Hasselbeck interview helps poke holes in media (and some fans') narrative about BC job

As the game started slipping away from BC on Saturday, Steve Levy and Brian Griese started rolling out the media narrative about how hard it is to win at BC. Many of those points are all familiar to your average BC fan -- "facilities," "Boston being a pro sports town," and of course "admissions and academic challenges." At this point, I am so sick of hearing these things.

Every program in college football has some sort unique challenge. But anyone paying attention would also realize that each job has its own unique benefits. What also frustrates me is that recent BC coaches (and their staffers) have been some of the biggest sources of spreading these talking points. Call me cynical, but most of that is self-serving garbage that the coaches use to lower expectations and make their accomplishments look better. And watch, if and when BC makes a coaching change, you will read many media types and BC fans say "BC is a terrible job and no one will want it." More nonsense.

Fortunately there are some BC-connected folks who know better. Take a look at this interview Tim Hasselbeck did with WEEI. Tim knows that these Power 5 jobs don't grow on trees. There are hundreds of qualified guys who would kill to coach at BC. And even beyond the chance to run your own team, Hasselbeck also reminds everyone that the BC Head Coach makes $2.5 million a year! Even in a world where Alabama's assistant associate long-snapper advisor makes $500k, $2.5 million is a lot of money. Even if you worry about the Greater Boston cost of living, $2.5 million is a lot of money. Plenty of people want and will want Addazio's job. The sharks are already circling. So if we don't make a change or hire another loser, it won't be because of coaching salary or because Boston is a pro town. It will be because our leaders fail to execute...which is a different problem all together.

BC pulling out all the stops for Friday night

The NFL killed the importance of College Football's Thursday Night Games. ESPN -- with the help of conference partners like the ACC -- is trying to turn Friday Night into the new event. BC bought in early, agreeing to be part of Friday night games contractually. And now the school is going all out as host of this Friday Night's game against Florida State.

-- First (as speculated) BC will wear their red bandanna inspired uniforms. BC will also hand out red bandannas to the first 25,000 fans in attendance. 

-- The 6 PM ET SportsCenter will focus on the game and have at least one ESPN reporter outside of Gate E. I have no idea if this will be a set with a stage or just one reporter with a camera crew. Regardless, all you students, makes signs, make noise and get on TV. We are unlikely to get GameDay this year, so this is it. BC clever and be respectful. Earlier in the day First Take will broadcast live from Gasson. Make noise there too. [Update: First Take cancelled]

-- Tim and Elisabeth Hasselbeck will be honored during the game.

-- Finally, TOB and members of the 2005 team will also be honored. This will be TOB's first football game in Alumni since his retirement. I will be very interested to hear the crowd reaction.

Of course, this being a Friday night game and with a significant portion of our fanbase in the New York area, attendance will be an issue. While the last-minute marketing might add a few thousand more people, I don't expect a sellout. But doing all this for a Friday Night Game is good long-term planning. Make all Friday Night Games an event. Then when people see the schedule months in advance they will make an effort to get back to Boston just for a Friday game. 

THass on staying local and other links

I am not sure why ESPN asked Tim Hasselbeck about his college decision, but it makes sense. Like all of our other recruiting issues with New England, I never understood why more guys didn't have local pride and/or a desire to stay home.

[ESPN Video] Pride Led to Hasselbeck College Choice: ESPN analyst and Boston College alumnus Tim Hasselbe... http://t.co/zEHeyKLP9L #BC
— Boston College (@BR_BCEagles) January 21, 2014

This is not BC-specific, but it is an interesting read on Creighton's prolific 3-point attack. It is too late to adjust midseason (and probably too late for his time at BC) but I feel like something this overt would have served Donahue well, instead of our current motion offense with an emphasis on outside shooting.

We are not the only ACC team that will start a Florida QB this fall.