A mid-sized Catholic school with a suburban campus in a Northeast city just won a national championship. I thought that couldn't happen anymore? A team without an FBS football team just won a national championship. I thought that couldn't happen anymore? Even though an ACC team lost, this win is a good thing for BC.
Villanova has a better basketball history than BC and a stronger recruiting footprint. But the only major difference between their success and ours is commitment to winning and finding the right coaches. Nova has done a good job in transitioning the program from coach to coach and always putting an emphasis that the new coach was a more aggressive recruiter than the guy he was replacing. BC on the other hand has not had well planned transitions in the past 20 years. We lucked out that Skinner worked, but the other two transitions were not well planned nor well executed. If Christian is not the guy, we need to have the right guy lined up to take over well before we make a public move. Ironically BC courted Jay Wright two years ago. There are varied reports to how close things got, but it doesn't matter. Wright made the right decision for him and Villanova.
If you're like me and grew up Catholic in the northeast, I am sure you know plenty of Villanova fans and grads (Villanova is my grandfather's Alma mater). I am happy for them. Hopefully we will have our moment one day.
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Nova's in the perfect league for them. Not sure they could come out on top from the meat grinder that is the ACC. Another sad fact is that GDF came to us from there, so what ever he learned from his time w/ the Cats didn't translate to BC.
Comments on the radio this morning about how the city of Philadelphia rallied around this team in the last few weeks. Not much more of a "pro-sports" City than Philadelphia. I'm sure Boston would rally around us if we made a run like 'Nova just did, but either way, I hope Leahy, Bates, and JC are all taking notes and on the phones with their counterparts in Pennsylvania.
On the note of Jay Wright being courted two years ago - I recall someone saying that Bates had a home run hire lined up, but administration turned the salary down...any connection?
Keep in mind, Villanova puts all their resources into basketball. They do not have to fund football and hockey in addition to basketball (yes, they have these programs but they are not given near the resources that bball receives). If Villanova is the model to win a national title than we need to focus on football or basketball. Put all our resources there with the goal to win a national title. Keep in mind, even doing that, titles are once in a generation (1985 and 2016 in the case of 'Nova)
SaturdaysOnShea,
Agreed -- I distinctly remember in 2006 when BC made the sweet sixteen (coincidentally against 'Nova) that I was driving on the Mass Pike and a mainsteam radio DJ was talking enthusiastically about BC in the big dance. I almost drove off the highway from the shock of hearing a pop radio DJ talking about BC hoops. A friend of mine watched the BC/'Nova sweet sixteen game that year at a local bar and told me the place was going crazy for BC. If BC ever makes it to the second weekend of the tournament again, I have no doubt there will be some local support. Let's hope we see that day again some time soon.
BC hockey is in the Frozen Four. Is the city of Boston falling around them? Snooze
Rallying
Georgia Eagle makes a good point unfortunately. Even with Matt Ryan and the tussles with Virginia Tech, the city and media were not enthralled. It is all about professional sports. The Patriots, Celtics, and Bruins and even now the Revolution dwarf BC sports. Someone needs to figure this out or the clock will always have its "snooze button" tapped.
Philly's a hoops town, w/ the big 5, and so many great players having come from there. Throw in the Sixers being putrid for years, and I can see where the town would rally around the Cats. Completely different dynamic in Boston, it's a hockey town, w/ the beanpot being very similar to the Big 5.
Hoib,
All the more reason for Bostonians and New Englanders to support BC hockey. Instead, all I ever see on TV are empty seats.
Guess I'm just jealous of the way southern states back their state's college teams.
@Georgia Eagle: Southern states not only back their college teams, they back high school football greatly. The state high school football championship will have 50K.
You nailed it, JBQ. I'm so tired of hearing Boston being a pro town. It's true but unfair to college sports.
Yes and southern states seem to pass laws to legalize hate.
Joseph, shouldn't you be at a Bernie Sanders rally? You are a total ass. Go away.
Georgia Eagle - ignore him - he has a screw loose and this enables him to do something he could never do in person without shitting his pants.
But there's hope - http://www.theonion.com/article/scientists-slowly-reintroducing-small-group-normal-52632
Lol. Sound advice, Napoleon.
Love The Onion, this blogs commenters need to be rounded up first before the release takes place!
I believe you'll see a big BC presence at the frozen four tomorrow night.My 3 sons, all BC grads, are flying in today for the tournament.The Boston Globe has an article today on BC's captain, Teddy Doherty.
BC hockey outdraws hoops at home consistently.
I'll probably need to issue some trigger warning for this comment, but Joseph rarely leaves his "safe spaces."
The 5pm start time sucks.
Villanova focuses on the most talented kids in the states closest to it and gets a bunch of them. If BC followed that model, BC would be competitive for a tournament slot most years, even if the top tier kids like Noel chose Kentucky. A fan can dream.
Another lesson: don't hire hookers for recruits. Louisville just self-imposed again-one scholly each the next two yrs, fewer recruiting days(24% reduction) and fewer official visits.
They are desperate at this point.
What's in store for UNC? Systemic corruption should cripple that program, we'll see.
The ACC is the SEC of bball. Do anything to win. Let's figure out how to get Coach K to lose with three of the best incoming freshmen in the country. I have some thoughts.
Hoib - One of your comments made it sound like the Big East is a "Patsy" conference. Maybe I misunderstood , but there are some very strong teams in that league - Villanova ,Xavier , Seton Hall , Butler , Providence etc. That Conference owes no apologies to anyone. Villanova had "The Midget" from 93-97 as A.D. and I am told that they were happy to see him go to Boston College. He was such a fraud at Boston College. The great "Steve Lappas" was the hoops coach during Gene's tenure. Final general comment is that UNC should receive "VERY SEVERE SANCTIONS" for their incredible fraudulent academic crimes. Worst of all, faculty and the Administration were all "Partners in Crime" in this matter.
G
It is a good league and I wish we could play in it, but it ain't the ACC. I think they had 1 team in the sweet 16 the last 2 years and the ACC had 11. It's the reason we'll get our welfare checks from this tourney for the next 5 years.
Hoib - not to belabor the point , but the ACC (with Notre Dame) has 15 teams and the Big East has only ten. That certainly makes comparisons a little unfair when looking at the number of teams that progress in tournament play. Also, let us make good use of any windfall $$$ that come to the Heights because of the tournament - in addition to the regular $$$ that accrues to our coffers. It appears that spending $$$ at the Heights is a very difficult task ,indeed. Quite frankly, Boston College and their handling of sports matters has finally worn me down. I am taking a hiatus from participation in the sports scene at BC.(Sad indeed).
I agree Guido wrt the number of teams. However. 6 out of 16 is not by accident.
G
2/3 of 11= 8.25 So lets go w/ that. There is no comparison. Do u think Jay Wright would want to swap conference schedules w/ us? I wish we could play our hoops in the NBE, it would be a much better fit for us, but we can't. To quote Hyman Roth "This is the business we've chosen".
Yes sister, i'll remember to check my work. The points the same though. Hoib BC A&S 76. The Fulton High folks would have had the #'s right.
Jay Wright would probably welcome an entry into the ACC basketball conference, but we both know that that can never happen. They would be one of the elite teams. Another great recruiting class coming in with more potential big recruits after THIS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP -GO NOVA !!!!! Just think about the RECORD WINDFALL THAT THE ACC WILL RECEIVE FROM THE NCAA TOURNAMENT - $$$ 40 million to be split equally among all members. I wonder what Father Leahy will do with his share of a little over $$$$ 2.5 million. Big Nova fan since two family members graduated from there !!!!!! I will repeat --- not to be a wise ass , but BC must make many changes to be relevant in Boston. Even when they have a decent product , they have no clue on how to market properly. They are now using the "Fenway Sports Group" - another HALF ASS MOVE !!!!! This Administration is "CLUELESS ".It is a disgrace and I am a huge (long time) fan of BC that has finally "Moved On".
G
Leahy will do nothing w/ the windfall, that's why i call it BCs ACC welfare check. If GT writes a 5mm per yr. check I'm sure they can get Jay
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