life and weather. Every BC fan I came across also had a good time. Tailgating in shorts in December can't be beat. And outside of all the bells and whistles of the locale, you still get to see BC play another football game.

Travelling to BC games is fun
I've been to the desirable locations (South Bend, Clemson, etc.) and the miserable (Temple and Rutgers). One thing is consistent -- travelling to see BC play has a different feel than a game at Alumni or watching on TV. The setting and being the few amongst the many provide a unique experience. When on the road there is also the chance to meet and bond with other people who share your passion for BC. You should have seen the lobby of the Marriott after the game. SuperFans everywhere. Players and their families hanging out at the restaurant and bars. People still sitting poolside. You'd be hard pressed to find someone who wasn't smiling and feeling good about BC football. Would we all have preferred to have been celebrating a National Championship or even an Orange Bowl? Of course. But that's not the point. These guys had just accomplished something that no BC team had done in 67 years and when they got back to their hotel there were 1,000+ people welcoming them. It was a fun scene to soak in.

The Champs Bowl might not have been the Flutie Cotton Bowl or beating the 1993 Notre Dame game, but I think it will serve as an important turning point in BC support and travel. The school pulled out all the stops for fans -- charter buses all over Florida, free tickets for students, bringing the band, and most importantly letting the players get down there early and revel in the experience. The game was very well attended. BC had well more fans than the 5,000 tickets sold. Half the lower bowl was wearing maroon and gold. The Champs folks came away with nothing but good things to say. This will be their best attended and highest rated game since the bowl relocated to Orlando.

Teams that supposedly travel well are disappointing this year. West Virginia hasn't sold enough tickets for the Fiesta Bowl. UVA and Texas Tech will play in front of plenty of empty seats at the Gator Bowl. One day BC will get another chance to play in a more meaningful game. Don't wait until then. It doesn't pay to be a bowl snob. You're missing out and so is BC. If you have the time and means and enjoy BC football, hit the road. You won't be disappointed.

If you made it to Orlando and have some thoughts on the experience, please share them in the comments section. Given the number of BC fans I came across in the pregame parking lots and at the Marriott, I know others also had a great time. Spread the word.

Video and Links from Champs

Here is a nice little article about our 5th year Seniors.

Thanks to ToTheHeights for these clips

Boxscore breakdown: Sacred Heart

I didn't see any of this game due to the bowl. Looks like another win that could've slipped away. Here are my thoughts from reading the tea leaves of the boxscore. For those who saw it, please leave any thoughts in the comments section.

Good things
-- Making free throws in the closing minutes. Sure Sacred Heart made it more interesting than we would have liked, but solid work from the line closed it out.
-- Oates' offense. If I had seen the game I might feel differently (Oates tends to do things that drive me nuts). But give him credit...he made some big shots.

Concerns
-- Rebounding. We out rebounded them -- the margin should have been higher. Too many second chances.
-- Defense. If Blair isn't blocking shots, we are not that good defensively. There is no reason Sacred Heart should score with such ease.

Better late than never post game thoughts

Just got back from Orlando (but still in another part of Florida). I had a great time. Before I get into the upcoming blog schedule, let me first offer congrats to to the players and coaches for a great season. 11 wins exceeded most expectations and is a major accomplishment. Keep your fingers crossed for a Top 10 rating at the end of the season. People may dismis this season as winning with TOB players or BC winning during a weak year for the ACC. Nonsense. Taking over a good team doesn't ensure success (just ask Louisville). Jags put together a very good staff and pushed the right buttons all year long. The ACC might not be at its apex, but BC won their division, beat three ranked teams on the road and beat seven bowl teams. Great year for a great group of guys.

I am still away from home and away from my TIVO so the routine is a little off. Here is the blog schedule for the next few days:
-- Pics and video from Orlando
-- Basketball boxscore
-- Year in Review series
-- Second Viewing thoughts and grades
-- More thoughts on the bowl experience for fans

In-game comments post: Champs Bowl

Let me echo what Jags is saying -- this is not where we wanted to be, but winning 11 games is still very important. This is also the last BC football game for nine months, so enjoy every moment.

I'll be in Orlando and will not be online during the broadcast. I will try to have a post up after the game. Leave your comments and thoughts below.

Thursday links

A Judge dropped charges against the State Trooper from the Cherilus fight. No word on how this will impact Gosder.

Matt Ryan is making a good impression in Orlando.

Speaking of good guys...here is a must read on Nick Larkin.

Mulrooney is still caught up in playing as a true freshman.

Gamewatches: Champs Bowl

Since it is a holiday week, I have no idea what is in place around the country regarding game watches. These are the places that have standing events. Please email me or post in the comments if there are additional ones. The game is on ESPN so most of you can watch it from your house, but sometimes it is just more fun to watch with other eagles around.


Atlanta Game Watch
Frankie’s Sports Bar, Frankie's (Sandy Springs at The Prado)
5600 Roswell Road NE

Boston Game Watch
Game On
82 Lansdowne Street
Boston

Chicago Game Watch
Finley Dunnes Tavern
3458 N. Lincoln Avenue
Chicago

Dallas Game Watch
Mckinney Avenue Tavern (the MAT)
2822 Mckinney Avenue
Dallas

Los Angeles Game Watch
Sonny McLean's
2615 Wilshire Blvd.
Santa Monica

New York City Game Watches
Pat O'Briens
1701 2nd Avenue (2nd ave and 88th street)
New York, NY

Society Bar and Restaurant
535 LaGuardia Pl (Corner of LaGuardia and Bleeker)
New York, NY

Philadelphia Game Watch
Fox and Hound Smokehouse and Tavern
1501 Spruce Street
Philadelphia

Washington, D.C. Game Watch
Porter's Dining Saloon
The corner of 19th and M, Sts. NW and is walking distance from the Dupont Circle, Farragut North, and Farragut West Metro stations

BC-Michigan State preview

Doesn’t it feel like ages since we last played? Prior to some recent bowl games, we were distracted by coaching searches or the joy of just getting in a bowl. Not this season. This game was and is a letdown for a team that flirted with something bigger. Regardless of prestige or lack thereof, BC and Jags need to win this game. It would cap the season on a positive note, get BC to 11 wins and shift the bowl-streak from a TOB accomplishment to a BC accomplishment.

Theme that won’t be discussed on television. In reading about Michigan State the past few weeks, I keep coming across the stat that they lost five games by a combined 28 points. I am sure we’ll hear some variation of it on Friday. I believe the announcers will describe Michigan State as either unlucky or better than their record. I know the ESPN team will not do a deep dive into how this stat can be misleading nor will they compare MSU to other 7-5 teams. As a believer in point differential, the Spartans’ near misses did catch my attention. On the season Michigan State has a point differential of 107, which is high for a 7-5 team. For comparison, these 7-5 teams had the following point differentials, Florida State (12), Georgia Tech (82), Kentucky (83). But all of those teams played a tougher schedule than the Spartans. When you compare Michigan State’s point differential to another 7-5 Big Ten team in Purdue (98), the 107 doesn’t seem as impressive or unlucky. BC’s point differential at 10-3 is only 108. We suffered a -14 setback by playing and losing an extra game. Our numbers were also impacted by the unusual number of INTs returned for TDs. What does it all mean? Nothing for the actual bowl game. As I’ve said in the past, point differential is a good indicator of how lucky or unlucky a team was. Michigan State is probably better than their record but not to the point that they should be favored or that BC should be worried.

Three Simple Keys
1. Stop the run. The D has been making teams one dimensional all season. It is more important against a team like Michigan State, whose gameplan depends on establishing the run.
2. Protect Ryan. Michigan State’s best passrusher is an academic casualty and will not be playing in the bowl. Don’t expect that to change the Spartans’ defense. They will still come after Ryan. I expect looks like Georgia Tech and UMass gave us – blitzs from every position. It will be important for AC to pick up the extra man.
3. TDs instead of FGs. Moving the ball won’t be an issue. However, scoring points might be. The second half of the season saw too many drives stall in the red zone.

Gambling notes
-- BC is 5-2 against the spread during the bowl win streak
-- BC is 3-1-1 against Michigan State
-- BC is 12-6 in bowl games
The current line is BC-4

What would be a pleasant surprise? Cruising to victory. Both teams have played numerous close games. There is no reason to think this game will be different.

What would be a letdown? Losing. I would really like to get to 11 wins.

What would be a shocker? A sound MSU win. Relates back to the pleasant surprise. This team (and group of seniors) have been in every game and fought hard throughout their four years. I would be surprised and disappointed if they don’t show up for their last game.

Bottom Line
I think BC wins this game. Even though this is Jags first as a Head Coach, the people and the players around the program know how to prepare and get mentally ready for a bowl. It also helps that Michigan State will be without some of their best players.
Final Score: BC 35, Michigan State 24

Merry Christmas

I'll have new material up on the 26th. Merry Christmas to all and go BC!

Holiday links

Jon Loyte is keeping the Salem News up to date on the bowl week.

Here is what some of the other Seniors are saying about the game.

Michigan State will be without their best passrusher for the game.

Another bonus for the BC band -- they get to be in a Champs Bowl parade.

The Spartans will have a New England native on their offensive line.

BC recruit Ryan Quigley is mentioned briefly in this article. Still no word on if he'll be kicking and punting.

Bill McGovern was honored as one of the top assistants in the Northeast.

Here is a look at the type of kid BC recruits.

Boxscore breakdown: Northeastern

I am with the extended family so I didn't get to see this game. My thougts are what I can derive from our boxscore. If you saw the game and have something to add, please leave your two cents in the comments section. BC teams have always struggled with the first game after exams, so I'll take the win.

Good things
-- Rice with the game on the line. He was ice cold all night, yet made the final basket. Always a good sign for the tight games ahead.
-- Winning despite an off nice from Rice. This ties to point 1. Our best player on a young, limited team scored five points and went 1-11 and we still won. The other guys stepped up.
-- Sanders' big night. Sanders has often looked like a freshman -- moving too fast, too aggressive, unsure of where to be. I don't know how he looked tonight, but his numbers speak to a growing maturity. If he learns control, he'll be a dangerous player.

Concerns
-- Rebounding. When Rice is cold and Roche's shots aren't falling early, we need to hit the boards for easy baskets. There is no excuse for shooting .404 against Northeastern.
-- Roche's step back. He looked good before the break and then comes out cold against a lesser team. I was hoping for more consistency.
-- Flat after exams. I mentioned this in the lead paragraph. Why do Al's teams always come off the exam break playing in a fog? It has cost us games in the past and nearly cost us this one. Perhaps, when we rely so much on timing in our sets, that the break ruins the rhythm.

The schedule is manageable until Kansas. Let's hope they stay focused.

Guest Blogger: Bleeding Green

Most BC fans long for any coverage of the Eagles from the Boston media. Out in Michigan, things are a little different. The Spartans have a very good professional blog dedicated to Michigan State sports. To get a better feel of our Champs Bowl opponent, I've asked Joe from Bleeding Green a few questions about Michigan State. His answers are below. For more on Michigan State and general coverage of the Champs Bowl, check out Bleeding Green.


1. Michigan State's pass defense has been hit or miss. They generate plenty of pressure on the QB, but also have been picked apart and given up some big plays through the air. Do you think they will be more conservative going up against one of college football's better pass offenses like BC?

Bleeding Green: I really don't think they'll be more conservative, because Pat Narduzzi blitzes everyone. MSU's ends, Saint-Dic and Baldwin, are the strength of the defense and have been able to get heat on their own. But Narduzzi still sends the linebackers a lot and occasionally a cornerback. The way he's looking at this game is, if you sit back in coverage, Ryan will dink you to death. May as well try to get after him, maybe hit him a few times, gamble that BC's receivers won't beat you deep.

2. BC has been very good stopping the run. The most effective part of Michigan State's offense is its ground game and that is where the Spartans' best playermakers are. If the rushing attack gets stymied, how does MSU usually adjust?


Bleeding Green: This will be a very fun matchup to watch. Ohio State was the one team that really stuffed MSU's rush attack this year. The Spartans had pretty good success against everyone else. But in the final two games of the season, against Purdue and Penn State, both teams stacked the line and MSU had to pass to loosen things up. Quarterback Brian Hoyer played well in both games, and receiver Devin Thomas dominated. If Hoyer is playing well, this is a very difficult offense to handle, because backs Javon Ringer and Jehuu Caulcrick are both effective runners. Ringer is the primary back, elusive and speedy, and Caulcrick is the power guy.

3. What is your assesment of Mark D'Antonio's first year in East Lansing?


Bleeding Green: Dantonio's first year has been impressive. He inherited an underachieving team that went 4-8 last season and completely collapsed after blowing a 16-point lead in the fourth quarter to lose to Notre Dame. He changed from spread to pro-style, and zone blocking to gap blocking, and the offense has been productive and balanced all season. He improved the defense, although the personnel is not there right now for major improvement. Most impressively, he somehow changed a losing culture that really took root under Bobby Williams in the early 2000s. A team known for falling apart in the face of adversity (blowing a 10-point lead to lose to rival Michigan was expected to kill the season) instead battled back to beat Purdue and Penn State. Also, the Spartans were not blown out all season. All five losses were by a touchdown or less -- including overtime losses to Iowa and Northwestern that never should have happened. The U-M loss was a crusher. MSU had a chance to win at Wisconsin on the road but lost 37-34. The Ohio State game finished 24-17, but the Buckeyes dominated most of that game before MSU came back with a couple defensive touchdowns. So it's been a good year, but also a year that could have been much better. That's where Dantonio and his staff deserve some criticism. There was some questionable playcalling late in the losses to Wisconsin, Northwestern and Iowa. To Dantonio's credit, he acknowledged that he and his staff should have done some things different in those games.


4. What is your prediction for the game?

Bleeding Green: I'm not technically allowed to make a prediction until it runs in our paper on game day. But at this point I expect a competitive, entertaining game. I think both offenses will be able to move the ball and score. I've seen Boston College several times this season, and I think MSU will have a very difficult time stopping Ryan and that offense. I also think BC will have a tough time with Devin Thomas, he really is a special talent. Overall, I'd have to say I favor the Eagles slightly.

Schedule news, recruiting and more links

Most of you probably saw this on Boston.com, but our game against Kent State has officially been moved to Cleveland. The game will also be played on Saturday, instead of Thursday. That is good news for our fans in Northeast, Ohio. Bad news for everyone else. The Thursday game would have been on TV. This game might not be. Since it is a road game ACC Select and ESPN 360 are unlikely. Keep your fingers crossed.

This article on bowl gifts also made the rounds yesterday. I think our guys getting a $400 shopping spree at Best Buy is pretty cool.

Pennsylvania product Eric Reynolds committed to BC.

Codi Boek is featured in these two articles (1 and 2). I think he has a real chance to play next year.

Finally, former BC assistant and current Temple coach Al Golden has emerged as a candidate for the UCLA job. Only a guy like Golden could turn a 4-8 season at Temple into a plum job like UCLA. We actually owe him thanks for encouraging two of our current staffers (Ryan Day and Mike Siravo) to come to BC. Golden and UCLA is a head scratcher to many involved, but I think he'd do well there.

Lessons from the Recruiting Class of 2003

[Before I get too far into the class of '03 let me quickly explain how I think recruiting factors into winning. I think a third of a program’s success is about recruiting and evaluating players. I think another third of a program’s success is training and coaching the players once they get on campus. The final piece of the puzzle, in my opinion, is the actual gameday coaching and strategy. Obviously this theory cannot be confirmed but something has to explain programs like Ohio State, Virginia Tech and even BC, outperforming their recruiting rankings.]

The Class of 2003 is BC’s winningest and produced numerous contributors who have helped BC football over the last five seasons. Looking closer shows that even our best recruiting class still had misses and that they were not the sole reason for our 2007 success. (Only 70% of the recruiting class even played this season and you could argue that a handful of them regressed).

So remember this chart as we gush about Jags’ first full class in a couple of weeks. Clear lessons:

1. One class does not make or break a program.
2. It is often very hard to project who is going to be a star and who is not.
3. The recruiting rankings are not perfect indicators.

Scout ranked this class 27th nationally. Rivals ranked BC 24th

Player	Rivals Rating	Scout Rating	Played in 2007	Comments
Tom Anevski	3	3	Yes	Contributor and part-time starter in 2006 and 2007.
Justin Bell	3	2	No	Battled injuries throughout his career.
Dorien Bryant	4	3	No	Never played for BC. Went to Purdue after a stint in prep school.
Andre Callender	4	3	Yes	Contributor for three seasons. Blossomed into great player as a Senior.
Kevin Challenger	3	2	Yes	Started as a Junior and Senior. Solid possession receiver his final three seasons.
Gosder Cherilus	3	4	Yes	Started all four seasons.
Jo-Lonn Dunbar	3	3	Yes	Two-time captain. Critical player his final three seasons.
Ryan Glasper	3	2	No	Four year starter. Used up eligibility prior to 2007.
Ty Hall	3	3	Yes	Contributor and part-time starter over four years.
Trey Koziol	3	3	No	Battled injuries.
Ray Lankford	3	2	No	Rarely played.
Nick Larkin	3	3	Yes	Important contributor. Three-year starter.
Taji Morris	3	2	Yes	Rare contributor as a FR, SO or JR. Very nice season in 2007.
Brad Mueller	3	3	No	Rarely played.
Paul Peterson	3	2	No	Critical part of 2003 and 2004 seasons.
Ryan Poles	4	3	Yes	Another late bloomer who was having a great season until getting hurt at Notre Dame.
Tyronne Pruitt	3	2	Yes	Two-year starter. Important part of 2007 season.
Matt Ryan	3	3	Yes	Key leader for the past 2.5 seasons.
Kevin Sheridan	3	2	Yes	Started in 2006. Rarely played in 2007.
Jamie Silva	2	2	Yes	Contributed as a redshirt freshman. Key starter his final three seasons.
Ryan Thompson	3	3	Yes	Contributed throughout his career. Diminished role in 2007.
DeJuan Tribble	3	3	Yes	Key starter his last three seasons.
LV Whitworth	3	2	Yes	Started his first three seasons. Diminished role in 2007.
Danny Zepp	3	2	No	Rarely played.

A few more thoughts on this class…
-- Ryan and Peterson were both fall back plans. TOB and staff swung for bigger fish and missed. And both were expected to sit behind Quinton Porter. They embody how hard it is to evaluate QBs and how important a Quarterback can be to a successful season.
-- Even once a kid gets onto the field you cannot always predict how they will develop year to year. Sheridan, LV, Challenger and Thompson all saw diminished roles this season. Gosder regressed. Callender and Poles looked like new players as seniors.
-- There is something to be said for managing your roster. Dunbarr was brought in as a RB and moved to LB. Remember this when our 2008 recruiting class is filled with a bunch of QBs, RBs and DBs. Some of those guys will play other positions.
-- Redshirting is not fool proof. Everyone loves to tout redshirting. We’ve benefited from it, but did an extra year of seasoning help Zepp or Mueller or Lankford? If a guy can play, he can play. And not everyone gets asked back for a 5th season.

In the offseason I may dig deeper into recruiting and try to make sense of this inexact science.

Craig Smith and more recruiting links

Nice feature on Craig Smith. He is really filling the scoring void Garnett left with the T'Wolves.

Alex DiSanzo was one of many BC recruits to make the All-New Jersey team.

Colin Larmond also received all-state honors.

Looking past stars: what I like about Jags-era recruiting

I do my best not to get emotionally invested in recruiting news. Past experience has me hardened to the flawed rankings and the gossip sold as news by the major sites. It’s a long was from wooing a high school kid to the ACC championship. Staying somewhat detached from recruiting keeps things in perspective.

What does interest me is where the staff recruits and how they sell BC. BC is not for everyone. The program remains a unique niche and it is up to Jags and his staff to sell that niche -- and not themselves or the opportunity to go to the NFL. When you sell the coach or -- as Jags often references -- the fancy weight room, you are setting the student up for disappointment. Jags might not be here in five year, but BC will. Regardless of their success on the field, these kids are going to be BC students and future alumni. That should mean something to us, the current students and alumni. Therefore, I am thrilled when I hear the recruits spout off these points:

"Great mix of academics and athletics." This is our most important selling point. We respect the student and give them great support to graduate. It also attracts the type of kid who can see the big picture.

"Northern school playing big time football." One of the most misguided criticisms BC took during the ACC expansion was that we would be out of place in our new conference. The ACC gives BC another distinct recruiting pitch. We are the lone school in the northeast that allows a guy to play in front of friends and family, yet also take on teams like Florida State, Clemson and Miami. The Big East teams cannot claim our level of attention. Penn State has a similar position to BC...fortunately we never seem to go head to head with them over recruits.

"Connecting with the guys" -- "Felt at home." etc. As much as we talk about coaches or selling the school, one of the most overlooked selling points is how the guy clicks with the current players. Each recruit is going to have to go to battle with these guys, spend hours on end with them, and compete with them. There must be a connection. We don’t have a bunch of choir boys, but most of the current BC players are good people. That’s important and players self selecting into that culture should keep the team filled with good “BC Guys.”


I am realistic. I know playing time, style of offense and getting on TV help our recruiting. But as long as the right message gets out and the player knows what he is getting, the coaches are doing their job the right way.

The other aspect of our recruiting that pleases me is the breadth of our recruiting territory. In addition to New England, New York/New Jersey/Pennsylvania and the Midwestern Catholic Schools, the new staff is placing an emphasis on Florida, Texas and the southeast. The dividends may be small at first, but I think now is the time to leverage BC’s reputation. We consider ourselves a national school. Our football team should embody that as well. I know our pitch will be ignored by the vast majority of top kids in SEC land. There will also be plenty of kids who will respond.

Recruiting is evaluation, sales and hard work. I think this staff believes in what they are selling and is certainly working hard. If their evaluations are good, we’ll be benefiting from their efforts for a long time.

Recruiting links

With the NCAA quiet period approaching, many recruits made commitments to BC the past few days. I'll have more on what I like about the new staff's approach later today. For now, enjoy what these guys have to say about heading to the Heights.

South Carolina kicker/punter Ryan Quigley committed after the weekend. I imagine he'll be our punter and in the mix on kickoffs. In this article, the paper focuses on BC's success graduating players. Quigley also gets a mention at the end of this article.

BC is a factor in the New Jersey recruiting cirlces again. The most recent commit came from Chris Pantale. At BC, he is expected to play Tight End.

Arkansas's loss was BC's gain when Junior Okpara made his commitment to BC. Turned off by Petrino, Okpara reopened the process and connected with the new staff.

Monday video links

Jared Dudley on ESPN.



The Big Ten Network previewing the Champs Bowl.

Digging up the Dienhart stuff

Remember this article? It was the perfect example of The Sporting News' Tom Dienhart's inexplicable love for TOB. Sunday night, EDSBS had Dienhart on their podcast and a BC fan alerted the hosts of Dienhart's ranking. He dodges and spins a little...as expected. I got word late in the show that they had brought it up and so I called to thank Orson and Peter. You can hear me chat with the guys in the last 20 minutes of the show.

It wasn't a true grilling but it's the little things that often bring us pleasure...

When you write as often as Dienhart, you're going to miss your mark plenty of times. I should know. However, his constant drum beating for TOB prior to the NC State move and his consistent potshots at BC and Jags won't be forgotten.

A few Sunday links

I don't know other's take, but it seemed like Blaudschun put a melancholy spin on this Ryan moving on article. I hope the team is fired up by the time they take the field against Michigan State. The best part of the piece was Ryan's quote at the end about how different their lives are from normal BC students. Puts things in perspective. They are students, but given unique opportunities and in return, asked to live a very different life.

Yet another article on Colin Larmond. Seems like a really good kid.

Some soccer players earned academic honors.

A nice article on Basketball assistant Pat Duquette. We often give Al credit for having a great eye for talent when it comes to players. He's also done a pretty good job of surrounding himself with good assistants.