Thoughts on the Football schedule

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

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

Here are some thoughts:

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

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

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

Should BC copy USF's scheduling model?

BC's Football schedule seems pretty close to ideal. In most years, BC plays a DIAA team, a Group 5 team, a potential challenge game and maybe one elite game. As much as the DIAA game might seem like filler or not worth the typical price. it is not a popular practice. USF's AD dislikes them so much that he is not going to schedule DIAA any more. Maybe BC should consider the same thing?

The DIAA game is basically a scrimmage for BC. Since we restarted playing these teams in the early 2000s, BC hasn't lost. Nor have any of the games been close. It is not fair that BC charges the same price for those games as we do for others. BC does not learn all that much and the W does not provide much respect nor something to sell. 

BC is locked in to our current schedule for a few years. I don't think the average BC fan cares about any DIAA team, but it will be nice to play Holy Cross again. Since I doubt BC will ever be as bold as USF, I think the most we can hope for are DIAA teams that have a history with our program.

As the ACC turns...watering down the schedule is in play

Earlier in the week it looked like the ACC was going to beef up its Football schedule one way or another. But as we know, things can turn quickly on Tobacco Road. The latest leaks say that the conference is willing to take less money from ESPN in order to avoid the contracted ten annual Power 5 games each Football team is expected to play by 2019.

This comes from the weak leadership in North Carolina. Commissioner John Swofford has never been a good consensus builder -- look at the botched first expansion, losing Maryland, the flip flops on nine games, etc. I don't know who is driving the pull back. Based on Bates' track record, I doubt it is him, but I can see BC joining the group of "less money/easier schedules."

The only reason the ACC feels like they can take this risk is because the Big XII is such a mess. Our place at the table is secure as long as their is a weaker, more disorganized conference out there. But being fourth place is not a good long-term strategy. Hopefully something talks some sense into the leaders and they actually agree to the contract they signed.

The problems of the ACC often mirror those of BC. Both organizations need to decide what they really want to be and then go forward in a direction to fulfill their goals and vision. Instead, both always say one thing, do another and then change direction again when there are threats or criticism. That sort of flipflopping never leads to consistent success.

Behind the scenes on ACC's schedule debate

There is a very interesting article in Tuesday's Daily Press. It gives all the details on the ACC debate over an eight or nine game conference schedule.

BC remains committed to the ninth game. Regardless of who wins out on this issue, I am glad the 9+1 model is BC's focus. Playing the one additional ACC  game solves many of BC's schedule issues and gets Coastal Division teams to Alumni more often. The 8+2 policy might bring more variety, but the logistics for BC are always going to be difficult. We don't offer a big stadium pay day and represent a long trip for many Power 5. If you include our desire to play like-minded schools, there just aren't enough non-ACC teams to go around.

The issue has to be decided soon. There are a few swing schools in the mix, but I still believe that the 9+1 model wins out. It is certainly what is best for BC, but I also think it is best for the ACC.

More on the scheduling debate in the ACC

We can assume that ESPN is well sourced on their ACC scheduling talks since ESPN is waiting for an answer. Tuesday Andrea Adelson broke down the even split between the 9-1 crowd and the 8-2 crowd. BC is firmly in the 9-1 camp. Ultimately it comes down to the flexibility needed for those schools that have non ACC rivals (GT, FSU, Clemson and Louisville) and those who have real trouble scheduling games among the Power 5. Something or someone will have to give since the ESPN/ACC Netwok is owed ten Power 5 games per team.

My guess is that the 8-2 crowd will win out. They have the most powerful football brands right now and the 8-2 model can still meet the needs of the 9-1 crowd. How? By allowing ACC schools to play each other as non-conference games. That puts BC at a slight disadvantage because our permanent crossover game against VT counts in the standings but a non-conference game say against Miami might not. But in my opinion, that is a minor problem. 

I prefer 8-2 and would like to see BC take on any and all Power 5 teams, even if it hurts our bowl eligibility on occasion. 

A compromise will be reached soon and I am sure it will be called unanimous regardless of how the actual votes play out. 

Football releases 2015 schedule

The ACC and BC finally released their 2015 schedule. The only real news on BC's front is that New Mexico State is officially out and replaced by...Howard. This is not a good schedule. It doesn't line up well. It doesn't help sell tickets. The only thing it does well is set BC up for a true transition. We are breaking in a new, young QB and a new play caller. The team will be fairly young. This soft schedule enables them to bottom out, yet still keep up momentum and still continue winning.

September 5 -- Maine
September 12 -- Howard
September 18 -- Florida State
September 26 -- Northern Illinois
October 3 -- at Duke
October 10 -- Wake Forest
October 17 -- at Clemson
October 24 -- at Louisville
October 31 -- Virginia Tech
November 7 -- NC State
November 21 -- Notre Dame at Fenway Park
November 28 -- at Syracuse

Home Sweet Home
BC will play seven home games and a game at Fenway. That leaves only four true road games. And the first road test doesn't even come until October. BC wasn't great at home this past year, but that doesn't mean playing at Alumni is not always preferred. As the roster matures, the home-road will be less of an issue, but for now it is a good thing.

Howard?
Brad Bates is going to take heat for scheduling this game, but it is not all his fault. Addazio wanted a light schedule too. When New Mexico State bailed on their return game, that left BC scrambling. We didn't want to buy an expensive home game. We didn't want to travel. We didn't want to face a traditional power. So after not being able to find a lower-level FBS school, we were forced to look to FCS again. With some of our other FCS games, you can spin the matchup as a regional rivalry or traditional opponent. This isn't. Howard won't sell any tickets and won't bring any juice. This is a glorified scrimmage. But if that is what Addazio thinks we need to build the program, let him do his thing. Playing two FCSs also makes bowl eligibility that much more difficult. We now have to win seven regular season games.

Scary October
On the surface, the toughest stretch is at Clemson, at Louisville and then playing VT at home on Halloween. BC needs to get win one of those. A three-game losing streak going into the final month could be a huge momentum killer.

FSU Friday
I think BC fans have accepted the idea of an annual Friday game. However, hosting the most exciting opponent on a Friday upset some ticket holders. There is not much BC can do on this front. Per contract BC hosts a Friday game every year. Also per contract, every ACC team has to play a certain number of Friday games over the life of our ESPN TV deal. It was just a matter of time before the 'Noles were slotted for one of our Friday games. Ideally the Friday game would always be Labor Day Weekend or the Friday after Thanksgiving. That will happen soon, but for now this is just part of the new reality of college football.

FSU gametime set

Shortly after Saturday's action, ABC/ESPN announced that Florida State will host BC in the 3:30 ET timeslot. The game will be mirrored on ABC and ESPN2. Many -- including me -- expected a primetime game if Florida State beat Miami. Maybe the scheduling gurus sense some Seminoles fatigue. Despite our struggles against Louisville and Florida State's ability to bounce back from any deficit, I am optimistic about this game.

Root for FSU this weekend

ESPN/ABC put two games in their six-day scheduling holds, which means we won't know the start time of BC-Florida State until Sunday. Since we are not playing this weekend, the decision on start times really comes down to who wins the Miami-Florida State game this weekend. If Florida State wins then BC will likely take on the Seminoles in a prime time slot. A bad FSU loss would probably move the game to a ABC earlier on Saturday. I don't really care about when we play. I think it is important for Florida State to win this weekend because of what it means for BC and the ACC.

The College Football Playoffs haven't even started and are already generating controversy. Who's in and who's out is a big deal. For reasons ranging to TV money and recruiting, the ACC needs to have a representative. If Florida State wins out they are a lock to make the mini-tournament. If they lose, the ACC might be shut out of the first playoff.

But I am also not suggesting BC lie down for the betterment of the conference. I want Florida State to be No. 1 and undefeated when we play them. If any team is going to play spoiler, let it be us. Ending their winning streak and ruining their season would bring major attention to BC and to what Addazio is doing. While the ACC would take a hit, BC's recruiting and fan support would improve.

Even if Miami upsets FSU, the game could still be in prime time. That would be fine, but the whole thing would feel a bit like a let down. So go 'Noles. I want to beat the best at their best!

Why the ACC needs to wait on the 9th game

BCI posted two good schedule-related articles Thursday. The first deals with Elon dropping BC from their 2015 schedule. Like Brian, I am not worried about finding an opponent and hopefully we will try a FCS free schedule for a change. The second issue covered was how the ACC-Notre Dame schedule works. Long story short, the ACC continues to bend over backwards for the Irish and BC won't play them that often. The Irish issue leads to a host of other questions, but the biggest remains who will the ACC teams without traditional non-conference rivalries play to fill their power conference requirement? Brian hints at readdressing a 9th game. However, the conference can't do that...at least not for a while.

The 9th ACC game should only be an emergency move. Because other than adding another team, the 9th game is one of the last playing cards the ACC has to reopen its TV deal. Those new ACC games would be new, valuable content to ESPN and our other TV partners.

The other reason to wait on the 9th game is because no one really knows how the playoff selections will work. The ACC -- with its 8-game conference slate, Championship game and challenging non-conference schedules -- may be a manageable path to the playoffs. Why add a 9th game as yet another playoff hurdle? Then and if the selection committee punishes the ACC's conference schedule than the Conference can expand the schedules.

I am not concerned about BC and the ACC's place in the landscape of the Playoff. Once we are good enough, the conferences will finaly know how to get teams into the Dance. For now, let's hope the 2015 scheduling mess finally gets solved.

The 8+1 schedule is great for BC

The ACC announced that they would move to a new scheduling format that mandates eight ACC conferences games and one non-conference game against a team from one of the Five Power conferences. This is the same format as the SEC and avoids the nine-game schedule used by the Pac 12, Big Ten and Big XII. The ACC move was ultimately about protecting non-conference rivalries like Florida-Florida State or Clemson-Georgia Tech, but what I think it works out best for a program like BC.

Under the new Notre Dame agreement we will play the Irish less (basically six out of ten years). While we've done a good job of finding like-minded or traditional powers to fill the void on non-ND years, there is always a temptation to find a nice win to pad the records. But cupcake opponents don't drive ticket demand and don't bring much national respect. Now regardless of who the coach is or what our AD wants to do, we know that BC will always have one good non-conference game annually.

Finally this move accelerates the idea of BC playing more games out west. The Alumni population in California is growing and the response to the USC game was impressive. We already reach the South through our ACC schedule and the Midwest with our frequent Notre Dame and MAC games. Plus the Pac 12 tend to be the most aggressive schedulers of the major conferences. I think most would gladly sign up for a two-game series with BC.  

The ACC is doing this to appease its members, appease its TV partners and strengthen its positioning for the playoff committee. It is not about BC. But it adds stability to our conference and good games to our schedule. That's good for BC fans.

The benefits of an eight-game ACC schedule

The ACC has gone back and forth on the issue, but it seems like now there is a consensus that the conference should stick to an eight-game football schedule. This makes the most sense for the ACC from a standpoint of history, money and football.

The driving force behind the initial flirtation with nine games was leveraging that extra game as a tool to get more money out of ESPN. But Notre Dame, the Grant of Rights and the ACC Network have given the conference multiple triggers to expand the TV deal. Adding another game now doesn't make sense. It is one of the conference's last cards to play, so it should be saved for when there might be another need to re-open the TV deal.

Although BC doesn't benefit directly from this, I like that the eight-game schedule allows ACC teams to keep their non-conference rivalries. Games like Louisville-Kentucky, Georgia-Georgia Tech and Florida State-Florida would be less likely if the ACC only had three non-conference games a season. Those games could still be in jeopardy if the SEC expands to nine-conference games, but for now those intersectional games are safe. And playing those games is good for the conference. It gets fans excited and allows us to change the perception of the league (assuming we start winning some of the contests).

Finally this is good for BC football (and the ACC). We know games against the FCS are not going away. We also know that schedule fodder like New Mexico State is not going away. Those games are too important financially and those two wins are critical to perception and bowl eligibility. A ninth ACC game would have left BC with just one non-conference game of note. Eight games allow us to play at least two interesting games. My preferred mix is one peer school (Northwestern, Vanderbilt, etc) and one traditional power (Ohio State, USC, etc.). With eight games that can still happen.

2013 ACC Football opponents announced!

I know football just ended and many are still skeptical after four years of Spaz, but I got a tingle in my spine when the ACC released our opponent for next year. Our old home and away series as well as our cross divisional games got shuffled a bit due to the arrival of Pitt and Syracuse. New looks for BC include a home game against Syracuse and the Virginia Tech series getting tweaked so that they come to Alumni again in 2013. Our lone cross-divisional game will be UNC (the only ACC team we have yet to beat in Football).

I don't know about you but this has me excited. September can't get here soon enough.

Hockey No. 1 and other links

Our defending National Champions will begin their season in the top spot. They received the No. 1 preseason ranking in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll.

The ACC announced a noon ET kickoff time for the NC State game. It will be part of the Raycom package and available on ESPN Gameplan and 360 for those outside of the ACC's geographic footprint. Speaking of NC State, TOB continues to deal with injuries at key positions. We also could be facing a back up QB when we play UNC.

Also, I should mention that BC has been putting the WB Mason BC Football Weekly show online on bceagles.com. You can click the audio/video link or the direct link on the right side of the home page.

Expanding the football schedule and other stuff

The idea of a nine game ACC slate has been floated around the past week. I don't see it happening as long as the regular season stays at 12 games. With teams like Florida State, Georgia Tech, and Clemson locked into annual non-conference rivalry games, nine games doesn't leave them much schedule flexibility.

An expanded basketball schedule is much more likely.

More fawning over Matt from the local media. Even Jags has good things to say.

ESPN put together their own Ryan timeline.

Fellow blogger Orson Swindle has put together a fan competition for a good cause. Support it if you can.