Latest recruit and other links

Not much going on Tuesday but there is a short link to BC's latest recruit Andre Williams. Williams has so so offers and no recruiting ranking to speak of, but he hopefully will bring some nice depth to the position.

Ryne Reynoso continues to pitch well in Double A.

BCEagles.com put out an update of the summer plans for the baseball players.

Hockey drafts and other links

Very slow news weekend around BC sports. The primary event was related to all the Eagles that took part in the NHL Draft. Five of BC's incoming freshmen were selected. That's a ringing endorsement of the talent infusion arriving on campus. The only downside is to wonder how long the NHL will let these kids hang around Chestnut Hill before trying to turn them pro.

HD produced her list of players who didn't make her Top 30 countdown and there still aren't many BC names on there. Not much respect for our secondary or Rich Gunnell.

I try not to get emotionally involved with recruiting, but will be rooting for Alexander Amidon (Spaz's latest commitment). He's one of the rare DIA products from my high school alma mater Hotchkiss.

Boisture exlains and other links

Boisture told the Detroit media he really liked BC but the distance and his connection to Michigan State made him change his mind. Blaudschun had some of the same news.

BC didn't waste any time to target another QB recruit.

CFN released their season preview of BC.

Tyrese Rice did not get drafted last night. I'll have more on his next steps this weekend.

Two steps forward, two steps back: Boisture to MSU

Any question as to why we went so hard after Josh Bordner was answered today when Joe Boisture confirmed that he dropped BC and will play for Michigan State. This rumor had been floating for a few days. Toss it up to the fickle nature of high school kids. This happened under TOB. It happened under Jags and will happen to Spaz in the future.

I don't think anyone in the football offices cares about my opinion, but Boisture is a reminder that you have to sell BC for what it is. You cannot sell the coach or the depth chart. Those things might work but they can get kids to your school for the wrong reasons. You have to sell the total package at BC and spend that much more time IDing the right kids for the program. Best of luck to Boisture. I am fine with Bordner.

Providence news (via Twitter) and other links

No official word from BC or Providence, but PC coach Keno Davis announced via his Twitter page that BC and Providence had signed a contract for a 10-year series between the two schools. Great new all around. The Providence game adds some consistent strength to our non-conference schedule and it continues one of the most important basketball rivalries the school has. Let's hope that in addition to continuing the series, BC puts some added emphasis around that game so that our newer and younger fans realize the rich history between the schools and get excited about the game. (Thanks to BC All Access for the link to Davis.)

New QB commit Josh Bordner didn't take long to act on BC's offer.

More on York and Parker Special Achievement Awards from the New England Sports Sports Museum.

BC using custom marketing to sell tickets

We bemoan many of BC's marketing efforts, but you have to give them credit for this campaign. (Fill in your information and see what happens. I promise, it is harmless and not some internet scam.)

I don't know how many more tickets this will sell. The good news is that it will get attention. The phone message also plays up the option of customized ticket packages.

Marketing aside, I think the economy, low expectations and the lack of Notre Dame or Clemson on the schedule are going to be tough to overcome.

Leetch to the Hall and other links

Former Eagle Brian Leetch was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame. Leetch arguably had the best NHL career of any former Eagle. During his time with the Rangers he of course won a Stanley Cup but also received individual honors like Calder Trophy, the Conn Smyth Trophy and was a two-time winner of the Norris Trophy.

Incoming hockey player [CORRECTED] Chris Kreider will probably be a first round pick in the NHL draft.

Boomer Esiason son Gunnar will attend BC this fall. Gunnar's long battle with cystic fibrosis means he won't play football. Will Boomer become our latest celeb parent fan?

Matt Hayes broke down the non-conference slate for ACC teams.

Baseball stats and other links

Great job by fellow BC blog BC All Access putting together this series on BC baseball stats (part 1, part 2, part 3). Short, to the point and fresh. This is what good blogging can be about. It will be interesting to see how our baseball team changes as the caliber of recruiting improves and we get the new field.

BC will play at Fenway but it won't be a double-header with the Bruins.

Here is a roundup of ACC recruiting.

Southern Pigskin thinks we will be at the bottom of the division. (Thanks to Jim for the link.)

Fenway on ice and other links

The Bruins will play in Fenway as part of the NHL's Winter Classic. Now reports are surfacing that BC will also play in the old ballpark. This is all still unofficial, and I don't know who the opponent would be (BU is likely). We also don't know if this would be a double-header with the Bruins game or be a separate ticket. Regardless, it should be very cool.

This writer doubts that Rice will even get drafted.

Andy Katz mentioned Holy Cross' interest in Pat Duquette.

Check out the quotes in the second half of this article on BC's new basketball recruit Kevin Noreen. The ACC analyst gives the classic broken clock line when criticizing:

Still, Oettinger wonders if the Eagles can thrive if they’re only bringing in diamonds in the rough.

“It catches up with you sooner or later because sometimes they are no better than what the rest of us think they are,” he said.

Is this guy serious? If one team consitently found talent despite what everyone else thought, I wouldn't predict that their luck would run out. I would start to wonder what they know or do that no one else does. But that's just me...

Another QB joins the fold

A few weeks ago we didn't have enough QBs. Now -- dare I say -- we have too many. BC just received a commitment from another high school QB. Like Boisture, Josh Bordner, is a big, pro-style QB. However, he could end up in another position before his career is over. Regardless, I am all for the "see what sticks" philosophy. Spaz needs to find a solution, so give everyone a shot. The only downside to that strategy is you risk losing the one guy you really want. But at this point, that is a risk worth taking.

Future QBs and other links

I am thankful that Dave Shinskie fell into our laps during a time of need. But when I read stories like this I wonder what any of us can predict out of the situation. I don't get the vibe that Shinskie is a football guy who always longed to get back to the gridiron while toiling in the minors. The way he explains it, it seems like it all just sort of happened to him...he doesn't even know why he was released. Now let's hope his physical and emotional maturity makes the difference. This is his last chance.

Although he has committed to BC, future Eagle Joe Boisture is hitting the camp circuit. He's also showing his competitive side and impressing when among the best QB recruits in the country.

Will Rakim Sanders test the NBA draft waters next year? This writer thinks so.

BC guy Charlie Davies scored a crucial goal as the U.S. advanced in the Confederations Cup. Inserting Davies was the smartest move Bradley has made in the tournament.

Notre Dame fans are already predicting victory for our game in October. When will they learn?

Tony Sanchez drove in the winning run during his professional debut. Check out the notes section of this article to read about Mike Belfiore's signing bonus...so much for the College World Series hurting his MLB value.

Another commit and other links

Robert Vardaro is Spaz's latest commitment. He's a local kid and plays in the ISL at Phillips Academy. While not a high profile guy, he's got the size and you have to trust the staff on early offers.

His hometown paper caught up with Pat Duquette. The news from the article is Duquette outlining the recruiting strategy:

we're going to try to take four [players] in each of the next two years," Duquette said.

Given how he explains it, I am guessing they are counting a transfer or two.

BC's incoming kicker Nate Freese was part of the annual Big 33 game between Pennsylvania and Ohio.

NYT's previews and other links

The New York Times has been pumping out their team-by-team previews for a few weeks now. I thought it was a good time to check in on some of our opponents they've covered. Here are their thoughts on Virginia and Kent State.

HD says that if Herzy were healthy, he would have been No. 2 in her ACC player rankings.

Brian Toal and Dejuan Tribble were part of the inaugural UFL Draft. It will be interesting to see if the league ever plays again or if our two alums get on the field. Last word was Toal's shoulder was a major problem with every NFL physical he took.

Not sports related, but BC won the city's approval on the expansion plans.

Scouting report on Rice and other links

Things have been quiet on the Tyrese Rice front lately. He's worked out for various teams and most projections have him going in the second round. This writer thinks he will go undrafted. But despite that gloomy projection, he's got good things to say about Rice's upside.

Bruce Feldman wrote a post on some of the international players who are gaining attention of college recruiters. One of the focuses of the piece is Mehdi Abdesmad. The DE has interest in BC.

HD started another series, this time filling the hopes and concerns of each team. With BC she thinks Harris gives us hope and the voids on D are a cause of concern.

BC Band rocks Boston

What's more Political/Celtic Punk than using a college marching band as back up? Very cool move by the Dropkick Murphys to invite the horn section to join them at a concert Tuesday. I am also glad BC's taking back this song. The Sox and Celtics started playing recordings of the Murphys' tune during their championship runs, but our Band played it live shortly after the Departed debuted. Once again, the Band represents. They've come a long way from my day where they kept doing Lion King medleys at halftime.

ACCCG in primetime and other links

The ACC and ABC/ESPN are moving the ACC Championship Game to prime time. The hope is that the new time slot improves ratings and attendance. TV ratings will certainly improve, but does anyone really think the evening kickoff will improve attendance? I don't think BC would have brought anymore fans if the past two ACCCGs had been in prime time. I also don't think a night game will generate any more interest among the locals. The key will always be the matchup. If a Florida team is involved or Clemson, then you will get a crowd. Otherwise, there will be plenty of empty seats.

Expectations are rising for next season's basketball team. (Thanks to Tom for the link.)

I didn't note that HD ranked Castonzo as the 23rd best player in the ACC. It will be interesting to see if any other Eagles make the list. I actually think Tennant should be ranked higher.

Athlon ranked BC No. 48 in their preview countdown.

The locals want more details on BC's campus expansion plans.

Jon Loyte is breaking into lower-level Arena football.

Hoops schedule stuff and other links

Most BC fans have tossed this topic around already, but here is what Andy Katz had to say about our future schedule:

Pitt was approached about playing Boston College in the Jimmy V Classic in December in New York but the Panthers decided against the matchup. Pitt athletic director Steve Pederson said he wanted more of a national game. But there was another reason for his decision against the opponent. Pederson was concerned that there were stories written in Boston during the East Regional that it was Boston College -- a former Big East school now in the ACC -- hosting onetime Big East rivals. Pederson said he didn't want that to be the story again in December.

Since BC left for the ACC, the Eagles have played former Big East members Providence and St. John's. BC athletic director Gene DeFilippo said there are discussions about playing Villanova, and the Eagles are talking to Syracuse and Rutgers about playing again in football (they still continue to play Notre Dame, a basketball Big East member but an independent in football). DeFilippo said he doesn't see this as an issue. Pederson said the Panthers and Eagles will likely inevitably play. He said if there were no other opponents he wouldn't be against playing the Eagles. He also said he was thankful for the way the Eagles hosted the NCAA regional. The Big East said there is no policy against playing BC or any other defected school (Virginia Tech and Miami left the Big East before BC).

Pitt is expected to stay in the Jimmy V event. The rest of the field will be announced at a later date.

If Katz said it, it is probably true. He's well sourced on these things and if anything takes a proBC stance in his coverage. So it seems that Pitt still has some hard feelings about the Big East departure. One day this will all be behind us. The other news out of this was the potential games against 'Nova in basketball and Rutgers in football. The 'Nova game would be a great matchup and generate plenty of alumni interest. I am not as thrilled about Rutgers in football, but it is a convenient matchup in an important recruiting territory so I am not opposed.

Marc Colombo -- cornerstone tackle one day and frontman the next.

Carolyn Swords is one of the semifinalists for team USA. Of the current 15 members, only 12 will make the final team.

Is Phil Steele wrong about BC again?

Every year I pick up Phil Steele's preview magazine. Every year I then write about how Steele has predicted a down year for BC. This year, when the whole world is predicting BC's demise, Steele plays contrarian again and thinks BC will finish 3rd in the Atlantic. But his prediction deserves a big asterisk since he wrote the preview before the Herzy and Davis news. Even without that factored in, here are some notes and nuggets from his review of BC that might give others optimism.

-- He ranks our offensive line 11th nationally and considers this the best BC line in five seasons.
-- He predicts we will face East Carolina in the EagleBank Bowl (Washington,DC). Based on our turnout for the Maryland games, we might actually sell tickets for this game.
-- Steele doesn't think much of the ACC, ranking the conference 5th overall.
-- Harris, Claiborne, Tennant, Castonzo, Albright, Ramella, McLaughlin, Davis and Gunnell made one of his various all ACC teams.
-- Two of his power forecasts (formulas which haven't been revealed, but are assumed to lean on returning starters and close games) called for BC to win the division. Steele also admits that BC has finished higher than his forecast for three years.
-- Steele thinks we are better at Head Coach but worse at the two coordinator positions.
-- Steele's formula ranked our special teams as 110th overall. Any surprise?
-- We are the 63rd most experienced team in football and the 6th most experienced team in the ACC.
-- BC has the 47th most difficult schedule this year.


This is how he ranked the Atlantic
1. Clemson
2. Florida State
T3. BC
T3. NC State
5. Wake Forest
6. Maryland

Don't put too much weight into what Steele writes about BC. I use his guide to learn more about our opponents and for the historical betting lines, but never take what he writes as the bible. Let's just hope that the year he is finally right about BC!

New title for Duquette and other links

Skinner's longest serving assistant Pat Duquette is now the Associate Head Men's Basketball Coach. That's a promotion from his previous title of assistant head coach. I don't know if this changes any of his responsibilities. Regardless, Duquette has been a key to BC's success and I am glad he got this bump. My guess is the opening at Holy Cross motivated BC to lock down Duquette. This also makes him a likely candidate to succeed Al whenever Al decides to hang it up.

That wasn't the only Skinner news...BC also picked up their second 2010 hoops commitment in Minnesota Forward Kevin Noreen.

A bunch of BC baseball guys made regional teams for their postseason heroics.

A few new notes about Herzy's chemo.

Lowered expectations and other links

The Sporting News doesn't think much of our chances this season. Both of their experts see BC taking a major step back this year.

The Globe caught up with our "QB of the future." A few interesting points for those who haven't been following Boisture as intensely as some of us have. He still plans on enrolling in January. The good news about that is that it leaves a much smaller window for another team to poach him. Also, he credits his relationship with Mike Siravo as part of his decision. I think too often fans put all the recruiting focus on the head coach, but in reality, the assistants do much of the bonding and salesmanship.

Quinton Porter seems happy and ready to succeed in the CFL.