Grades and thoughts are coming Monday morning

Thanks for your patience.

Better but still not enough

Do we celebrate moral victories at this point? Not the ending we wanted but encouraging on many fronts. The defense played a hell of a game but you can't expect to win when your offense only generates 9 points. Rettig's stats were Shinkie-ish but I liked many of the things he did.

We are effectively out of the division race and are in the midst of our longest losing streak in a decade. So we still have plenty of work to do.

I will have second viewing thoughts and grades up late Sunday night.

In-game comments post: Florida State

We hoped for a hero in Rettig's debut. Obviously he (and BC) got shortchanged. Can things turn around in his second start? We will see. Leave your comments and thoughts below.

You can join the conversation on the Eagle Insider message boards.

During the game I will probably have the occasional comment on Twitter.

Game Watches: Florida State

This game is on national TV, but it is always fun to watch it with others. For those in the Boston area that usually watch in person, you can head down to the Atlantic Beer Garden for their Game Watch. If I missed any, please post it in the comments.

Boston Game Watch
Atlantic Beer Garden
146 Seaport Blvd
Boston, MA

Chicago Game Watch
Trinity
2721 North Halsted Street
Chicago, IL

Denver Game Watch
Big Game Restaurant & Lounge
1631 Wazee St
Denver, CO

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

Milwaukee Game Watch
Zim's
770 N Milwaukee St
Milwaukee, WI 53202


New York City Game Watches
Vertigo
354 Third Avenue at 26th Street


Thunder Jackson's
Bleecker and Sullivan



Phoenix Game Watch
Gallagher's Sports Bar and Grill
7575 N. 16th Street, Phoenix


San Francisco Game Watch
Shanghai Kelly's
2064 Polk Street
(between Broadway St & Pacific Ave)
San Francisco, CA

Washington, D.C. Game Watch
The Rookery
2519 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC

Why don't we look more like Oregon?

Chip Kelly is changing the face of college football. His team is scoring more and faster than anyone else in the sport. Three thousand miles away we struggle getting a first down and cannot effectively run a two-minute drill. Why does this matter? Because outside of Oregon and UNH there is no other staff in football that has as much working experience with Kelly as BC does!

When I first mentioned the UNH clique my hope was that Spaz would emulate Sean McDonnell and Mike Belotti and empower his assistant to maximize BC's talent on offense. So far that isn't happening.

I understand that assistants aren't always able to emulate and replicate their mentors style and strategy. But I don't believe Sean Devine and Ryan Day have been given much of a chance. I don't think Spaz will ever change course midseason, but he needs to do some serious evaluation of his staff and team this offseason. He has guys who had front row seats to the cutting edge. I don't care if they themselves haven't proved it. Handing things over to them is no risk. What is the downside: losing by 40 instead of 20?

BC-Florida State preview

I could roll out a million cliches to capture my mood, but let me just say I am optimistic about Saturday. I even tweeted the thought Wednesday. I have a hard time rationalizing it. I hate intangibles, but I just feel like we are due for a break. Due for a breakout performance or two. Due for things to go our way. Maybe I am hoping too much. Maybe I am seeing things that aren't there. Maybe I want to enjoy the rest of the season. I don't know. I know we still have many problems but I just feel like things will go our way this Saturday.

Overlooked storyline for the game: Spaz and McGovern's familiarity with FSU's offensive line play
FSU's offensive line scheme, style and techniques are very similar to what BC ran under Jags. In fact, during exile last year, Jags spent some time in Tallahassee working with their offensive staff on the zone blocking. Since Spaz and his defensive staff went up against it so often scouting it and knowing how to attack it should be easy. Our defensive line play has been decent and knowing what they know, I think we can exploit some weaknesses in FSU's scheme and then slow down their offense.

Three Simple Key
1. Use the Tight Ends in passing. One area where we don't have a talent gap is Tight End. Against FSU's zone packages Pantale and Anderson should be able to find some open spots over the middle.
2. Drop the LBs deeper into coverage. The LB play was a bit haphazard last week. We were blitzing so often and so keyed on stopping the run that both Kuechly and KPL got caught flatfooted in the pass game. I think they need to be more patient this week and force Ponder to throw into seven men.
3. Sticking with the run game I hope that even if we are down we stick with the run game until late in the game. I think we need to slow the tempo of the game. Give our D a rest and put as little of this on Rettig as possible. I also feel like patience with the rushing attack will pay off for the offensive line and Montel.

Gambling Notes
-- BC is 0-5 against the spread this year.
-- BC has never lost four straight games by 17 points or more
-- BC has only started 0-3 in conference play once
The current line is BC+21.5.

Factoid
Florida State has not lost three straight games in Tallahassee to an ACC opponent.

Scoreboard Watching
Keep an eye on Clemson-Maryland and Wake Forest-Virginia Tech. Like us, Wake and Clemson are ACC team's struggling to get back on track. We might learn a thing or two by how they respond to adversity.

I hope to see…
A close game. Yes, it has become that bad. As I told my wife the other day, "this is the least stressful BC season ever." We are never in games so my usual pacing, cursing, and twitching doesn't even start. The games are brutal to watch. I would hate to lose, but I would love to have us be in a game in the final minute.

BC is in trouble if…
Florida State gets up early. I am not questioning the guys' hearts. I just think losing is tough and they are not getting much guidance or hope. If we are down big early, I think we are in for another long, painful afternoon.

Bottom Line
We already know I am crazy, but picking BC this weekend should be enough proof to put me away. I know we are better than our record and better than we've played. We can do this. Rettig doesn't need to be a superstar. He just needs to make a play or two. I think the defense makes it happen this weekend and Harris makes a few big plays. We win and people finally start smiling about BC football again.
Final Score: BC 28, Florida State 23

Counterpoint

Eagle Action posted a article today blaming recruiting for BC and Spaz's current problems. I like Eric Hoffses's work in general but assume this was written in response to my "No Excuses" post and the general feeling around the message boards. I obviously don't buy the talent excuse and would ask the following two questions to anyone who claims talent is the issue.

1. Does BC have 2-3 talent?
2. Has the staff done a good job with the talent they have?

Guest Blogger: Chant Rant

Rich from Chant Rant is back to guest blog this year. The Seminoles look like they are ready to ascend to the top of the ACC again. But how does it look from the inside? My questions and Rich's answers are below.

ATLEagle: The offense seems fairly balanced between run and pass. Aside from being more efficient is there anything new that Jimbo has done this year?

Chant Rant: Almost everything has changed under Jimbo. From the morning after Bowden announced his retirement, the program evolved to be more like today's cutting edge college football powers. When Jimbo coached under Nick Saban, he absorbed what Saban calls "The Process." Jimbo installed that system at FSU and it's already paying dividends.

The Process encompasses everything from a new strength and conditioning coach -- and a different approach to physical development, to personalized nutrition regimens for each player. Jimbo has brought in sports psychologists to do motivational training. He broke down the dressing room division between offense and defense, assigning lockers at random for a cohesive team atmosphere. Practice sessions have a new format and urgency. And, of course, the addition of five new on-field assistant coaches help ensure that the staff is all on the same page, unlike the last few years when there was apparent dissension.

ATLeagle: After years of playing man under Andrews, you are playing much more zone. Do you think the team will still be able to generate pressure on BC?

Chant Rant: True, Mickey Andrew’s trademark was man-to-man, while Stoops has installed the zone as he knows it. But saying the Noles are all-zone all-the-time would be off-target. As defensive players have become more familiar with the system, Stoops has been able to throw more surprises at opponents, from mixing up zone and man coverage to creative blitz packages. One result is sacks -- enough to lead the nation. Jimbo Fisher emphasizes that those sacks are coming from three different areas: A fierce rush by the front four, blitzes, and by WR-blanketing coverage. So while offensive coordinators and QBs had little doubt about what to expect from Andrews’ defense -- especially in recent years -- Stoops is throwing curves and change-ups.

ATLeagle: I know you are only half a season into the Fisher era, but do you think he has Florida State back on a path to dominance? What is benchmarks are you looking for as he builds the team?

Chant Rant: For FSU fans there's just one benchmark that really counts, and that's beating the hated rivals from Gainesville (aka, the gators). Bobby Bowden did it in his second year at the helm of the Noles. As the season develops, FSU fans are becoming emboldened enough to think Fisher could do it in his first year.

Sure, ACC Championships are fine. And having a shot at a national title again would be a dream come true. But it all begins and ends with beating Florida. And because Urban Meyer's team has been a major factor in the championship race in recent years, a win over UF would be a key factor in Florida State's return to national prominence.

ATLeagle: What is your prediction for the game?


Chant Rant: It's easy for odds makers and sportswriters to predict an FSU win coming off Jimbo's first-year signature win over Miami. But this game has the recipe for a major emotional letdown by the Noles. Add to that the physical factor. As a contact inside the program told me before the game, "This will be a black and blue game, after which players on both teams will spend three days in the hot tubs."

On the other side, I expect B.C. to be fired up with something to prove to the ACC and the nation. So while I look for an FSU win, it won't be easy and could be down to the wire. Especially if the Noles start out unfocused and still recovering from the bumps and bruises of last Saturday.

Dan Lembke talks BC and other links

Dan Lembke committed to BC last weekend. Here is his interview with Scout.com. His point about "family" should be noted. I think we fans underestimate how important the other players and families are in recruiting. There is a lot of self selection going on.

Other than Rettig, the big news on the depth chart is that Swigert is now starting.

In other recruiting news, BC target Rob Trudo now has an offer from Pitt.

Jason Sylva is another BC target who is at Tabor.

No excuses

I know that many of you read this blog and purposely avoid the message board bickering. As you can imagine there is plenty of debate as far as what's wrong with our team and who is to blame. I know I am considered anti-Spaz. I like to consider myself more pro-BC but regardless I strongly dislike lame excuses. The Ws and Ls on this season's record will belong to Frank Spaziani. Not TOB. Not Jags. Not Gene. Not the empty seats at Alumni. It is his and his staff's job to take the pieces and players they have and make a gameplan accordingly. Every excuse is hollow. Let's review:

Recruiting: Excuse: We are suffering from the poor recruiting of TOB and Jags. Reality: Spaz and Bill McGovern were both part of staffs that recruited and evaluated every player on this roster. Mike Siravo has been the recruiting coordinator for four years. 80% of the players on the roster committed while Spaz, McGovern, Siravo, Ben Sirmans, Ryan Day and Jeff Comissiong were on the staff. These are their players. Any supposed "gaps" could and should have been rectified long ago.

Second Year Head Coach: Excuse: Spaz is only in his second year. Most first time head coaches get more leeway. Reality: Spaz is not your typical second year head coach. He was a longtime assistant who was promoted in part because he provided continuity from our winning years. That continuity means there shouldn't be such drastic drop in execution. If we had hired an outsider the expectations would be different.

The QBs are the problem: Excuse: We are just hitting a rough patch and if we had even a halfway decent QB some of these games might have been different. Reality: this team won enough with poor QB play last year. Dave Shinskie has not been good. But the staff tabbed him the starter and have yet to devise a functional offense around him or the other options.

This season has been a long time coming: Excuse: BC has had big problems for a long time. They've been masked by a few good players like Matt Ryan and a down ACC. Spaz is just fixing things now. Reality: that is hogwash. Many seasons teeter on the brink between great and disaster. Good coaches do the things along the way to make things better.

Florida State will be a real test. They are the best team we will face this year but are also a decent matchup for us. If Spaz can rally the troops, we may make a good run to close the season. However, if the 'Noles crush us, it could send the season spiraling out of control.

Blogpoll ballot

Even as undefeated BCS teams lose, I still have trouble moving Boise State up. I kept Oregon No. 1 and went easy on the ACC. I also came away impressed with Nebraska's win on Thursday night.

Games I watched
-- BC-NC State 100%(twice)
-- Nebraska-Kansas State 50%
-- Florida-LSU 25%
-- Auburn-Kentucky 25%
-- Michigan-Michigan State 25%

Eagle in Atlanta Ballot - Week 7

Rank	Team	Delta
1	Oregon Ducks	--
2	Nebraska Cornhuskers	1
3	Ohio St. Buckeyes	2
4	Auburn Tigers	3
5	LSU Tigers	14
6	Michigan St. Spartans	2
7	Oklahoma Sooners	-3
8	Utah Utes	6
9	Oklahoma St. Cowboys	--
10	Missouri Tigers	2
11	South Carolina Gamecocks	6
12	Boise St. Broncos	3
13	TCU Horned Frogs	-3
14	Florida St. Seminoles	7
15	Alabama Crimson Tide	-13
16	Nevada Wolf Pack	--
17	Arkansas Razorbacks	--
18	Michigan Wolverines	-12
19	Air Force Falcons	5
20	N.C. State Wolfpack	--
21	Wisconsin Badgers	2
22	Iowa Hawkeyes	3
23	Stanford Cardinal	-1
24	Kansas St. Wildcats	-8
25	UTEP Miners	--
Dropouts: Arizona Wildcats, Northwestern Wildcats, Florida Gators, Miami Hurricanes

SB Nation BlogPoll College Football Top 25 Rankings »

Maryland kickoff time and other links

The Maryland game has a 1 PM kickoff and will be on ESPN3.com. If we don't turn things around many of our remaining games will be on ESPN3.com.

This is a few days old, but former BU star Vinny Saponari is heading to BC. Vinny was kicked out of BU for a violation of team rules. Under normal circumstances I wouldn't like this idea, but Jerry York has certainly earned the right to give guys second chances.

Hockey shutout Northeastern in its opener.

It was a good weekend for women's cross country as they won the New England Intercollegiate Amateur Athletic Association (NEICAAA) Cross Country Championship.

Here are some BC related recruiting links from Eagle Insider/Scout.com: Ohio OL target Anthony Stanko, Pennsylvania QB John Loughery, NJ Tight End Jack Tabb and NJ WR Mike DeTroia

Game Theory and Spaz

Unlike baseball where nearly everything has been decided, Game Theory in football is still very complex and in flux. However, there are little things here and there that we know make a difference. Perhaps it is time for Spaz to adjust some of his theories and practices with the hopes that it will change the final outcome. One area that I think needs to change is deferring after winning the coin toss. The theory in this strategy is that if you consistently receive the kickoff to start the second half, that over the course of the season you will have extra possessions. I am all for extra possessions when an offense is functional. In BC's current situation each possession is just extending the pain. Beside this is what we've accomplished with those second half possessions.

Kent State: 12 plays, 75 yards, TD
Notre Dame: 5 plays, 9 yards, punt
NC State: 3 plays, -3 yards, punt

My simple alternative is that BC should receive the opening kickoff whenever we can. This way we increase the chance of scoring first. We can start establishing a tempo for the game early. We can start to limit both teams' possessions. We can start to play field position game early. This mentality doesn't lead to exciting football but it makes much more sense to go conservative in a 0-0 game than when you are down by three scores.

Second viewing thoughts and grade report: NC State

I usually start these reviews with my mood after rewatching. "Was there hope for the future?" "Are things worse than I thought?" etc. Watching back today, I felt worse. A lot worse. Forget all the issues surrounding the program. Forget the tidal wave of criticism. I'll get into my Spaz game "theory stuff" later this week. What bothers me most is that we are failing at one of the basic jobs of any coach at any level and that is making players better each day. Some of the guys are playing better but many of our guys are not improving. They are making many of the same mistakes. That is not a talent issue. That is a teaching issue. When things are going wrong everything is magnified. I don't know if we have bottomed out but the next few weeks will be telling. Can the staff stop the bleeding and can they connect with their players? There are plenty of winnable games left on the schedule. BC has the pieces. I even think some of the coaches are very good. I just think the pieces are not working well together now. Let's hope that someone gets us turned in the right direction.

Offense: D

On Saturday I tweeted that Rettig with one leg would have been better than Shinskie or Marscovetra. Dave Shinskie is a lost cause. Do you realize now he has played significantly in 17 games? That's more time than Chris Crane ever got. It's approaching how much time Quinton Porter got. Do we really need to give it any more time. I understand that he was away from football for a long time, but his regression in some football basics is startling. As mentioned in the game, his footwork and balance are messed up. A few of the tips came as a result of him throwing in sort of a 3/4s motion. NC State totally confused him with where the pressure was coming from. He would point things out presnap and be completely wrong as the pressure came from the other side. This became a problem as he was checking down into the heavy coverage. To Tranq's credit, he gave him some easy throws to make. Shinskie couldn't do it. Marscovetra wasn't great. I don't think he is the answer as he still had trouble deciding when to stay in the pocket and still forced some bad downfield throws. But he seems capable enough of hitting some short passes. Maybe that is the best we can hope for (other than Rettig getting a bit healthier).

Harris played well enough. He made positive plays. In fact I don't think he is getting the ball enough. Really happy with Phifer -- he made people miss a few times. Williams's work was all done in garbage time, but he looked promising. McCluskey did a really good job lead blocking. If he can keep this up, he might get on an NFL roster.

The WRs were okay considering all the passes that we missed. Swigert seems to find enough space each time the ball gets near him. He should really be the focus of the QBs. Amidon's TD was in garbage time and he seems a little hyper in some of his play but he's got good upside as well. Even though he got the TD, Momah needs to do a better job holding onto the ball. Phillips is no longer a redshirt. Let's hope he makes a big impact. The TEs were fine but didn't really get a chance to do much good or bad.

There has been a lot of talk as to why Claiborne is not starting. I can say that he is not playing as well as he has in the past. Is it because they keep pulling him in and out? I don't know. I do know that when he pulls he often whiffs on his block. But when he is able to go straight ahead he still looks good. White has been playing more in place of Cleary and looking decent. The other starters were fine. There were fewer mistakes, but also not a ton of push.

Last year we broke nearly every BC rushing record in the book against this team. Last week Virginia Tech ran for more than 300 yards against NC State. We don't pass well, yet Dave Shinskie threw the ball 24 times. Harris only ran 14 times. I don't care that we were down early. I don't even care if they started crashing the line. Sometimes being effective on the ground is just about being stubborn until you wear them down or something breaks. Don't worry about being predictable running as players are already whining about how predictable our offense is. At this level predictability is not a problem. Execution is. Think of 2008 when Steve Logan was dealing with an equally frustrating QB in Chris Crane. Eventually he resorted to running the zone option 15-20 times a game because it was a play that Crane, Harris and the line could run. At this level, once you establish something like that you can then build on it. We have no bread and butter play. I've been harping on it because it is true. I don't know if Tranq is trying to adjust to each team but at a certain point you just have to worry about your own. Get some plays that work that any QB can perform.



Defense: C+

The defensive line is maligned but I think they played pretty well. In general they contained Wilson and even sacked him. Albright continues his strong season. Ramsey was good. Scafe was fine but had a dumb penalty. Newman was a bit quiet. O'Neal was fine. I keep waiting for Quinn to do something big. Holloway and edebali was hustling.

The linebackers had a bit of a letdown. Kuechly was very good although he did get beat on that one TD. KPL also struggled in pass coverage and seems to be overpusing a bit. Morrissey got lost contain on one of Wilson's scrambles and missed a few tackles. Devitto was okay. Herzy -- even with a bum leg and a busted hand -- is still pretty darn good. He was making good decisions, just a little slow. I remain frustrated that we are not rotating LBs more. Kuechly should play ever down, but there is no reason KPL, Morrissey and Herzy shouldn't get a breather for some of the other guys. Someone new might make a play.

Fletcher had another good game and is putting together a decent season. Davis's game was a little rough. He should have helped on the TD that went into Kuechly's area and missed a tackle. I know people are harping on Gause, but he was fine. LeGrande makes some good plays and is playing hard but the dumb penalties are killers.

I give McGovern credit. He mixed things up. We shifted the front four a lot. We blitzed a lot. We intercepted Wilson twice and slowed down their rushing. But we need to do more. I understand the philosophy but at this point we don't have the offense to compliment this type of scheme. We need to get the other team off the field faster.


Special Teams:C


Quigley is going to be the offensive MVP the way he is punting. He did a good job of pinning them in. The block was not Quigley's fault. I am actually surprised that NC State backed off after blocking the first one. I expect FSU to come after us since our first line guys let people walk in free.

Freese missed a FG but was still fine.

Fox and Gause got a lot of return chances and were fine.


Overall: D
Put aside some of the big picture things that are amiss and just focus on how Spaz handled this game. Why start the second half with Shinskie? Why start him at all? Why keep shuffling the OLine during the game? Why didn't we use the bazooka? Why are the QBs and WRs not on the same page? It just looked like another lifeless mess.

What is left to say?

Reader Matt K. provided this photo of his little eagle. Sort of captures the mood, doesn't it?

The defense played well considering the final score. The offensive line improved. The problem remains at QB. I understand that we have two bad options. But it is up to the staff to find something that works and also know when to pull the plug on one guy. Shinskie clearly didn't have it today. Did we have to give him so many possessions? If they still don't feel Rettig is mobile enough to play then I think you have to consider everything. Bordner? Flutie? Boek? A walkon. Whatever. But the whole thing is frustrating and makes these games hard to watch.

Hopefully watching it back will provide a few more slivers of hope. Grades and second viewing thoughts will be up late Sunday night.

At least it is officially hockey season.

In-game comments post: NC State

Two years ago in Raleigh, Chris Crane put together the one of the best single game QB performances in BC history. Can Carter-Finley provide the same sort of redemption for Dave Shinskie? I hope so. There is also part of me that thinks we will see Chase Rettig play a series or two. Whatever happens and whoever is under center, BC needs the win today. I am sure the game will be eventful. You can leave your thoughts and comments below.

You are welcome to join the discussion on the Eagle Insider message boards.

You can also follow me on Twitter.

Game Watches: NC State

This is a Raycom game so a Game Watch might be your best option. The game will also be on ESPN3.com. Who knows, this could be the one where we turn it all around. If it is, wouldn't you like to be around other Eagles. If I missed any watches, be sure to post it in the comments section.

Chicago Game Watch
Trinity
2721 North Halsted Street
Chicago, IL

Dallas Game Watch
Christie's Sports Bar
2811 McKinney Avenue
Dallas, TX


Denver Game Watch
Big Game Restaurant & Lounge
1631 Wazee St
Denver, CO

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



New York City Game Watches
Vertigo
354 Third Avenue at 26th Street


Thunder Jackson's
Bleecker and Sullivan



Phoenix Game Watch
Gallagher's Sports Bar and Grill
7575 N. 16th Street, Phoenix


San Francisco Game Watch
Shanghai Kelly's
2064 Polk Street
(between Broadway St & Pacific Ave)
San Francisco, CA

Washington, D.C. Game Watch NEW LOCATION**
The Rookery
2519 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC

Shinskie to start

The Herald is reporting Shinskie will start Saturday. With the way things are going I expect multiple QBs to play. More on Shinskie's return on Friday.

BC-NC State preview

TOB...TOB...TOB. It's always about him, so it seems. A regular reader challenged me for being so negative of late. Maybe I have been seeing things as half full, but maybe the tough times are what drive us as fans and drive me as a blogger. In fact TOB was the reason I started this blog. After the Syracuse fiasco in 2004, I was so frustrated with TOB's excuse making and the media acceptance of BC's mediocrity, that I felt the need to start documenting things. But whatever frustration I felt with TOB was overcome by my love and passion for BC sports. A few days after I started the blog, Paul Peterson got carted off the field with a broken leg in the Tire Bowl. Yet he was still pumping his fist. Those are the moments that make being a fan special. So in a way, I owe TOB thanks. His failure against the Orange sparked this crazy journey. Now, let's hope this week he goes ultraconservative, losses the game and offers a respite from the painful football BC fans have been watching the past two weeks.

Overlooked storyline for the game: Dave Brock's eye for talent
BC Tight Ends coach Dave Brock was the guy who closed on Chase Rettig for us. He's also the one who got us hooked up with Dave Shinskie, but what some might not realize was that he was the one who discovered NC State QB Russell Wilson. Brock was coaching at UNC at the time and saw Wilson play. He really wanted to bring him to Chapel Hill but John Bunting had already committed to Mike Paulus. Wilson was then signed by Chuck Amato in a last minute commitment. The rest is history and Bunting has since admitted letting Wilson slip through his fingers was a big mistake.

Three Simple Key
1. Getting rid of the ball quickly. For the fourth straight year with the third different team, BC faces a Jon Tenuta defense. He is not the DC at NC State but they have implemented some of his blitzes. This week Rettig (and his backups will need to get rid of the ball quickly. Quick outs, slants, etc. Since Rettig will be hobbled and Marscovetra showed no feel for it, I hope we don't use any draws against the blitz.
2. Keep Wilson in the pocket. Wilson is a dangerous passer but I think BC needs to let him dink and dunk. They need to keep everything in front of us and hope NC State makes a mistake. In the shootout with Chris Crane two years ago, Wilson made his biggest plays with his feet and on broken plays.
3. Breakout the bazooka. We've only seen our version of the Wildcat once this year. Last season Montel set a school rushing record against NC Stat. We need a spark and maybe the way to get our OLine and ground game going is through a gimmick.

Gambling Notes
-- TOB is 1-4 in this series
-- TOB is 8-11 coming off a loss while at NC State
-- Spaz is 1-2 as an away underdog
The current line is BC+9.5

Factoid
This is the first of three games BC will play in North Carolina this year. That is the third time the scheduling quirk has happened since we've joined the ACC.

Scoreboard Watching

We need to win our game for any of this to matter, but the Florida State-Miami game is very important. If FSU is for real they need to make a statement against the Hurricanes.

I hope to see...
Our receivers make some big plays. The QB play wasn't good against Notre Dame, but the WRs didn't help by dropping some passes. I want to see them make those catches and turn them into big plays. Swigert showed it can be done.

BC is in trouble if...
NC State scores more than 21. I know it is sad, but we can't count on winning any shootouts this year. The defense needs to play very well and we cannot give them points in special teams or offense.

Bottom Line
I don't feel great about this game. But I hope that Rettig plays a full game and makes a difference. I hope TOB and Bible do some things that keep us in the game. I hope our defense makes a play or two that set us up for TDs. NC State is beatable, we just need to start playing better football.

Final Score: BC 24, NC State 20

Chase looking better and other links

You've probably read it all by now, but Chase Rettig is practicing. From what I hear, he will play and start Saturday. Herzy broke his left hand, but will also play.

The media expectations for Joe Trapani keep growing. I hope they are right but I haven't heard anything unusual about his progress coming from BC folks.

Here is a recruiting update on BC target Canaan Severin. Malin Jones is considering an official visit to BC. Ohio OL prospect Sam Grant is also on BC's radar.

BC is not the only ACC team struggling with its QB situation.

The basketball game against UMass will be part of a doubleheader at the Garden.

HD doesn't like our chances this weekend.

Soaring to Glory gathered a group of BC bloggers to discuss if this season is already done. Good read for those who are frustrated.