Recruiting roundup

Addazio is not wasting time on 2016 prospects. BC just offered rising Junior Running Back Moe Neal. Neal already has offers from Mississippi State and Syracuse. I expect the North Carolina product to get more ACC attention this fall.  BC also offered 2016 WR Nate Craig.

BC's top QB target for 2015 Hampton McConnell will visit this weekend.

Florida LB Carson Lyndon picked Virginia Tech over BC.

BC lost out on Ohio QB prospect Joe Burrow. He's staying home and headed to Ohio State.

Alumni Stadium updates

Practice is over. Graduation is over. Teams are gone for a bit, so it is time to tweak Alumni Stadium. The major project this summer is new video boards.

The space allotted for the new boards shows that we are avoiding the video board arms race. Half of the video boards in the SEC wouldn't even fit in Alumni. But this is a good start and should make for a better gameday experience for ticket holders. (HT EO message boards.)

Experts already forgetting about BC

Bowl Projections are easy offseason filler...and so is critiquing them. I try to ignore the projections, but felt ESPN's first lists were worth noting because they left out BC.

ESPN posted Brett McMurphy and Mark Schlabach's picks and 10 ACC teams (plus Notre Dame) were slotted. What surprised me is that they don't account for BC getting an at large bid. As we've seen over the years, if a major conference team gets to six wins, they will end up in a bowl. BC's TV ratings in low-level bowls also lead to us backfilling open slots. It could be that neither McMurphy or Schlaback don't think BC will get to six wins. But most of the early previews have the Eagles in that neighborhood. CBS's early projections had BC going to Detroit.

I will make my predictions later this summer, but I am not worried about BC staying home. As usual, if we get eligible, it will all work itself out.

Demko at NHL Combine and other links

There were 11 goaltenders invited to the NHL Combine in Toronto. Most scouts consider BC's Thatcher Demko the top prospect at the position.

Rettig is one of many undrafted players trying to make the Packers. But given the Packers' history with  QB development and their willingness to carry four QBs during the offseason, Rettig will have plenty of time to impress.

The Women's Sailing team is ready for Nationals.

Herzlich excerpt and other links

Mark Herzlich's new book is about to be released and with it comes a timely excerpt in the New York Post. I know we feel like we all know Mark's story, but in the excerpt he starts to get more personal and share more of the fear that he and his family hid so well during his fight. I look forward to reading more.

Former Eagle Eric Campbell is making the most of his time with the Mets.

The Chargers cut Ian White already.

Assessing Mike Gambino and the 2014 baseball season

BC just finished another disappointing Baseball season and yet there doesn't seem to be much talk about the future of Head Coach Mike Gambino. After four seasons the team remains one of the worst in the ACC and failed to qualify for the ACC Tournament. While the showed signs of improvement this season and there is renewed hope about facilities, we have to continue to ask if we have the right staff in place. I am an outside observer so I asked Brian Foley from College Baseball Daily for his opinion. My questions and his answers follow.

1. BC looked better and was more competitive but still had a terrible record. Was the improvement real? 

Foley: The improvement was far from real. They played several of the have-nots this year with NC State being a complete failure while they still ended up losing a series to old friend Mik Aoki’s Notre Dame squad which finished with a 9-21 record.

2. Who or what was the biggest surprise of the season and biggest disappointment? 

Foley: The biggest surprise to me was the development of Chris Shaw into an upper echelon ACC player. He finished the year with a .329 average and a team high six homers which was the same amount that the rest of the team combined for. Shaw was a disaster as a freshman when he hit .165 with six homers and 19 RBI.

The biggest disappointment continues to be the pitching staff which had a 4.27 ERA which is high seeing as about half BC’s games are against weak northern competition in midweek play and on the Spring Trip.

3. Would you fire Gambino? If no, what are the expectations for next year. If yes, who are potential replacements?

Foley: Would I fire Gambino? I don’t know if the school cares enough to actually fire him. I was attending the America East Tournament this week when one of his former players in Anthony Italiano got a key double to lead the Seawolves to a victory. This was a kid that was not good enough to play at BC but has had a solid little career at the Long Island school.

My first phone call would be to Justin Blood at Hartford. He has made that program into a respectable team which plays hard throughout the game. There were trailing a game by nine runs but wouldn’t give up in the ninth inning when they ended up losing only by four. This is the toughness that is missing right now with the BC program.

My second phone call after Blood would be to Steve Owens at Bryant. He made the NCAA tournament last year for the Smithfield RI school and had a successful run at Lemoyne before heading to the Bulldogs. Lemoyne would be an absolute pain back in the day for schools and Bryant is becoming a new Lemoyne.

Tweets of the Week

A few (ok, 142) photos from Commencement: https://t.co/2lAwI0XQwY #BC2014 pic.twitter.com/PyxrLwsbKc

— Boston College (@BostonCollege) May 20, 2014

Had to duck a bit but proud to receive honorary degree w/ legend Bob Cousy. #BC2014 pic.twitter.com/2A8qwokIlU

— John Kerry (@JohnKerry) May 19, 2014

Anyone who says that after your time at BC you'll move on to "Bigger and Better" things has obviously never had Uncle Che Chi's sausage.

— BC Che Chi's (@BCCheechees) May 20, 2014

#NotreDame Stadium field currently looking marginally worse than we're used to. (Photo by @jamesbuck) pic.twitter.com/EicBSwsLQH

— Rachel Terlep (@eTruth_Irish) May 21, 2014

Congrats to all @BostonCollege graduates today. Remember: "Ever to excel, to do better than others, and to bring glory to your forbears.."

— Warren K. Zola (@WarrenKZola) May 19, 2014

A BC angle to the World Cup

I love the World Cup. For me it is the perfect sporting event in that the sport is played at a high level, there are multiple, easy to follow storylines, and best of all it comes during one of the traditional slow times in the sports calendar. But despite being the most popular sporting event in the world, there are still plenty of Americans who don't "get" it or worse don't care. If you are BC fan, I offer another reason to get on the World Cup bandwagon: Alejandro Bedoya. The former Eagle just made the final roster for the U.S. Men's Team and should be a critical contributor to the team.

Just by making the team, Bedoya fans can now claim he's BC's all-time greatest soccer player. Charlie Davies' was an exciting USMT player, but his car accident stunted his career and kept him out of any Cup. Other BC guys have had solid professional careers in the U.S. and abroad, but none has made such and deep or talented World Cup roster.

The U.S. received a brutal draw for the Cup, so this whole thing could be over before it even starts. But if the U.S. advances to the knock out stage, it will need Bedoya to have the tournament of his life. He's an Eagle so he knows about excelling at the right time.

Seguin joins Athletic Department and other links

Brad Bates hired BC grad Jamie Seguin as Deputy Athletics Director. In her role, Seguin will focus on internal operations.

As expected, the USC game will be on national television and in prime time on one of the ESPN/ABC networks.

Pennsylvania WR Prospect Amechie Walker plans to camp at BC this summer.

ESPN confused KPL with the other KPL.

Johnny Gaudreau keeps making the highlight reels for Team USA.

Batten to play 5th year at BC

Former #ODU G Dimitri Batten just confirmed, via text message, that he will transfer to Boston College for his final season.
— Dave Fairbank (@FairbankDP) May 20, 2014

Jim Christian is putting another one of his scholarships to good use, by bringing in Old Dominion transfer Dimitri Batten. Batten is eligible to play immediately.

Batten is another wing, but with Hanlan as the primary point, some of Rahon's old minutes will go to perimeter players. Batten also has a chance to earn playing time with his defense.

While we all wanted a big 2014 recruit, a fifth year is a win-win. Like football, it represents a low risk, mature player.

Now that Christian's got a 2014 recruit and a fifth year, I expect the next scholarship to go to a true transfer.

Boston Politics get involved in college sports

With Former athletes suing the NCAA and Northwestern players exploring labor options, it is open season on taking on the hypocrisy of the NCAA. Now Boston City Councilor Josh Zakim wants to impose a “College Athlete Bill of Rights" on NCAA athletes that play within the city limits of Boston. His laws would apply to all schools but would have the biggest impact on BC since we host some of the most high-profile college teams in the country due to the ACC schedules. While I am for paying athletes and potentially disbanding the NCAA, I don't have much faith in Zakim's intentions or his motivation.

The issues that he's attacking are not really relevant to the current situation. Most athletes have plenty of time to graduate. A fifth year for players who don't work out on the field, is a small, small issue. Medically most of these guys are essentially covered year round. The head trauma debate is relevant, but I would say the NCAA and the teams in Boston are relatively ahead of the game. BC has been granting full medical waivers to head injury victims for two decades (think of Jim Unis). Why isn't Zakim mandating head injury policies for Massachusetts High School sports, the NHL, MLS, and NFL?

I don't mind attacking the system. But the real issue isn't health. It isn't safety. It's money. When Zakim figures out a way to mandate payment for players, then he will have my attention. Right now he just feels like someone trying to make a name for himself.

BC has a lot at risk in this process, but I predict these laws are a long way from being passed and then enforced.

Congratulation Graduates

Congratulations to Boston College's newest Alumni, the Class of 2014. Enjoy the day and be sure to thank your parents and loved ones.

Another 5th year transfer and other links

BC continues to leverage the NCAA 5th year rule, this time with former UConn DB Ty-Meer Brown. He brings immediate depth and a familiarity with Don Brown's schemes. Brown has a spinal condition that gave UConn pause, but I assume BC felt he could still be of use. Either way, 5th years are such low risk, high reward propositions, that I am glad to have Brown on the roster.

Women's Lacrosse lost a close game to Syracuse in the NCAA Quarterfinals.

You've got to love that KPL wore a suit and tie to his NFL Combine interviews.

Matt Patchan scored a 42 on his NFL Wonderlic.

Baseball lost their series to Clemson.

Don't get worked up about Terrell

On Friday Jared Terrell announced his commitment to URI. While most BC fans were level-headed, there was a vocal group that freaked out. I understand the frustration, but there is no reason to get upset over missing out on Terrell...even to a a midmajor like URI.

Terrell committed to Rhode Island after dealing with their program for nearly two years. He was familiar with Hurley and the team. He's been interacting with Jim Christian and BC for a few weeks. Despite being a bigger program, that lack of familiarity is tough to overcome. Plus our roster situation was not as friendly. We have Hanlan returning and he'll play 35+ minutes a game, be the primary ball handler and the leading scorer. And BC has decent depth at wing. Terrell would have come in immediately and played, but the minutes and scoring weren't as clear cut. The situation was much more inviting for a big man like Diallo.

Terrell would have been a huge boost and a great start for Christian, but it is not fair to hold it against the new staff. They scrambled the best they could, but the kid went elsewhere. It will happen again. The key to long-term success is just winning more of these battles than you lose.

Tweets of the Week

Ten of our seniors are on NFL rosters. Want a top degree, ACC football, and a shot at the NFL? That's @BostonCollege! pic.twitter.com/RTOZ5jGcfV

— Steve Addazio (@BCCoachAddazio) May 13, 2014

Coworker just looked at my Neenan calendar & asked "Does BC really look that nice?" Showed him the other pages and was like "Yup." @bcalumni

— Grant Salzano (@Salzano14) May 14, 2014

RB Andre Williams on being drafted: "From the start I had a feeling it was going to be the Giants, and I'm glad it turned out that way."

— Ralph Vacchiano (@RVacchianoNYDN) May 10, 2014

The ACC's counting conference games as non-conference games and telling BYU it's not a real football team and John Swofford is on crack.

— Spencer Hall (@edsbs) May 15, 2014

Obama honors Crowther and other links

Welles Crowther's story reached a new audience Thursday when President Obama mentioned him at the 9/11 Memorial.

KPL's preDraft workouts in Florida helped him impress during the draft process.

Donahue commit Jeremy Miller still names BC among his top choices.

Baseball lost to Clemson.

Softball placed three players on the NFCA All-Region Team.

Opponent Previews for UMass and Wake Forest

Every year Paul Myerberg writes individual team previews worthy of any magazine preview. Fortunately for us, he has already started rolling them out. He posts them by his predicted ranking and starts with the worst first. The two bottom dwellers that Myerberg already posted are Wake and UMass.

Even as Grobe's Wake teams slid back to their historical norm, they still gave BC tough games. The only reason so little is expected of them this season is due to the wholesale changes made by the new staff. Myerberg predicts a season where they still struggle offensively.

UMass is a trainwreck and one of the worst teams in FBS. Mark Whipple won't change that overnight. Myerberg knows that if they are going to have a miracle season, they need to upset BC in the opener.

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.

Former Eagles settling into their new teams

With ten players signing deals this past weekend, plenty of BC guys made news in their hometowns or with their new teams. Here are just a few of the articles.

As we've been saying, the Packers viewed Rettig's multiple OCs as a positive. He's knows how to learn a new offense quickly.

Nate Freese was the first kicker drafted by the Lions since 1992. Detroit is hoping he's a long-term solution.

People back in Pennsylvania were happy for Andre Williams.

Divitto hopes to make the Jets' roster.

Patchan wasn't the only Tampa native the Bucs signed as undrafted free agents.

Ian White's hometown wrote a long feature on him prior to getting drafted. The San Diego deal will be a nice post script.

Christian lands Diallo

Jim Christian received his first BC commitment when California big man Idrissa Diallo committed Saturday. Although I think the staff would have taken a commitment from one of several different players, Diallo represents such a change in approach, that it is fitting he was first. While not as polished offensively as most of our current guys, Diallo has two things this roster was lacking: size and defensive prowess.

Diallo originally committed to Cal, but got out of his LOI during their coaching change. With Diallo alone, we are a better team. I hope though that Christian is not done with this recruiting class. We have a few offers out and will hopefully land at least one more player in the coming weeks. 

NFL Draft ends with a run on BC players

No one really knew where Andre Williams was headed, but in the end if was very predictable. The Giants -- a team with a rich BC tradition -- took Williams in the Fourth Round. The Giants are changing their offense, but I don't think they are going to ask Andre to be a pass catcher. He's going to be about pounding the ball and establishing play action for Eli. I don't think Andre is a fit everywhere, so I am glad he went to a team that will use him well and be patient.

Williams got things started and then what could have been a slow day, quickly became a great day for Eagles. The Seahawks took KPL in the Fourth Round. I think that's a great fit for him as they like to use players in multiple roles, and he has the speed to play a small end but also cover TEs and RBs. The Lions drafted Freese in the Seventh Round and the 49ers used their last pick on Kaleb Ramsey. Freese should be a sure thing for Detroit. If Ramsey can stay healthy, he should also make the 49ers roster.

After the Draft ended, the undrafted guys quickly found teams. Divitto signed with the Jets, Edebali signed with the Saints, Sinkovec signed with the Ravens, White signed with the Chargers, and Rettig signed with the Packers. The Packer-Rettig situation reminded me so much of Matt Hasselbeck. Hasselbeck went through multiple coaches and coordinators and dealt with a lot of losses while at BC. But the Packers proved to be the perfect situation to become an NFL QB. Rettig has the same chance now.

The one surprise is that Matt Patchan has not signed with any team yet. Given the number of private workouts Patchan had, I think he'll catch on with some team soon, unless there is an issue we are not aware off. UPDATE: Patchan signed with Tampa.

I don't know if any of these guys will be stars, but they are all getting a chance. That's what matters.

Tweets of the Week

Only three ACC schools have at least two players left in the NBA playoffs. Yep, of course Boston College is one! https://t.co/HMJJSSz9GQ

— ACC Sports (@ACCSports) May 5, 2014

Crazy. Boston College has had 5 first-round picks in the last 6 drafts. Miami has had 1.

— Matt Smith (@MattSmithCFB) May 8, 2014

Boston College pic.twitter.com/IIKnpsJiaQ

— Stunning Campus (@StunningCampus) April 27, 2014

Boston College transfer Ryan Anderson committed to Arizona last night: http://t.co/7qVE6bTCNd

— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) May 9, 2014

The Patriots have drafted 23 players from @BostonCollege - more than any other school. #PatsDraft

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) May 8, 2014

Why the NFL Draft still matters to BC

Selling the NFL to any high school prospect is pretty disingenuous. Even the majority of recruits at Alabama and Florida State will not play at the next level. For a long time, BC's pitch to potential players has been about more than football. We sell the BC experience, the education, the city, and getting your degree. Our appeal is about life off the field and life after football. Yet we still need the NFL.

Without the carrot of playing at the highest level, BC wouldn't be BC. As much as we push education, there are plenty of places where a kid can get a great education. Just like there are plenty of places where a guy can just play and focus on football. Our mix of elite football and elite education is a pitch only a few schools can offer. And to effectively sell it, we need to send guys to the NFL. We need the NFL Draft to showcase our best players and validate our process.

The media created the "Harvard during the week, Alabama on the weekend" cliche to mock BC's divided priorities, but the reality is that split is a great position. We should embrace it. There are certain players who want both. And those types of guys who want both, have been the foundation for our past success.

It is unlikely that any BC guys will get drafted Thursday night. By Sunday though there should be a new batch of our guys headed to new NFL teams. And with each selection our staff will be texting and tweeting those Draft updates to a new batch of potential BC guys.

Quigley sells to Vick and other links

Former Eagle Ryan Quigley made headlines for the right reasons when he sold his jersey number to Michael Vick. Quigley is donating Vick's payment to a South Carolina charity that helps troubled teens.

Rutgers brought more embarrassment upon themselves and the Big Ten this week. The Big Lead wondered if we were one of the schools the Big Ten should have selected in the past.

Once again BC teams performed very well on the APR.

Some Lacrosse experts think BC is most likely to get upset in the opening of the NCAA Tournament. Our draw involves three conference champions.

Narrative changed?

We are days away from the NFL Draft and Mike Mamula is nowhere to be found. Usually this time of year articles and blogposts are filled with references to the former Combine wunderkind. In many of these posts, he is wrongly labeled as a bust and as someone who only got drafted because of his NFL Combine performance. As any BC fan knows, neither is the case. Mamula's final college season was dominant. He was going to be a first day draft pick before the Combine. The great workout only elevated him that much more.

I don't know why there are fewer stories this year. My Bing alert only mentions him six times in the last seven days. Maybe writers are moving on. Or perhaps there are just new targets. Either way, I hope he starts getting the credit he finally deserves for both his college and NFL career.

Always be closing

Can confirm that Jared Terrell is at BC now. No other visits planned. Former Oklahoma State commit.
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) May 5, 2014

I know it is early but this is a huge week for Jim Christian. First he hosted Jared Terrell Monday. Terrell is the shooting guard who committed to OK State and now wants to stay closer to home. He's elite and he's local. He also sort of fell into our lap when he decided to back out of his Oklahoma State commitment. If we get Terrell, it provides a real shot in the arm. The team will get a player who can replace some of Rahon's offense and Christian will get a player he can build future recruiting classes around.

But the sales push for the 2014 recruiting class doesn't end with Terrell. California big man Idrissa Diallo will be on campus this week too. He might not be as important locally as Terrell, but he would still be a huge addition to a team desperate for size.

Christian's reputation prior to BC was that he was a hoops lifer and a gym rat. He wasn't considered a silver-tongued recruiter. But if he gets these two guys, especially given the timing and circumstances, then we might be in for a big surprise on his future recruiting.

William Green's story and other links

This feature on William Green is making the rounds and worth the read. As we know, Green washed out with Browns due to his off the field distractions and not his ability on the field. It seems like he has his life together now.

Baseball lost their series finale to Pitt. The team is now 9-18 in ACC play and only has one ACC series -- against Clemson -- left.

Remember former basketball player Dallas Elmore? His BC career was never what he thought it would be and neither has his post-BC career. I hope after the article, someone from BC reconnects with him and helps him finish his degree. 

Women's Lacrosse beat BU.

Softball closed their season with a loss to Notre Dame. They finished the season 30-22 and 12-14 in the ACC.

Baseball's streak snapped by Pitt

After rattling off six-straight wins, the Baseball team's win-streak came to an end Saturday. Pitt handed BC a 5-4 loss. The teams play the rubber match of the series Sunday. BC currently sits at 9-17 in ACC play and 20-28 overall.

Tweets of the Week

.@BCFootballNews getting it done this morning at @Cycle4Survival in honor of the Gallup Family! #wearebc pic.twitter.com/CPbt1II1ie

— BC for FabuLisa (@BCforFabuLisa) April 30, 2014

Likely the only '14 draft prospect penning a "philosophical memoir." You'll want to read this from RB Andre Williams: http://t.co/yNaET0weku

— The MMQB (@theMMQB) April 29, 2014

VIDEO: EA Sports releases first Madden 15 trailer staring Panthers LB Luke Kuechly. http://t.co/tZhkuIZw1U pic.twitter.com/PKQERVVcXR

— NFL Memes (@NFL_Memes) April 28, 2014

Hear how my fans helped me adjust to LA. Check out my story for #TheCrossover presented by @Sprint https://t.co/PxRMc5clAh

— Jared Dudley (@JaredDudley619) April 28, 2014

Speaking of @BCLibraries, they've really gone all out this year. #BCStudyDays #Bapst pic.twitter.com/yHsiy2TLhP

— Boston College (@BostonCollege) May 1, 2014

Basketball recruiting roundup

The basketball coaches have been very active on the road, scouting and recruiting players. The first need is the 2014 class, but they are also building their pipeline for the 2015 and 2016 classes. Here are some of the most important names and what's going on with their respective recruiting.

California wing Elijah Stewart is a 2014 recruits and uncommitted. He's also a Top 100 player.

From @JoelFranESPN about Elijah Stewart 5 schools..Cincinnati (visiting this weekend), Pitt , USC, OK State, BC. Plans to take all visits .
— Paul Biancardi (@PaulBiancardi) May 1, 2014

Supposedly Stewart will visit BC next week.

Local 2014 prospect Jared Terrell is also visiting. He had a previous relationship with Preston Murphy and is probably our best chance at an elite recruit in this first class.

Hearing BC and Providence are most likely landing spots for former Oklahoma State pledge Jared Terrell
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) April 30, 2014

As for 2014, Terrace Mann remains the centerpiece of the 2015 recruiting class.

Terance Mann remains the centerpiece of the 2015 class. Virginia Tech just offered him too.

BC is also involved with transfer Tevon Saddler.

UNC Greensboro transfer Tevon Saddler will visit Butler tonight, source told @CBSSports. Just visited Temple. Will also visit BC next week.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) May 1, 2014

Christian and company are also sending out their first offers for the 2017 class. It's never too early.

Boston College has offered Cushing Academy (MA) & @RivalsNation '17 PG Makai Ashton-Langford after watching him this weekend in Dallas
— Adam Finkelstein (@AdamFinkelstein) April 30, 2014

When does Jim Christian head to ESPN?

Despite numerous connections through friends and alumni, BC never really took advantage of ESPN's headquarters being down the road in Bristol. Our coaches and players were nonfactors on national TV. It was only after Addazio came on board that we finally had a coach willing and able to do the dog and pony show at ESPN. During his Heisman push, Andre Williams also spent a day down in Connecticut and it was all topped off with Addazio joining the Coaches Broadcast during the BCS Championship game. I know College Football is a bigger deal than college basketball and Addazio is a TV friendly personality, but I hope BC follows the same ESPN-friendly model with Jim Christian.

Despite the coaching change, Christian has some ESPN ready talking points that should carry him through any interview. He's a new coach taking over. The ACC is adding Louisville. Hanlan is coming back and BC should be better than we were last year. Plus there is bound to be a hot topic whenever he visits, that can fill an interview (see: Addazio's Tebow timing). It is not critical what he says or even what shows he gets on during his trip. What matters is the credibility and association with the ESPN family of shows and reporters.

Right now Christian should be focusing on recruiting. He still needs to find a player or two for next year and potential transfers for down the road. But come this summer -- when recruiting hits a quiet period -- Christian needs to get down to Bristol. Those relationships help our recruiting, help public perception and help market the program. Winning games is the most important thing Christian can do, but winning over the Worldwide Leader in Sports is not a bad move.

A new commit and other links

Florida Offensive Line prospect Wyatt Knopfke verballed to Addazio Monday. Knopfke also had offers from Miami and Kentucky.

The Giants brought KPL in for a workout. As we know there is a long history of the Giants taking BC guys.

BC is also the first to offer Cincinnati-area WR Chase Pankey.

As expected Joe Rahon will complete his college career back on the West Coast.

What to make of Baseball's upswing?

Baseball swept Maryland this weekend. Following the series win over NC State, it leaves many wondering if there is light at the end of the tunnel. With winnable series against URI and Pitt approaching and players improving, getting to .500 and making the NCAA tournament are not out of reach. Both potential goals would be a welcome change for the program. We all love BC, so this is all good news.

But if the team closes strong and plays well in the ACC Tournament, does that mean we were all wrong about Gambino? I don't necessarily think so. BCI posted a fair take that is a little more optimistic than my opinion. I think that when the season ends, you judge the Coach on the totality of his time at BC and the trends. It looks like things are trending up. And if they keep at this pace, Gambino can claim that he turned the corner. But only once the season ends will we have proper perspective on this hot streak. Writing anything now about Gambino's future is premature.

Frank Chamberlin Memorial Golf Outing Information

Frank Chamberlin meant a lot to his friends and former teammates. They are now doing their part to continue his legacy and support his daughters. BC fans now have a chance to assist too.  Sponsorship, playing and auction are all available at the Frank Chamberlin Memorial Golf Outing. The event will be held May 5 at Baltusrol Golf Club. The proceeds from the event are going to the Chamberlin girls' education funds. Go to the website to learn more.

Addazio picks up a Cincy kid

St. Xavier Athlete Ben Glines (6-1, 200) verbally committed to Boston College today, per St. X coach Steve Specht
— Mike Dyer (@MikeDyer) April 27, 2014

When you have certain productive recruiting territories, you need to do you best to harvest and defend them. The Cincinnati area -- with its strong Catholic School league -- has been a great source of talent through the years. I worried that Addazio might not place the same emphasis on it that TOB and his successors had. However, we got some good news Saturday when Ben Glines committed. He's listed as an athlete now but will probably play on the defensive side of the ball. He might not be as heralded as some of our previous St. X recruits, but it is important that we stay relevant in the area.

Welcome aboard Ben.

Checking in with Luke and other links

Luke Kuechly is still working on his BC degree and getting ready for another big season in Charlotte.

More talk of the Falcons' interest in Chase Rettig.

Some BC students got caught running the Marathon with fake bibs. I still don't understand the fuss. I know plenty of people who ran without numbers in the past. Did tightened security keep those without numbers out this year?

BCI went through a list of potential new Baseball coaches.


Johnny Gaudreau will be part of Team USA at the IIHF Men’s World Championship this May.

Tweets of the Week

It's just another example of @Hasselbeck struggle of a life in my shadow. @theMMQB #hanginthere

— tim hasselbeck (@tthasselbeck) April 25, 2014

22 at 22 pic.twitter.com/eqE2mEHVeF

— DOUG FLUTIE (@DougFlutie) April 22, 2014

Got some cool mail from Boston College! #BC pic.twitter.com/6OiM8DUEcv

— Daniel David (@ddavid14) April 19, 2014

Talking recruiting with Eric Hoffses

Although most of the big names are committed elsewhere, Jim Christian's new staff is working hard to find a player or two who can make an impact next season. To get a better feel for what to expect, I asked Eric Hoffses for a quick update on Christian's recruiting. Here's what he said:

Eric Hoffses: There aren't a lot of guys left in 2014. Probably the biggest target remaining that the new staff is going after is Idrissa Diallo. He originally signed with Cal but requested a release with their coaching change.

Diallo is kind of opposite of what Donahue looked for in big men in that he lacks offensive skills right now. The positives are that he is long and athletic and an above average defensive player. He's fast for his size too. There's lots of upside with him.

Diallo is visiting, but I think its more realistic the new staff will find a 5th year transfer that can make an impact for next year rather than an incoming recruit that can make an impact.

Wanted: Someone to catch the ball

Due to attrition and lack of talent, BC's needs Wide Receivers. There is some talent among the incoming freshmen, but a freshman is still a freshman. The staff looked for 5th years and even got to the point where they let the current players know that any leads or recommendations on potential WR transfers would be welcome. Nothing of note turned up until reports that a familiar name was back on campus. Phillips would be a nice boost in the arm. He's familiar with Ryan Day and some of the team and showed flashes at UConn when healthy. However, things are never that simple.

Phillips has not graduated according to UConn. For him to be available to play this fall for BC, he needs to finish his degree with UConn this summer. These sort of transfers happen often enough, but Addazio cannot count on Shakim for anything until he is on campus and cleared by the NCAA.

In the meantime expect more 5th year rumors. BC needs help and there should be a few more guys floating around once players graduate this May.

BC's media push doesn't have an offseason

This is usually a quiet time for BC Football. But as we know Steve Addazio isn't shy when it comes to promoting the program. On Patriots' Day he joined SiriusXM to talk about the upcoming season and the impact of the Marathon.

AUDIO: @BCCoachAddazio talks spring practice/game & "Boston Strong". https://t.co/V6c6fR0Ad6 @JackOnSports @CoachNeuheisel #SXM91
— SiriusXM College (@SiriusXMCollege) April 21, 2014

BC also put out a video on the football fan experience. I'm a sucker for this stuff, but it has me ready for Fall.

Congrats to Patrick and Jess

Congrats to Patrick and Jess for completing the Marathon one year after the bombing injured them both. Patrick is a BC grad and met his wife via another BC friend. They are just one of many Boston stories shared over the past year. I hope crossing the Finish Line to together ends this chapter of their lives on a high note and that they have many happy and fulfilling chapters ahead.

Make Mile 21 memorable

I don't know what the mood will be like today during the Boston Marathon. The Finish Line will have a new sense of importance and heightened security. But I don't think the part of the race that runs along BC will be all that different. My suggestion for those BC students lining the course is to enjoy the day and cheer like crazy for those passing by. In my opinion it is the best way to honor those impacted by last year's events and those who are running today.

Herzlich Golf Tournament info

Former BC star and current New York Giant Mark Herzlich is gearing up for his annual golf tournament again. This year's event will take place July 7, 2014, at Pine Hills Golf Club. Proceeds will go to Uplifting Athletes.

The donation per foursome is $2,500. The event starts at 11 am,  and is followed by a dinner, awards ceremony and auction. Each foursome will be joined by a celebrity guest.

The list of Celebrities will have the usual BC and New England feel. For BC fans or those just looking to a fun excuse to golf, this is a great event. Check out the site for more information.

Interest in Williams and other links

It is all speculation, but it is surprising that no clear consensus has developed around Andre Williams. A recent rundown has the Patriots, Steelers, Jets and Browns all interested. Despite his impressive speeds, I still doubt the Williams goes into the first two rounds.

The Baseball team tied up their series with NC State on Saturday. They have a chance to win the series on Sunday.

The Softball team lost to NC State.

Women's Tennis defeated Maryland.

Tweets of the Week

Superfans represent in this @bostonpolice photo of Saturday's @SInow #BostonStrong cover shoot. #BCforBoston #wearebc pic.twitter.com/TTwVwgUsPn

— Boston College (@BostonCollege) April 15, 2014

FYI, Arnold and Gaudreau's debuts pushes the Eagles' total to 26 that have skated in the NHL this season. The most in college hockey!

— BC Hockey (@BCHockeyNews) April 14, 2014

Get ready....our coaches are storming the nation! WHO'S NEXT? #grind #EagleElite pic.twitter.com/CPvWdobAfL

— Steve Addazio (@BCCoachAddazio) April 16, 2014

Because of his show-cause, Bruce Pearl literally left town last weekend when a recruit made his official visit. http://t.co/PkdrZ3gHKH

— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) April 16, 2014

Spinelli is an AWESOME hire for BC. He has done a great job recruiting New England in recent years

— ERIC HOFFSES (@EAHoffses) April 15, 2014

Christian adds two more staffers

Jim Christian filled out his last two staff spots Thursday. One announcement was expected. The other proved to be a nice surprise.

The first hire was Christian's long-time assistant Bill Wuczynski. BC will be the third school where the two of them have been together. That sort of continuity is valuable when taking over a program. Refreshingly though Christian didn't just move his Ohio staff over. Following the Spinelli model, he also hired Preston Murphy to be his last assistant.

Murphy might be the best hire of the bunch for what he brings to the group. He's young. He's recruited New England extensively and most importantly he's worked at BC before. Christian lacks that connection to BC tradition and the BC basketball alumni community. Although Murphy didn't play at BC, he's been around the program long enough to help Christian adjust.

NCAA rules cap the staff at three. Christian still has to announce a Director of Operations. The Director of Ops is essentially another assistant coach, but there are limitations on what the Director can do with regards to recruits. But Christian is off to a good start. He's got two bulldog recruiters in Spinelli and Murphy and his trusted aid in Wuczynski. On paper it should work. Now they have to get some players on board to fill out the roster for next season.

All Olivier

Olivier Hanlan quietly announced his return to BC. That's the best news of Jim Christian's short tenure. Who knows what sort of feedback Hanlan received from the NBA or what his true motivations are for returning, but I think this can be one of those cases where everyone's interests line up perfectly for one season.

Hanlan is a great talent. He's got an inside and outside game and can score at will. He's shown he's capable of taking over games -- much like he did in the ACC Tournament last year. In basketball -- especially at the college level -- one great player can carry a team. However, that didn't happen this past year. The schedule the offense, the chemistry, and the coaching all muted Hanlan's ability to take over. If Jim Christian is smart, he won't let that happen this year. He should just let Hanlan take go crazy every night and let the other guys fill in around him.

While letting one guy score at will is never a great way to build chemistry, I think it can work for one year. Olivier can have the type of season the NBA wants, BC can get to .500 and Christian can generate some excitement with fans and recruits.

It would have been nice to have Anderson around for the Olivier show, but what we probably need is a 5th year who is immediately available and can just bang and rebound. Hanlan's return also points to Rahon leaving. But if Hanlan is the ball handler next year there wasn't much room for Rahon to be the "true point."

For BC to be great again, we will need a lot more than Hanlan. But he does give hope for being good again and that's good enough for Year 1 under Christian.

Gowin verbals and other links

Another day, another recruit. The latest addition to the 2015 recruiting class is RB Jordan Gowins. In the article, Gowins mentions what Addazio told him and the idea that we are going to run the ball a lot.

Wilkes University named former BC assistant Izzi Metz as their new head coach. Although it is D3, this is still probably a good move for Metz. He gets to rehab his career while also learning how to be a head coach. Best of luck.

BC named Johnny Gaudreau Eagle of the Week...one last final honor as he turns pro.

Money talks

Scott Spinelli officially joined Jim Christian's staff Monday. The news was expected and welcome. What I found more interesting was the Washington Post's reporting of the hire:

Spinelli’s deal, the specific terms of which were not disclosed, will make him one of the highest-paid assistants in ACC, a source said. During the 2012-13 season, the last season contracts were made available via an open records request, Spinelli made $202,000 with the Terps. According to the source, Boston College offered Spinelli a significant raise.

BC doesn't release salaries and as a private institution, it doesn't have to release anything (at least until tax filings a few years from now). But this validates some of the speculation that BC increased the budget for the basketball program. We know that Ohio received a $500,000 buyout for Christian's contract. We know that Spinelli got a "significant raise" from his $200,000 salary. All this talk of money raises and answers some questions that have lingered since the basketball season ended.

It appears BC is ready to make a financial commitment to basketball. Spinelli is a nice piece, but I hope we compliment his strengths and Christian's needs by increasing the recruiting budget too. Facilities upgrades would also help. Yet we still don't know Christian's salary. I hope we didn't overpay for him. Not because I don't like him, but because there wasn't a market demand to overpay him. Spinelli is a lead assistant at a ACC/Big Ten school. He can demand an big salary to move. Christian had no such leverage when making the jump from Ohio.

Christian didn't have leverage, but other coaches did (Wright, Howland, McCaffery?, Chris Mack?, Chambers?). Could BC have upped the budget just a bit more to get one of these guys? Should they? I would have but I am not Brad Bates. But looking at the troubles Cal is also going through on their search, maybe some of these guys just decided to wait this cycle out.

The money shows a commitment from BC. It is the first step. Now BC and the Christian staff need to come up with a shared philosophy with regards to admissions.

Baseball falls to Notre Dame and other links

The Baseball team lost two out of three to Notre Dame this weekend.

BC target Scott Patchan, but he's decided to follow his father's -- not his brother's -- footsteps to Miami. Meanwhile, Matt Patchan is visiting the 49ers this week.

Lacrosse beat Virginia Tech.

The Softball team lost to Maryland.

Spinelli on the way, Rahon potentially gone

Following rumors and speculation, it looks like Scott Spinelli's deal to join Jim Christian's staff is finally done. Spinelli has strong ties to the rejoin and has successfully recruited many New England players to Maryland. This is the type of recruiter Christian needs on his staff.

One of the things Christian and Spinelli can sell is playing time, because it looks like Joe Rahon is gone. Rahon's future has been in doubt for weeks, so today's report isn't much of a surprise. Supposedly he wants to be a true point guard and as long as Hanlan is around, he cannot be that guy. I don't know if this means Hanlan is returning, but either way, this is a big opportunity for Darryl Hicks. Hicks missed last season with a medical redshirt. Now he should get serious minutes. 

I wish Rahon the best of luck at his next stop, but I don't think he would have been critical to Christian's long term success.

Gaudreau wins Hobey Baker

The silver lining of the Frozen Four weekend came Friday when Johnny Gaudreau won the Hobey Baker Award. College Hockey's highest honor capped off a prolific season for the Junior Forward. It was a busy day for Gaudreau as he also signed with the Calgary Flames. He is the third BC player to win the Hobey Baker.

Gaudreau wasn't the only Eagle to receive accolades. Kevin Hayes and Matthew Matheson also earned All America honors.

As for the guys returning, York was quick to point out how young the team was and how solid they should be next year.

Tweets of the Week

BC Coach Jerry York: Union is an excellent hockey team. My hats off to them.

— Union College (@UnionCollegeNY) April 10, 2014

Thanks everyone for all the support over my last 4 years at BC. It was an incredible experience that i won't forget. I will miss all of you

— Bill Arnold (@BillDaHurricane) April 11, 2014

If it's over, and I think it is, thanks to Johnny Gaudreau for being the most exciting hockey player I've ever seen. Good luck.

— BC Hockey Blog (@bchockeyblog1) April 10, 2014

One key difference between Steve Donahue and Jim Christian is that Christian is going after proven high-major assistants for his staff.

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN) April 8, 2014

Not feeling the NCAA hate with regard to UConn’s APR troubles. Not a high bar to clear. Their program fell woefully short and paid the price

— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) April 8, 2014

Union ends BC's latest run

When you win as often as BC Hockey, anything less than a championship is a disappointment. This year ended without another National Title as BC lost to Union 5-4. It was a frustrating loss too, as BC put together a flurry in the final minutes to make it interesting. But Union is a really good team and took advantage of BC's miscues and put plenty of pressure on Demko. Best of luck to the Dutchmen in the Final.

Immediately after the game the focus shifted to Johnny Gaudreau. BC's leading scorer will soon decide if he will forego his remaining eligibility and turn pro. I am sure York will give him sound advice. While this is not the storybook end, Gaudreau did about as much as he could at the college level.

Frozen Four primer

Thursday night BC takes on Union in the first semi-final of the Frozen Four. To get up to speed on the matchup, I suggest the following:

-- BC's official Media Preview
-- How Union plans to stop our top line
-- USCHO on Jerry York

Burt commits and other links

Jake Burt committed to BC Monday. The Tight End drew comparisons to former Eagle Jon Loyte (another St. John's Prep prospect). He's the fourth player from Massachusetts to verbal to BC this spring.

Another top target, QB Brandon Wimbush, shared his thoughts on BC with 247.

Rich Gunnell took a Head Coach position with a local High School Football team.

The ACC named Sarah Mannelly Player of the Week.

Baseball lost to Dartmouth.

The Legend of the Super Assistant

Big Foot. The Loch Ness Monster. The perfect College Assistant. None are real, yet every time we hire a new coach we get excited by one or two staffers who will magically fill in all the voids and weaknesses of our new Head Coach. Unfortunately that's not how it works. It is always more complicated than that.

The latest rumor is that Maryland Assistant Scott Spinelli is poised to join Jim Christian's first BC staff. Spinelli would be great. He's recruited for an ACC program. He's recruited New England. He would be instant credibility on the recruiting trail. I hope the rumors are true. But Spinelli is only part of the puzzle.

Christian's introduction to BC went well. He said the right things and hit the right notes. But ultimately it will be about wins. I hope that given his history as a head coach he knows this and will adapt. Hiring Spinelli is a sign he gets it. Talking to Hanlan about staying is another sign. Now he needs to get the others to buy in and he needs new players ASAP. I remain optimistic and look forward to staff announcements. But I know the staff is only the first part of building a winner.

Anderson leaving

Ryan Anderson confirmed his long-rumored transfer Monday night via Twitter.

I have decided to transfer from BC. Thank you to everyone who has supported me over the last 3 yrs. Proud I was able to be an Eagle #RIPDK
— Ryan Anderson (@_AndersonBC12) April 7, 2014

I usually don't worry about transfers, but this is unfortunate for many reasons. I hoped that everyone would come back, Christian might pick up a late flyer, produce a super soft schedule and get us into the NIT. That seems less likely now. I assume Hanlan will declare for the Draft too, leaving an eight-win team without its two best players.

Rahon was also part of the rumors. However, one rumor I heard was that he was waiting to see what Hanlan does first. If Hanlan leaves, Rahon would supposedly stay, knowing that he would be the team's true point guard. I don't know. The last month has left me very distrusting of rumors.

I also think this is a bad move for Anderson. What's the upside? One year with a better team closer to home? Maybe. But he has to wait a year and the mix at whatever team he picks now could be very different by the time he hits the court in 2015. Anderson was the face of the program during a downturn in BC basketball. It would have been nice for him to stick around for any potential rebirth.

Putting the potential departures aside, long-term this shouldn't hurt Christian. Hopefully it just speeds up his roster churn. While this is not an ideal time to pick up recruits for next year, it has been done (Jared Dudley for one). Transfers are pretty commonplace in college basketball and very expected during coaching changes. Good luck to Ryan. I hope he has a happy ending to his career. Now let's hope Jim Christian is working the phones for someone to replace him.

Owens update and other links

Ohio's top recruit Tariq Owens asked for his release right as the Christian speculation kicked into high gear. Now reports say that the University won't let him go despite past precedent. I don't know how the situation will play out, but I doubt that BC or JC get involved. Stealing Owens would be bad form.

Baseball lost their weekend series to North Carolina.

Demko will be blogging about the Frozen Four for NHL.com.

Lacrosse beat Duke.

Two team showed up for ALJ's Pro Day in Brockton. That's two more than I ever would have predicted.

Softball lost to Pitt.

In case you missed it, Dominique Williams will be the McGillis scholar again.

BC has interest in Georgia recruit Daniel David. However, South Carolina looks to be in the driver seat.

Spring Game thoughts

We've learned over the years that Spring Games are not good indicators of the season ahead. Yet after not holding a game last year, it was nice to have the tradition back. The best part of the game for me was seeing Tyler Murphy for the first time. He seemed very comfortable and confident in the offense. He also showed nice touch. Based on his snaps and reporting, it seems like Murphy will be the starter this fall.

The Offensive Line didn't seem as crisp. Addazio attributed it to depth issues and how these types of games wear on the unit. 

The other new QB Darius Wade wasn't as sharp, but his potential was obvious. He's only listed as 6'2 but looked bigger among his teammates. He also showed his arm strength. 

As for familiar names, Myles Willis didn't miss a step. If anything, Willis also looks bigger and ready to be BC's lead back.

BC posted a photo gallery of the day and also still has a link up to the game. 

Questionable

Hiring is not easy. Anyone who has a perfect record in hiring hasn’t made that many hires or holds his/her employees to a low standard. Plenty of great Athletic Directors have made bad hires. None of us knows what Jim Christian will do at BC. Given his track record, he’ll probably be decent. Jim Christian’s record and future is Brad Bates’ problem. Our problem as BC fans and members of the BC community, is different. Our problem is Brad Bates. Given how he has gone about this process and what we’ve seen on other fronts, I have real doubts about Bates’ ability to get other big things done.

Brad Bates knew in January that a basketball decision -- and likely change -- was coming. I know he solicited input from alums and BOT members. Bates might not be quick to show his hand or share all his thoughts, but during these conversations it was implied and agreed that barring a miracle finish, Donahue was gone. Now if Bates had a change of heart or didn’t have buy-in from all the decision makers, then he needed to start working the politics of the decision then. You start building consensus:
-- “what do we want to be as a basketball program?”,
-- “what is our budget?”, and
-- “what are we looking for in a coach?”

Those are basic questions but have a million different answers. It is Bates’ job to find that consensus and win over the impacted parties. Then as the season closes, you quickly make your announcement on Donahue, have a solid list of interested candidates lined up, and go through the hiring process in a clear manner and you hope the coach you hire turns out to be great. As we know, that’s not what happened.

Donahue and his staff were given the impression they were coming back and then they weren’t! Agents reached out to BC throughout the winter and then deeper into the process and never given much insight into what BC was doing or what we wanted or what we were paying. Board members were all over the place with opinions, desires to make a big hire and those who had their personal favorites. Some candidate were deemed worth the price. Others not. Supposedly some Board members reached out to high-profile candidates directly! Bates paid Eddie Fogler to advise the process and just muddled it that much more. Players were told to be patient and led to believe that a big name was on the way. All the while BC preached patience. And yet the whole search wore on and on and it started to become clear the process got away from its owner. In the end we ended up with a coach whom Bates and Fogler knew yet left the fans, boosters, media, ACC, basketball community, recruits, players and even some within BC saying “who?” and “why?”

The Addazio process burned some bridges when it went down. Fortunately his personality and winning season converted some of the doubters. But this process reopened some of those wounds and made them worse. Some big donors will give to BC because they always do. Others will now have second thoughts. You don’t give big money to a guy you don’t trust or who nods like he’s listening and then does the exact opposite. But a big part of this job is having a vision, shaping that vision and selling it to the BC community. The two coaching searches and the long delayed Master Plan, leave all sorts of questions about Bates' ability to navigate and sell. And if he thinks Jim Christian is what BC basketball is all about, then maybe Bates’ vision of BC isn’t what it should be.

Marquette, Wake Forest and Washington State fans are all looking at each other wondering if they are better off than they were before the coaching change. The only schools that seem happy are Auburn and Virginia Tech. Those schools and their ADs moved decisively and didn’t fumble around with regards to money or direction. And many of the mid major guys elected to sit this coaching cycle out, betting on better jobs to come. Howland’s delay in returning to coaching seems more about him asking for too much money. So maybe even with a better process, the results would have been similar. But BC deserved a better strategy since we’ve known it was coming once Donahue’s final year fell apart.

This is not an easy job. Some of the politics and intrusions are the aftermath and overreaction to how things used to be run with Gene. But it is on Bates to step up and manage his constituents better. I don’t mind Bates attempting to do things his own way or on his own time as long as the end result makes sense and everyone is united. I fear this process just drove things further apart.

Basketball won’t be an issue Bates has to address for two or three years. Football looks okay for another two years. But that doesn't mean that Bates doesn't have future landmines to navigate. We have to push for major fundraising and construction projects. We have to address the baseball facilities and the baseball coaching issues. Also, Jerry York is not going to coach forever. Can Bates learn from his mistakes? Can he take better control of his Board? Let’s hope so, because if he doesn't BC is going to have to ask ourselves: “what sort of Athletic Program do we want?”, “how much do we want to spend on Sports?” and “who is the person to lead that effort?”

Tweets of the Week

I am tremendously excited and humbled to be the new head coach at @BostonCollege. Grateful for the opportunity. #WeAreBC

— Jim Christian (@BCJimChristian) April 3, 2014

His energy is contagious & his passion inspiring, which will resonate throughout our program, & he is a proven winner. #WeAreBC

— Brad Bates (@BCBradBates) April 3, 2014

MOTORIN' RT @TN_Hoops BC hires Jim Christian from Ohio. Runs a faster system than Donahue did. Therefore, I approve. #slowacc

— Ben Swain (@TheBenSwain) April 3, 2014

2015 recruit Jeremy Miller tells me that he is still firm in his commitment with #BCEagles after the new coaching hire today

— ERIC HOFFSES (@EAHoffses) April 3, 2014

It would be myopic for Boston College to hire a coach who has not successfully recruited BCS talent from NE prep + grassroots programs

— Pete Hutchins (@CoachPeteHutch) April 2, 2014

Christian dilemma: seemingly fine coach, but questionable long-term option

There a few different types of college basketball coaches. There are the ascending icons who win every step of the way until they reach a destination job. There are the guys who get their shot, don’t win enough and are never heard from again. Finally, there are a few guys who manage to carve out a space in between. These guys win and know basketball, but never stay in one place too long. Politics, a little losing, or another opportunity come along and the guy is gone. They are almost placeholder coaches. I feel like Jim Christian is a placeholder. I am more optimistic than most about the hire, but doubt he will be here in five years.

For a school that built its basketball reputation as a stepping stone for ascending coaches, getting a placeholder seems like a waste of time. I will write more about the process, but I am not fooling myself that we should have come up with a bigger name. This isn't about that. It is about hiring a coach who would have been a better fit and had more upside. For all the questions about Addazio, his fit and his ability to recruit were never in doubt. Both of those qualities can cover a lot of holes and mend a lot of fences.

We cannot overlook Christian's ability to win consistently in the MAC. Just like we cannot overlook his underwhelming time at TCU or his reasons for leaving that job (short version: fit). The MAC success tells me that when the playing field is level (relatively speaking) he can outcoach the majority of his conference. The struggles at TCU shows that he is not a miracle worker. If he didn't like TCU's place in the basketball landscape or the school's support for basketball, how is he going to feel about Boston and trying to win in the ACC?

The aspect of this hire that most perplexes me is Christian's recruiting reputation. He's the opposite of Addazio and a blank slate throughout the region. Can he change now? Does he have an ace recruiter ready to join him? If he wants real success, he will have to find some way to connect to elite talent.

I will be patient with Christian. I think he can get BC back to being a bubble team. Maybe he can do more. I don't know. I just feel like the next few years will be a pitstop in his career and uneventful time in our basketball history.

Report: Christian to BC

As with all of this nonsense, I will wait until official word from BC. However, this time feels a little different. I believe it and will have more later. I think this is the wrong hire. Jim Christian might be a fine coach, but my expectations are low. I also think Brad Bates bungled this process and possibly doesn't understand what BC is. And I don't mean as just a basketball program, but as a community, school, being part of Boston and New England, etc. Fit is subjective, but it should be a factor. I will expound more later. Good luck to Christian.

Boston College has agreed in principle to a deal with Ohio University's Jim Christian, multiple sources told ESPN.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN) April 3, 2014

Reading into Spring Football press

Let's take a break from the basketball confusion and focus on a more fun topic: BC Football! It has been a relatively quiet Spring, so all we are left to do is interpret BC's press. Traditionally guys who BC promote to the media are the ones having good Springs. This week it has been Tyler Murphy and Josh Bordner.

Murphy is more critical since he'll likely begin the season as the starter. As the Herald wrote, he's closer to the prototype QB that Addazio wants. I expect much more running than Rettig did last year. Which is good news since there were so many big holes available for our QBs last year.

Bordner might be a more interesting story. Keeping him around as a WR was an interesting tidbit, but the fact BC is pushing him to the press, confirms the transition is going well. We are thin at a skill positions, so whatever Bordner can do -- either as a possession guy or a deep threat -- will be welcome.

Blauds retracts Christian story

The silly season continues.

BC now saying Chrisitan deal is not done yet http://t.co/qHo14RW50F

— mark blaudschun (@blauds) April 2, 2014

Report: BC hires Christian

The latest. I will wait until official word from BC. Lots to digest.

BC hires Christian http://t.co/qHo14RW50F
— mark blaudschun (@blauds) April 2, 2014

This is getting silly

So we are close...or we're not. This guy is getting the job, but wait, he's totally not. The sky is falling! We're going to make a huge splash!

Ohio's Jim Christian involved at BC, but no offer on table and still unclear whether he's leader in clubhouse. Story: http://t.co/tyn4PGdzeh
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN) April 1, 2014

St. Bonaventure Coach Mark Schmidt was in Boston area today for his first in-person interview with BC, according to sources.
— Pete Thamel (@SIPeteThamel) April 1, 2014

A new name has emerged as a contender in the BC mix, Ohio Coach Jim Christian. Sources say he's a legit candidate.
— Pete Thamel (@SIPeteThamel) March 31, 2014

St. Bonaventure's Mark Schmidt and Syracuse assistant Mike Hopkins are no longer options at BC, sources told ESPN.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN) April 1, 2014

I write this with some strong conviction: none of that news came from Brad Bates. This is from the coaches and/or their agents. And even then, I doubt the veracity of much of it.

I can be as unreliable as the rest, but let me share what I know.

1. The Board approved a significant budget for the new head coach. I don't know if that budget is tied to certain candidates. I don't know if there is a closed window on the approval. I also know that having a big budget doesn't guarantee the ability to hire whomever you like, but it leads me to believe BC and Brad Bates have bigger ambitions than the names floated.

2. There have been prolonged discussions with candidates not highlighted by the media. Once again, talking to and actually signing a big name are two different things. We had talks with Bill O'Brien and Al Golden during the football search and nothing came of it. But once again, it speaks to Bates' process.

I don't know who we will hire at this point. Once we actually make a hire, I will give my opinion on the process and the end result. Until then, I just have to be patient.