Second viewing thoughts and grades: Georgia Tech

In December when BC is getting slotted for some fourth tier bowl, remember this game. This is going to cost BC in the ACC standings and allow all the mid-level bowls to skip right past the Eagles. We were better than Georgia Tech. Watching it back, I think we have more talent than Tech. Yet we blew it. (A Georgia Tech blogger even felt that BC should have won 24-7.) There were mistakes, but ultimately it was on the coach.

The only good news is that the team is clearly better than last year. The bad news is that I am sure we will blow another game this year.

Offense: C

If Patrick Towles were a freshman or sophomore I would be very excited. Instead my enthusiasm is muted. He had real solid moments and has good speed. But he made some mistakes early in the first half. Some throws were off. He didn't read an early blitz well. He ran when he should have thrown. Hopefully it is first game gitters and the staff finds things that work for him. He played well enough but he wasn't lights out perfect (like I was hoping).

Hilliman ran well. I thought he had a little bit of happy feet in the backfield. Sometimes it slowed him but a few times, resetting or stutter stepping did get him space. Willis was good as a change of pace when he was brought in for some read options. (Towles is going to get a big run with him out of the read option. No one stayed with the QB). Rouse played sparingly. Wofford blocked well.

The Offensive Line looked like a real Offensive Line. They got good push throughout. They moved well. Lindstrom made a great second level block on Hilliman's touchdown. In general, the right side did a good job opening up holes. They also gave Towles time on passes. Lowery was flagged a few times late (and was partially responsible for the second turnover), but he played well most of the game. Baker looked good. This group is why my hopes are high for the year.

The biggest blocking problems weren't the OLine, but the Tight Ends. Giacone and Sweeney both had real bad moments where they were beat on the edge. Jeff Smith looked very good for his first game. Callinan played well. Walker had a great catch.

Loeffler's approach created a little concern for me. But it is still early so maybe he is trying to see what works. We used I plus a little Pistol and some Shotgun. Towles actually looked OK under center, so I assume that will be our primary exchange. I did like the use of multiple TE/H Backs. I thought the playcalling was too conservative at times, especially in the fourth quarter, but I will address that below with Addazio. The good news is that there was nothing moronic and the basic execution was fine. The bad news was there wasn't a call or play that really made me say "wow."

Defense: B

The DLine looked really, really good. They stuffed the option all day and really controlled up front. Gutapfel led the way. He's going to be All ACC. Kavalec played well and looks much, much bigger. (If he gets that late sack though, we win the game.) Allen had some moments. Ray made some plays. So did Smith. Landry wasn't at 100%

You will have a hard time finding a pair of LBs play the option better than Milano and Strachan did. They were both quick, disciplined and came to hit. Schwab was all over the place too.

I won't kill the DBs for this loss, because they really have the toughest job in an option game. They have to think run, run, run and then turn on a moments notice and play pass. In general, they did well supporting the run. Take Johnson as an example. He caused a huge fumble for us. Yet he also allowed numerous big passes. Harris did too. Moore slipped on the final GT drive and was also called for pass interference. McClary was good.

Addazio killed the D was allowing the big conversions. That was bad, but overall they played well. Reid clearly had them ready for the triple option. The pass plays were more about breakdowns, not bad calls. I've read some people complain that BC didn't bring pressure on the 4th and 19. But that is not a terrible call and bringing pressure against a option team just exposes other areas. We were still aggressive considering the opponent.

Special Teams: C+

Missing two field goals was terrible. The kick off coverage wasn't great either.

Our punting and punt coverage was fine.

We didn't get to return any kickoffs. Rouse looked decent as a punt returner.

Overall: C

Even though it was a close game, I am grading the game low out of frustration with Addazio. Let's rehash the the two critical coaching errors. The first was attempting a field goal on 4th and 1. At this point BC's already missed one FG. The field is very wet. The balls are wet. Regardless of what Lichtenberg did this summer, he was an inconsistent kicker last year. Also, at this point BC's OLine is controlling. Converting a 4th and 1 is not hard. Every statistical model in football shows that aggressiveness is rewarded. Instead Addazio pretends that it is 1950 and goes for the Field Goal. We miss and waste the drive.

Then there is drive when BC gets the ball with 6 minutes left and two timeouts. Six minutes is long time in college football. Regardless of what BC does on the drive, the odds say GT will get at least one more possession. Knowing that Georgia Tech will have a chance to win, BC needs to score again. Instead Addazio starts killing clock. We go power right into a crowded box and neither run does anything other than take some time off. Why telegraph like that? If Addazio wants to run, why not use the read option again. A play like that spreads the field a little and the QB keepers had been wide open earlier in the game. The fumbled snap on third down was just bad luck. But then Addazio let the clock run. I have no problem with that. But why run the playclock down to the point where you use a timeout? Why not run the clock, take the penalty and keep the TO?

Addazio is coaching from a different era. There are many issues where he's shown a willingness to embrace the new. Yet once the game starts he reverts to the old school ways. Maybe, just maybe, this will be a wake up call. My fear is that he won't change and that he'll be blowing games for the remainder or his tenure. 

Things to think about

In Addazio’s first 26 games as Head Coach at BC, Ryan Day served as Offensive Coordinator. In those 26 games BC failed to score more than 14 points four times. In the thirteen games since, BC has failed to score more than 14 points seven times.

In his four seasons at BC, Addazio has lost a lead or tie in the fourth quarter eight times.

• Clemson 2013 
• Syracuse 2013 
• Colorado State 2014
• Clemson 2014
• Florida State 2014 
• Penn State 2014
• Syracuse 2015
• Georgia Tech 2016

This morning on Wake Up CFB, we unveiled our new trivia series: LSU or Boston College! pic.twitter.com/GpUyX8AIAi

— Ryan Nanni (@celebrityhottub) September 4, 2016

Dumb calls cost BC in Dublin

We learned a lot this morning in Ireland. This season will be better, but we will never, ever be great under Addazio. He lost this game. There was plenty of blame to go around with player mistakes, but Addazio made a few critical game management errors that cost BC the lead and the win.

Much of this game felt familiar. The Defense looked really good. The Offense could only score 14 points. However, I think there were enough bright spots on Offense to think this team will be competitive this year. Towles had some rough spots, but still has some upside.

I feel better about the team, but frustrated. I feel like this is BC Football under Addazio. He is now 5-11 in games decided by 7 points or less. That is not bad luck. Luck evens out. That is bad coaching.

I will have grades and second viewing thoughts late Sunday.

In-game comments post: Georgia Tech

Here we go! Another season of BC Football. Let's make it a good one!

Leave your thoughts and comments below.

You can also follow me on Twitter.

End of the Week rant: Bates needs to stop talking about schedules!

(I am thinking of ending each week with a little bit of a rant. We'll see how long it lasts.)

The New York Times published an article this week on the challenge of College Football scheduling. BC's Athletic Director Brad Bates is one of the featured quotes. You can go read it yourself, but the general message is the BC party line: "it is so hard to find like-minded opponents...blah, blah, blah...it is so hard to schedule non-conference games..."

Is anyone else tired of this whining? Eight games are scheduled automatically (via the ACC). There is one FBS game annually. We have Notre Dame in a rotation. When all is said and done, BC does not have that many games to fill. It is not that hard. The only challenge comes because BC is overly cautious and in who they schedule for those few open games. They want someone good, but not too good. A winnable game, that generates interest and respectability. That sort of game is hard to find because that is what every program wants! If BC's primary schedulers (Bates and Addazio) were smart they would evaluate the supply and demand issue of those games and say: "screw it, let's go schedule the big boys on our terms."

If BC were willing to play a neutral site game opening weekend every year (like they are this year) we could play a Power 5 team annually. Would you like to see BC at Lambeau Field against Wisconsin? How about playing Georgia in the Georgia Dome? Don't want to be in hostile environments like that? Okay, how about playing Alabama at Fenway or Gillette? Those opportunities are out there every year. Hell, ESPN will help broker them. They are profitable. They are exciting. They are different. The only problem is the potential loss. But padding the win total is not doing BC any favors these days. What is going to juice our fanbase and reputation more: beating UMass or losing to Alabama? Because every once in a while we will beat those tradtional powers and it will feel glorious. The best moment of Addazio's career was beating USC. But neither he nor Bates learned the lesson of that night. Instead they are continuing to try to thread the needle of practical scheduling. But because of their caution, the odds are that neither of them will be around for these games they are scheduling.

Friday Picks Week 1

Here they are again. No context. No tips. Just straight picks. Wish me luck and best of luck to all who follow any of my advice.

(Picks in bold.)

Army+15 at Temple

Ball State+5 at Georgia State

Colorado State+8.5 at Colorado

UCLA+3 at Texas A&M

Georgia-3 at North Carolina

San Jose State+5.5 at Tulsa

Southern Miss+6 .5 at Kentucky

BYU-1 at Arizona

Notre Dame-3.5 at Texas

Ole Miss+4.5 at Florida State

"The trip to Ireland is a great Marketing opportunity..."

At least it doesn't say Golden Eagles.

"Someone got fired over this"
Ga Tech vs. Boston College in
Dublin, Ireland pic.twitter.com/SKMtCuF9fT

— eric jackson dodd (@ericjdodd50) September 1, 2016

BC-Georgia Tech preview

It feels like we've been waiting for this game for a long time. For years fans talked of a trip to Ireland. Now it is here. All offseason many of us couldn't wait to get the bad taste of last year behind us. Saturday starts a new season. Addazio has always pointed to Year 5 as the time when the program would show what he can do. The reality is that this season will be just as telling. What will it tell us? We'll find out Saturday

What's on my mind (not totally related to this game)
This is a TV and tourism game, so it makes sense to have BC. We are usually a good TV draw in a big market and have plenty of fans of Irish decent looking to make the trip. However, we are also a school with an ever growing fan and alumni base on the West Coast. This start time is rough for those folks. I am giddy about watching BC Football during breakfast, but I don't know how much I would love it if I had to wake up at 4 AM to watch the game. I know with DVRs and streaming archives, our West Coast fans don't have to watch it live, but part of the fun of sports is the live aspect. I feel for those people out there and hope they get a good post-game nap.

Three Simple Keys
1. Interior penetration. BC needs to be collapsing the interior of the GT line and screwing up as many dives as they can. I think we have the tacklers at LB and in the defensive backfield to minimize the outside stuff. The key is blowing up the early parts of the Triple Option. Get them off schedule and maybe force a turnover or two.
2. Converting on 3rd downs. Want to see if last year was just the Perfect Storm of bad offense and that things are better now? Then watch conversions on 3rd downs. Addazio is going to keep running early, so in theory these third downs should be short and manageable. BC needs to convert a few and have some sustained drives for the first time in two years.
3. Don't allow GT to pass deep. When GT is at their best, they lull you to sleep with the option and then hit a huge downfield pass off of play action. Our DBs did a good job of preventing deep balls last year. They need to do it again Saturday.

Gambling Notes
-- Paul Johnson is 8-1 in season openers while at Georgia Tech
-- Addazio is 8-16 in ACC play
-- BC is 2-6 all time vs Georgia Tech
The current line is BC+3

Factoid
Paul Johnson has faced BC three times (once at Navy and twice at GT). This is the first time he won't be facing a Frank Spaziani Defense.

Scoreboard Watching
The most important games are Clemson-Auburn and Florida State-Ole Miss. Both of our ACC foes appear to be juggernauts. This weekend will show us how dominant they might be.

I hope to see...
The Defense look just like last year. Obviously that will help BC throughout the year, but I actually like Jim Reid and appreciate the tough position he is in. If he really does keep Brown's scheme, we might actually build some lasting success.

BC is in trouble if...
Georgia Tech gets up by more than 10 early. Addazio's not known for his game management and Georgia Tech's approach can kill clock quickly. The offense may be improved, but do you trust them to comeback from an early deficit in the first game?

Overall
I keep telling myself that BC's had the whole offseason to prepare for this team and this unique game. It should go off without a hitch, right? We'll see. I expect BC to shutdown GT and get a few big offensive plays early. I think the second half will be sloppy, but BC will hold on for the win.
Final Score: BC 24, Georgia Tech 20

Season prediction Part III: what will happen

We are about to start our fourth year with Addazio and I don't know what we have. Or maybe, I know what we have and I'm in denial. Last year dashed any hopes that I had that he might be a special coach. This year I am hoping for progress and competency. If we don't get both, then we've entered another lame duck era of BC Football.

I think this year will be okay. If you combine a good (maybe great) defense with an adequate offense and a forgiving schedule, you get to a bowl game. That's what I predict. Below is how I think it will play out. This is my prediction for the season.

What will happen

Georgia Tech. Win. We start our season with one of our toughest matchups. BC does enough well and forces some turnovers to hold onto the win.

at UMass. Win. It is never even close. BC's D holds them under 10 points.

at Virginia Tech. Loss. A tough game on the road early in the season. BC is close, but sees too many drives stall out.

Wagner. Win. All the backups get to play.

Buffalo. Win.  BC runs on them and gets a comfortable win.

Clemson. Loss. Not close. Clemson is riding high and we can't even play spoiler.

Syracuse. Win. I think Syracuse's coaching transition is going to be a little rough. BC wins easy.

at NC State. Win. This is a big one and gets people excited that maybe Addazio is getting over the hump.

Louisville. Loss. BC keeps it close, but cannot win.

at Florida State. Loss. In almost the same gameplan as Louisville, Addazio attempts to grind it out but BC cannot score enough.

UConn. Loss. This is a classic BC WTF and kills much of Addazio's goodwill. At this point we realize he's more TOB than he will ever be Urban Meyer.

at Wake Forest. Win. We rally back from the UConn loss, but there is still a bad taste in everyone's mouth.

Finishing 7-5 (4-4 in the ACC) puts BC in a bowl. But no one wants us. We end up in Detroit and play Minnesota. BC wins and Addazio records his first bowl victory and his best season at the Heights, yet it all feels real hollow.

Season Prediction Part II: best case scenario

BC's season is set up for a bounce back. The schedule is easier. The Offense should be better and everyone is a little older. Yet, the key for a great season is the Defense. If the Defense is as good as it was last year, this team will be one of the most surprising teams in college football. I think there will be some other issues this year, but I could see the season playing out like this

As a reminder, this is not what I think will happen. My actual prediction gets posted tomorrow.

Best Case Scenario

Georgia Tech. Win. The Offense looks better. The Defense deals with the Triple Option and everyone comes back from Ireland happy.

at UMass. Win. This game should not be an issue.

at Virginia Tech. Win. Another tough, early test. It is close and low scoring but BC pulls it out.

Wagner. Win. Most of the starters rest after the first half.

Buffalo. Win. With the win, BC improves to 5-0 and is ranked heading into the Clemson game.

Clemson. Loss. A huge, attention getting game. Campus is rocking and the team plays well early, but can't keep up with Clemson in a shoot out.

Syracuse. Win. Since we only seem to have close games in the Carrier Dome, this one is an easy win.

at NC State. Win. BC moves back into the polls after taking down the Pack.

Louisville. Win. This is the sort of game that turns a good season into a great one.

at Florida State. Loss. Another big game where BC comes up short, but still a respectable showing.

UConn. Win. Total domination.

at Wake Forest. Win. Easy game

This would be an incredible run and end with 10-2 (6-2 in the ACC). Losing to Clemson and Florida State would keep BC out of the ACC Championship Game. However, this sort of record and ranking would help BC's Bowl placement. I could see the Sun Bowl maybe against Oregon State. If we are riding that high, I say we win that game and finish with an 11-2 record and huge momentum for the program. This would also put BC in the Top 10 nationally.

Season Prediction Part I: worst case scenario

The closer we get to this season, the more angry I get about last year. We blew it. We wasted a once in a decade Defense and couldn't get out of our own way in multiple games. Addazio went through excuses as fast as he went through quarterbacks. Bad luck and bad bounces are part of sports, but last year went beyond being unlucky. We were not well coached or well managed. As I put together how bad things might be this season, I started to wonder what happens if we have two terrible seasons in a row. Let's hope it doesn't get to that.


As a reminder, this is not what I think will happen. This is more of a "what if." My real prediction will come later in the week.


Worst Case Scenario

Georgia Tech. Loss. There is huge risk in starting the season against Georgia Tech in a unique road game. We're not ready for their offense and it is a long flight home.

at UMass. Win. This is technically a road game, but the closeness and the opponent make for a nice bounce back after the rough start to the season.

at Virginia Tech. Loss. The Hokies are entering a period of uncertainty, but I still think they have more talent than BC and I still think Lane Stadium will be a tough place to play.

Wagner. Win. Another soft game to pad the stats and the W-L record.

Buffalo. Win. They're more respectable than Wagner, but even in a bad year I can't see BC losing this game.

Clemson. Loss. It will be a national game on campus against a probable Top 2 team. In a bad season they crush us by 28.

Syracuse. Loss. I think 'Cuse will be a mess this year too, but in a bad season I could see BC screwing this one up. If the season does play out like this, morale will be incredibly low at this point.

at NC State. Loss. The Offense still struggles and we now have a QB controversy...again.

Louisville. Loss. It is a defensive slog like last year. It is a loss like last year.

at Florida State. Loss. We play them close again, but there is no way we are winning this one.

UConn. Win. The losing streak ends. But no one feels great about where things stand.

at Wake Forest. Loss. Addazio is still unable to end the ACC losing streak.

This would leave BC 4-8 (0-8 in the ACC). What gets me worked up is that I could see Addazio surviving this sort of terrible season. No other Power 5 team would let a coach go 0-16 in conference over two years, but I think BC is in a weird position. I think Bates is tied to Addazio. I think some around the decision will think that part of the problem is never letting a coach hang around long enough to get a full roster. If it does get this bad, I will be banging the drum as loud as possible (not that it means anything). I don't think it will get this bad, but after last year I can't count on anything.

BC picks four captains

After messing around with "game day" captains for a few seasons, Addazio decided to return to BC's old ways. The team voted on four captains who will represent the team for the entire season. The honored four are Truman Gutapfel, John Johnson, Tyler Rouse and Myles Willis.

I don't think captains or the idea of game day vs season captains wins any games for a team like BC. But I do think that having four elected leaders can hep build a better team culture. I hope these guys set a good example on the practice fields and the locker room and help BC get out of its rut.

I also hope that these captains set a good example while the team is in Ireland. We don't need any nonsense in a foreign country just as he season starts.

Welcome to life as a BC fan

BC welcomed the incoming freshmen to the BC family this weekend. It is a nice gesture and helps build community and pride. While there is so much more to BC than just sports, I don't know if any of these kids know what they have bought into as BC fans. There will be highs and lows and lots of wasted emotion, but ultimately it will be fun. We wouldn't keep watching if it were not fun. And hopefully these new members of the BC fan community will see more success and championships than those fans who came before.

Welcome @BostonCollege class of 2020. You're officially Superfans! Great day to be an Eagle! #BCEagles #BC2020 pic.twitter.com/ertIRV7ste

— #BCEagles (@BCEagles) August 27, 2016

Class of 2020 Photo! #BC2020 #BCWelcome @BostonCollege pic.twitter.com/BGVcX8pA70

— BCbeat (@theBCbeat) August 27, 2016

Where should BC play next?

With Cal and Hawaii playing in Australia and BC getting ready for Ireland, I started to wonder about future BC road trips. If money is right, there is no reason why BC shouldn't consider future football games abroad. It raises the profile of the school, it generates some fan excitement, it gets a good TV slot and most importantly you can sell it to recruits.

I have mentioned Liverpool before. Given Fenway Sports Groups relationship with Liverpool and Anfield, BC could easily set up a game. I am sure ESPN would throw some extra money at us. The downside is that it might not have the same appeal to fans or other potential opponents.

Sydney, Australia seems like an interesting choice. If this Cal-Hawaii game proves successful, there will be more trips down under. It is a long way from Boston, but it might make for an interesting locale.

Toronto held bowl games, but no one really attempted anything in Montreal. I think it could be interesting, plus it is not that far from Boston. Our fans could make the trip.

There are still many American expats in Germany. There used to getting NFL games. Maybe a college game could draw well.

BC played in Tokyo once before. Why not go back? Like Australia, it would involve a long trip.

It is all about Addazio

As I read more and more previews, the same issues are mentioned. Can BC's Defense sustain its dominance without Don Brown? Who will step up at QB? Can the Offensive Line come together?  Most of these previews also mention how many close games BC lost last year. (I assume someone from BC is providing that stat.) To me all these issues are interchangable. Every team heads into the season with one or two glaring concerns or an assistant to replace. To me the biggest question is: what has Addazio learned?

Last year was a disaster. Everything that could go wrong, did go wrong. While the team was young and hit with injuries, there were still huge, painful, shameful coaching mistakes that cost BC games. As a reminder:

• the cluster at the end of the Wake Forest game.
• the questionable clock management against Syracuse. 
• Sticking with Fadule too long against Notre Dame. 
• Sticking with Flutie too long against Duke. 
• But to me, the biggest failure was the inability to cobble together some sort of offense with one of the QBs. 

Addazio changed both coordinators, brought in trusted friend and mentor Paul Pasqualoni and revamped his recruiting. The schedule is manageable. There are no real excuses. If BC doesn't bounce back in a major way then Addazio's story is over. He won't get fired, but we will know what his true potential is. I am still hoping for him to be a passionate TOB. Let's hope he's not just a harder working Spaz.

More Bowl predictions and other links

Campus Insiders predicts BC will get invited to the Quick Lane Bowl, which is the game played in Detroit on December 26. Remember the outrage when we last went there? I think most people would be happy with it now.

The Washington Post expects BC to win six games.

BC is now in full preparation for Georgia Tech.

What Georgia Tech fans are saying about the Ireland trip [unscientific research]

Living in Atlanta, I know lots of Georgia Tech fans and listen to plenty of Atlanta sports radio. Do you know what Jacket fans are saying about the trip to Ireland? Nothing. There is no buzz and little excitement among my crowd. I only know of one person going. Now admittedly, I don't know every Georgia Tech fan in the world and I know that there will be plenty of Jacket supporters over there. My point is that playing the game in Ireland against BC has not broken into the wider sports discussion.

Georgia Tech's struggles to get attention mirror many of BC's issues. While Atlanta might not be as passionate about their professional teams as Boston fans, the Jackets compete with the Falcons and Braves for attention, plus the Georgia Bulldogs and all the SEC fans in the area. If you listen to local Sports Radio, you hear much more on Georgia and the other Top 25 matchups opening weekend than you do about Ireland.

When there is talk, the consensus seems to be that GT must come back with a win. That travelling that far only to lose to a winless ACC team would be a demoralizing way to start the season. One thing of note about the little I have read and heard: GT is practicing and scrimmaging early in the morning so that their body clocks are ready for the 7 AM kickoff.

Just because there isn't much early excitement about the game doesn't mean it is a bad idea or lost cause. I am glad BC tried something new and the unique timeslot on the opening weekend helps raise awareness. It will probably be BC's highest rated day game this season. But the general apathy around the game here is just a reminder that if BC ever wants to be top of mind in Boston (or nationally) they need to win more.

Burton flips

To the shock of no one, Florida (via Newton South) QB Austin Burton decommitted from BC and is now verballed to UCLA. When Burton first committed I had a feeling it was only temporary. You don't leave Massachusetts to gain exposure only to go play at a college ten minutes from Newton South.

BC will be fine. We have another QB in this class and there is always the chance Addazio could grab another 5th year (Hayden Rettig?) or a traditional transfer. I won't disparage Burton's choice. My mom went to UCLA and it has a lot to offer. But I do question why he wasted everyone's time committing to BC when it seemed obvious he had his sight sets on other things.

A different sort of hype video

BC released a well-received hype video last week. It was well done. But I thought some fans might like a different sort of video to get ready for Ireland. Like maybe the full game of the 1993 upset over No. 1 Notre Dame. Enjoy it while it is still up!

BC posts about the scrimmage without really posting about the scrimmage

BC released a write up of their second scrimmage and it sounded more like a write up from a newspaper. No statistics are listed for the QBs. No mention of leading tacklers or who lined up where. It is a change from how things used to be covered by BC.

I notice these things because I've been doing this for so long. But maybe those sorts of details don't really matter. If Wade looked sharp or Towles went 8 for 8, is that really going to change Addazio's decision? Probably not. What's is encouraging is seeing new names like Tavon Jones or Glines sprinkled into the news. The hope is one of those new names turns his scrimmage showing into an impact on the real season.

BC also mentioned the focus on Georgia Tech. While it might seem early, I understand why they are doing prep for GT now. Playing a option team always creates more work. Plus we are going to be totally off schedule with the trip to Ireland. It makes sense to deal with this now. 

Tips for Georgia Tech

BC's first game will be unusual. In part due to the setting in Ireland. But also because of the opponent: Georgia Tech. The Jackets' Triple Option Offense is unlike anything else BC will face this year. Because of the misdirection and multiple players involved in every play, you often hear that the defense has to play "assignment football." However, there are plenty more nuances than that. The D must also be ready for their different blocking approaches and their dangerous passing game. Watch the guys from Fox Sports South break it down a bit below. 

ACC Network "Extra" starts Friday

Our first glimpse of the ACC Network starts Friday with the launch of ACC Network Extra. It is essentially an Over-The-Top network that ESPN is powering. It is available to anyone with a WatchESPN or the ESPN App. While this is exciting, it is really just a fancy name for what most of us had and have with ESPN3.com.

It is a good first step, but the majority of the content with be non-revenue sports. This is good news for the diehards of these random sports. The number of games and their production quality will be much better.

It will be interesting to see how many actually use the "Extra" service. I think football still drives demand and viewers. Without key content, I think this first step will just be small one.

Looking at Addazio's inconsistency on philosophies

Addazio has spent the whole offseason saying the Defense won't change now that Don Brown is gone. He says that the terminology is the same, the personnel and of course the aggressiveness. While Reid won't be running a system he put together, he has enough experience in football that this shouldn't be a problem. Plus Paul Pasqualoni -- who used Don Brown at UConn -- is around to fill in any gaps. I am fine with this idea of keeping the system after its founder is gone. Limited practice time and specialized recruiting help "systems" work in College Football, as opposed to the NFL where you have to do it all. What I find interesting is that Addazio is married to a Defensive System, yet keeps changing his offense each year. You wouldn't expect that from an offensive guy.

Articles like this reinforce the idea that Loeffler is going to make drastic changes to BC's offense. Much more passing and more downfield plays. We probably have the QB to do this, but I don't know if we have the OLine to protect him or the playmakers to leverage it. We will see once the games begin. But what if BC struggles again? Will Addazio try something else next year?

I don't know how intentional it was, but Addazio stumbled into something beautiful and brilliant in his second year. Because of the personnel and coaching, BC ran a scheme that was part Oregon and part Stanford. We couldn't throw well, but we had a unique and electric offense. Instead of keeping that unique style, Addazio scrapped it when Murphy left and Offensive Coordinator Ryan Day went to the NFL. Last year we started in a more traditional pocket passing, power game. Once Wade got hurt we struggled to do anything. That is where the lack of a system comes into play. If Addazio was truly building an offense -- not just adjusting to players and his OC -- he would have been able to better plug in a replacement for Wade. We will have the same issues this year if a QB goes down or no one can catch.

Maybe Loeffler is finally running the Offense Addazio wants. Maybe we will be power running with play action for deep balls. I don't care. I just want him to find something that works and stick with it.

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. 

Christian's extension doesn't really matter

BC upset a few fans when word leaked out that the school extended Jim Christian's contract one more year. The angry fans questioned extending a guy coming off a terrible season. The apologists said that the extension is needed for recruiting purposes. My reaction is that none of it matters.

The contract is just money. If you are a fan or donor, you could argue that it is "your money" paying the salary, but that is not really how it works. TV and shoes drive a lot of Christian's deal. It certainly isn't ticket sales. By 2020 -- when the deal ends -- we will know if Christian is capable of rebuilding this wreck or if he's a bum. If he's capable, the extension is a bargain. If he's a bum, it is just the cost of doing business. 

The contract extension is really just another turning point for Brad Bates. He's really on the line for this. If Christian flames out, it is Bates who will be answering questions...and it will probably be someone else making the next hire.

I would have preferred that BC took a stand and let Christian coach without the extension, but I am not losing sleep over any of it. BC's leaders only take stands when it fits their agendas. Right now they want Christian to succeed, so they are going through the usual motions. Let's hope it pays off. 

Announcers for Ireland and other links

BC's historic game in Ireland will be called by...Jason Benetti, Kelly Stouffer, and Paul Carcaterra? I cannot remember Benetti calling any previous BC games. I thought the ESPN2 slot in Ireland would draw a bigger name, but you get what you get. Let's hope they call a good game.

The Globe featured Davon Jones. Hopefully he's ready to break out.

Malachi Moore left Rutgers and will not use his fifth year. Best of luck to him.

Scrimmage providing some answers

BC held its first scrimmage of the summer Saturday. Media attended so there are reports leaking out and plenty of good news. Right now -- despite what Addazio is saying -- Towles is the starting QB. He took all the first team snaps. This follows a week where he took the vast majority of snaps in practice. BCI's Hoffses says he looked good, so barring some sudden downturn in play, I think he will be named the starter.

Addazio seems happy with Wade too. All the running backs looked good. Let's hope the OLine can give them some holes. According to Hoffses, this is the group that started up front: LT-Schmal, LG-Cashman, C-Baker, RG-Lindstrom, RT-Lowery. I don't think that mix is as solid as Towles. Expect Addazio to keep tweaking the mix until they look good.

The interesting development on the Defensive side is the use of more zone. How much of that is Reid or Addazio or simply talent, I don't know. But the DBs remain really talented. Now that we finally have guys that can run with anyone, I would hate to play less man coverage. Addazio explains it that we can play more zone because he expects the front four to generate more pressure. I still have trust in Reid based purely on how aggressive he was in his first stint at BC.

Truth comes out on ACC Network deal

There has been plenty of talk about future ACC Football schedules. Would the conference move to nine league games? Could Georgia Tech's idea of eight ACC games plus two Power 5 games even work from a logistics standpoint? The league delayed their decision on future schedules Friday but will have to decided soon. We know that because the new ACC Network contractually calls for ten Power 5 games per team!

So when the smoke clears, schedule changes are not about playoff spots, computer rankings or even the idea of the conference wanting to challenge itself. It is all about TV money. ESPN gave the conference a bunch of money and now wants some good games. I don't blame them and think the ACC's greed will be good for BC Football fans. One way or another our team will be forced to beef up its schedule. You won't have to sit through as many lame home games because ESPN won't pay for them.

In a world where BC is forced to play ten Power 5 games, my preference is the 8+2 model. This is purely for the variety it would bring to the schedule. And if BC has trouble finding willing and interesting Power 5 teams, they can always schedule non-conference games against other ACC teams in need of a game. Would anyone object to playing Pitt or Miami at random intervals to fill out the schedule?

This doesn't mean that Bates has to schedule Alabama and Texas tomorrow. The ACC has some run up time built into the TV and ACC Network deal. The looming Big 12 expansion also means that the pool of Power 5 teams could expand at any minute. But in the end, this will lead to BC playing more teams that matter. If you are a fan of football and tired of cupcakes, this is great news.

More info on the new athletic projects

The Boston Business Journal published excerpts from BC's application to build athletic complexes, including a permanent Baseball and Softball facility, on the Brighton campus. Even though this is just one part of the overall plan, it is good to see some movement. The new fields have been promised long enough that a whole class of Baseball and Softball players have come through BC without ground being broken.

The article does not say how long the Boston Redevelopment Authority has to approve the plans, however, construction is expected to start in March 2017 and be completed in March of 2018. The March deadlines are crucial, since the team will need to schedule their 2018 games somewhere.

In other news related to the Indoor Practice Facility, progress on the Edmonds demolishing is noticeable.

Once the land is cleared there, BC can move into the next phase of buildings around the Stadium.

ACC AD Musical Chairs

Do you remember Mike Bobinski? His name was floated for the BC opening when we hired Bates. Since then, he left Xavier to take over Georgia Tech. Wednesday, word got out that he's leaving Tech after just a few years to become Athletic Director at Purdue. This is important for BC since Bobinski was one of the big proponents of the ACC playing two Power 5 teams out of conference annually. Aside from the logistical nightmare and questionable business strategy for the new ACC Network, Bobinski's exit probably means the new out of conference mandate is probably dead.

However, Bobinski's departure does raise the issue of Brad Bates' tenure. Bates is a Midwest guy with Big Ten connections. Why wasn't he mentioned for the Purdue job? His name was floated by Blauds for the Mizzou job, yet they went with a less experienced AD. After Michigan passed on bringing Bates back to Ann Arbor, you have to wonder how long Bates will be at BC.

When he was hired, I predicted a short run at BC for Bates. I figured this was his final preparation for the Michigan job and that BC wouldn't mind a short tenure after Gene overstayed his welcome. Now that he's not gaining traction for other openings, I think Bates may be at BC for a while. He's nearing the end of his original deal, so some sort of decision is needed. The conference is more stable, so there are fewer pressing issues there. The major projects remain fundraising and executing the practice facility and the baseball/softball transition. While Bates' hires have left a lot to be desired and his fundraising hasn't generated a massive windfall, there is no pressing reason not to renew him. I imagine a generic announcement and a multi-year extension will come soon. Or maybe BC will wait it out and see how Addazio and Christian do this year. Why not? No one else is coming to take Bates away.

QBs are the focus of the media and other links

The QBs said all the right things after the first practice. I still doubt the "wide open" ness of this process. What if Wade is demonstrably better? Will he really start? Based on the lack of quotes, it seems like Fadule is not really in the mix.

Here is Fox Sports' preview of the team. They deal with the typical questions regarding QB and coordinator changes.

After a preseason injury the Redskins decided to waive Stephen Daniels. Supposedly there is still a space waiting for him on their IR once he clears waivers.

Chris Pantale is converting to Fullback with the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Towles-Harambe dedication is going to be a thing

Last week Patrick Towles posted an Instagram (below) dedicating his season to the deceased Cincinnati Zoo Gorilla Harambe. BCI noticed it and I thought it was just a college kid working an internet meme into his pictures. No bid deal, right?

Of course I was wrong. Now the story is getting picked up by other outlets (here and here). I fear that this will be mentioned a lot before the season and more than we want once the games start. Personally I think the idea is funny (and I assume Towles is going for laughs), but this really runs the risk of becoming a dead horse. The best ending for this meme is for Towles to really kick butt and everyone gets into Harambe. If not, let's hope it just dies out.

Dedicating this season to the realist there ever was... #RIPHARAMBE

A photo posted by Patrick Towles (@patty_ice_8) on Aug 4, 2016 at 1:48pm PDT

Thanks to Chris Cameron

Chris Cameron is about to leave Boston College for other opportunities. For those who don't know, Chris has spent 18 years leading the BC Sports Information team. As I have written before, if you appreciate how Boston College comes across in the media, you owe a debt of gratitude to Chris and his colleagues. While there have been moments the past two decades when our coaches and administrators looked like jerks in front of the media, I can't think of a single athlete who was exposed, hung out to dry or said something stupid. That is because they were all well prepared (and protected) when called upon. That job is much harder than you think.

Aside from the image of BC that Chris helped shape to the media, his team also did and does countless work making the media look good. Those facts and figures that the broadcasters and writers work into their coverage or the quick little anecdote about a player most likely came from Sports Information. Sports Information sometimes knows the players better than they know themselves.

My time as a student broadcaster predated Chris, so I didn't get to know him in the day to day setting like I did with Dick Kelley and Reid Oslin. I was just a blogger in another part of the country. However, he was always very helpful and accommodating, especially in the early days when he certainly didn't have to be. I wish him luck and thanks for his long commitment to BC.

More signs staff expects Towles to start

Preseason awards "watch lists" are sort of a joke. Nearly every team works to get one of their players on every list. And now there is a specialty award for nearly every position, so hundreds of players end up on these lists. Yet it still takes a great season to actually win an award and plenty of players who weren't on the preseason lists emerge and win the prizes. But the awards do tell you what the coaches expect. BC put Patrick Towles on the preseason Unitas List. In my opinion that is another sign that the staff expect him to start.

But I don't think the preseason list guarantees Towles anything beyond the Georgia Tech game. Addazio admitted his mistakes from last year. He needs to win and if Towles doesn't step up, Wade will get a shot. Who knows, maybe Wade could even win the Unitas award.

Lessons from Last Chance U

If you like football and behind the scenes sports documentaries, I highly recommend Netflix's Last Chance U. It spends a season with the players, coaches and administrators at East Mississippi Community College as the Defending National Junior College Champions look to win their fourth championship in five years. Because this is a JuCo, I think the players and coaches were much more unguarded than they might have been at a big university. The series is entertaining on its own, but also provides some great insight into the larger world of college football and provides perspective about how we do things at BC.

[SPOILERS TO FOLLOW]

Chaos on the sidelines

Whenever one of our coaches messes up a two minute drill, we all go crazy. Yet here is Junior College's most prolific offense -- in theory a fine tuned machine -- screwing up. At one point, the head coach didn't even realize it was 4th down or what the call was. And this team wins. This reinforced for me that so much of this is talent, talent and talent. East Mississippi is not winning because Stephens is some great Xs & Os guy or a great game manager. He's winning because he is out recruiting his fellow JUCOs and filling up on Power 5 talent that either can't qualify or had trouble at bigger programs.

BC will never be able to recruit JUCO players

It is not a good fit. I am sure we will have the occasional exception, but in general there will be very few JUCO players who would ever get by our Admissions Office. These guys are taking what amounts to remedial classes (Algebra, Basic Comp, etc.) and really struggling. Few seem motivated to try at all, even as their teachers and administrators hold their hands through the whole process. The only JUCOs we might ever be able to land are players like John Franklin III. He already qualified for an ACC team and is only at East Mississippi to showcase his talents. And based on what the conversation the East Mississippi people had with Auburn, he breezed through their classes with mostly A's.

And even if Admissions allowed our coaches to go all in on JUCOs, I still think BC would be a tough sell. Getting on a plane and going to Southeast Missouri intimidated Ronald Ollie. Can you imagine what it would be like trying to get some of these isolated and immature kids up to Boston? They all dream of the SEC. BC is a very different sell.

Academic Advisors are the unsung heroes of any successful program

The breakout star of the series is East Mississippi's Academic Advisor Brittany Wagner. She serves as den mother, big sister, baby sitter, tutor and school supply closet to the team. Without her, half of this team wouldn't be eligible. While the academic cases at East Mississippi are more extreme, don't think that this sort of support is not going on at every Power 5 program. Our players come to BC much more prepared than your typical JUCO, but there is a whole team of people at BC making sure they go to class, that they sign up for the right classes, that their GPAs remain strong, that they graduate on time, etc. You can question whether these players should even be in a college environment or what they are truly learning, but you can't question Wagner's passion or commitment.

There is still a lot of corruption in College Sports

It was just one passing moment in a six hours series, but I was surprised by the exchange between one player and a recruiter, when the player said he couldn't say what else he needed to commit "in front of the cameras."

The coach clearly understood what he meant and said, "there is nothing else. We follow NCAA rules..."

But as we all saw on Draft night, under the table payments are still alive and well in the SEC. I am sure it is rampant at other places too. If a marginal JUCO recruit is asking for extras, you can only imagine what the elite guys are doing.

BC is different but not that different

I think BC wants and tries to do things the "right way," but I am not naive enough to think we're perfect. Last Chance U isn't the same as a behind the scenes might be at the Heights, but there are probably more similarities than we would ever realize.

The blessing and course of ESPN3

The UMass game at Gillette will be on ESPN3. Because it is technically an away game, a broadcast was not guaranteed, so getting the ESPN3 feed is a good thing (it will also get a television broadcast in the New England area). It was only a few short years ago that something like this wouldn't have been picked up, so I appreciate the access. I also think the production value of ESPN3 games improves every season. However, the ubiquity of OTT solutions only drives the importance of the ACC Network.

Media presence remains a selling point in college sports. It used to be a big deal to tell kids that all their games would be on TV. Now everyone can say that. As long as mom or dad or grandma has an internet connection, he or she can watch every play. If every game is on the internet, it can't be a big deal to recruits. But saying you are on ESPN or ABC or whatever does mean something. It elevates the importance of the games. The ACC Network won't carry the same level of cache with recruits, but at least it is a dedicated network to their conference. We can also say that all of the games will be on ESPN's family of Networks (since the ACC will be part of it).

Having the ACC Network instead of streaming ESPN3 will also change perception with some of our fans. The diehards are used to streaming the games. But there is still a portion of the fanbase that would rather just turn on their TV and flip to the channel.

With the UMass game picked up, every BC game will have some sort of coverage this season.

Why is it so hard to get the uniforms right?

BC unveiled their new uniforms Wednesday (see embedded tweet below). The major changes are in the sleeves and in the pants. BC added stripes to the arms that include white and maroon against a gold base. The lines on the pants now curve in between the knees and thighs. None of this is objectionable, but it is all unnecessary. Do these changes excite anyone or do they just add more clutter to the jersey? The curved line on the pants have been around since the Broncos moved to them in the 1990s. Are we adopting them now to look current? I know this is about Under Armour and recruits, but there is a much simpler way to go about this.

BC should have a standard, classic base uniform for home and road games. Gold helmet with maroon stripe, gimmick free maroon jersey and simple gold pants. If you want to add a maroon stripe to the gold pants, I would not object. We've had various road styles over the years. My suggestion is to pick a simple one and stick with it.

Once you have your "base uniforms" established, then you get crazy with the rest of the season. Add wings or feathers to the helmet. Go all black. Use funky fonts and italics. Put lines all over it. Create a super fan style uniform. Use different shades of gold or maroon. Become the Oregon of the East. I don't care. Just as long as there is a simple, consistent BC to revert to for most of the season.

This new look to the sleeves and pants is not the worst we've had, but I am not a fan. Like all these uniform changes, this will get changed in a year or two. Hopefully soon BC will realize that the best way to appeal to old fans like me and young recruits is to get a uniform for every occassion instead of one look that leaves everyone so empty.

Turn on the lights💡#PhotoDay #BCEagles pic.twitter.com/dDzjhDTojP

— BC Football (@BCFootball) August 3, 2016

BC makes non-conference basketball schedule official

BC released its non-conference basketball schedule Tuesday. No real surprises. The one thing drawing attention is that BC plays no true road games. There are some quality opponents, but all of those games are either at Conte or a neutral site. Even regional games and traditional rivals are home this year (Providence and Harvard to name two).

If BC were planning on a big season, this would be a big deal. But in a rebuilding year it is not. RPI and tournament resumes factor in true road games, but does anyone think BC will even be in that conversation?

A few years ago Steve Donahue scheduled himself out of a job. I hope Jim Christian realizes what a gift this season is and scheduled himself some Ws and goodwill.

BC Coaches don't overreact to NCAA‬ Proposal 2015-48

Did your social media feed feel different Monday? If you are a fan of a major football power it probably did. Starting August 1, coaches are now allowed new levels of interaction with recruits in various social networks. The minutia of what the coaches can and cannot do is hysterical in its triviality, yet there were guys who've Rose Bowls like Gary Patterson furiously retweeting the most banal stuff from recruits he wants at TCU. One Power 5 team that didn't go all in on the new rule was Boston College.

Based on the Twitter feeds of Addazio, Al Washington, Anthony Campanile and Rich Gunnell, it seems like they treated Monday like any old day. Gunnell retweeted a few recruits who posted their BC offers, but that was about it. The team that once embraced Vines, was basically uninterested in the changes. Should BC fans be concerned? I don't think so.

While Social Networks and Social Media are important communication tools, they are only one part of the sales pitch. You still have to text and call and visit the players and their parents. If anything, social media provides greater insight into the recruits for the coaches, then the other way around. A social network account can give glimpses into a player's attitude and maturity.

BC also remains a niche product to most recruits. Location and the admission requirements will always make it so. That leaves BC coaches to spend more time finding the right guys as opposed to shotguning all the top recruits and retweeting their morning activities.

Maybe Addazio and company will become more engaged in the months ahead. If they start losing recruits due to lack of attention, they will have to react. But for now, I am glad they are taking their time and not overreacting.

Early look at the early Bowl Projections

Many are predicting a bounce back year for BC. The schedule is easy. The ACC media picked them fifth in the division. A lot of national rankings have them in the 60 to 70 range. If they get to 6-6, there should be a bowl game in their future. Yet not all of the early Bowl Projections see it that way. SBNation left out BC. They have 10 ACC teams plus Notre Dame in the postseason. But no BC.

Athlon is more optimistic. They have BC playing in the Military Bowl...against Temple. I know I just wrote about the pointlessness of playing Temple, but in this case I wouldn't mind. You can't really control who your bowl opponent is. Plus I think playing a winnable game in a relatively close city is not a bad way to end the season. The Military Bowl is not exciting your recruits and fans, but one more win does. Addazio lost his previous two BC bowls against name schools. Where did that get us? Might as well get a win.

There will be plenty of Bowl projections to come as we approach the season. It makes for great filler. It also gives us a barometer of how outsiders view BC right now. Let's hope we can exceed expectations.

Addazio talks 5th years again

Addazio freely admits he made a mistake not bringing in a 5th year QB last year, but now he is opening up even more. This time with a Virginia paper. As assumed, Addazio did not take a QB last year out of fear of how it would hurt his recruiting and reputation:

"You didn’t want to get a reputation for not having faith [in the guys you have],” Addazio said. “No matter how you cut these things, they get sensitive.”

So with sophomore Darius Wade set to take over in 2015, Addazio opted against seeking outside depth.

“I closed my mind to it and said, ‘OK, it’s Darius’ deal. I want to develop a young guy,’” Addazio said. “I didn’t want to keep bringing fifth-year guys in here. I did it once with Murphy. I didn’t want to do it again. “You know, in hindsight — almost like, duh — it didn’t pan out.”

At least he learned. Yet I still can't believe a guy who has been around so long made such a mistake. You know what's worse than a reputation for bringing in 5th years? Losing. Losing big and going winless in conference play. That hurts your reputation. How about wasting one of the best defenses in college football? Does that hurt your reputation? But it also makes me shake my head that Addazio even thinks that long term. All coaches should think season to season. They are not guaranteed to have the next one. While I don't think Addazio is on the hot seat this year, he ruined a lot of good will with last year. If the players you recruit don't like when you bring in new players, that is their problem. Leave or compete. That is the answer. If a guy can't beat out some 5th year at BC, where is he going to be an impact player?

Coaches hate criticism from those on the outside. Yet they are so deep into their problems they often lose perspective. Think back to TOB trying to keep Quinton Porter happy while Matt Ryan sat on the bench? You should never promise playing time. Just the opportunity and a chance to get an education. Don't worry about reputations. I would rather have other schools say "Addazio will bring in someone over you" rather than "if you go to BC you will lose."

Are we supposed to be excited about Temple?

BC scheduled a home at home with Temple. The Alumni game will be played in 2018 and the return to Philadelphia will be in 2021. Temple is far from the worst team BC could schedule but in my opinion this is a filler game with little upside. And it continues Bates and Addazio's practice of safe non-conference scheduling.

BC rationalized the series with a little history. Temple was a staple of the BC schedule for years. And they were awful. But that was a time when Temple served as an easy W. These days all colleges schedule FCS teams to pad their win total. An easy win over Temple is harder to justify or shine up. Why play them? They are in a decent recruiting territory and have improved of late, but they are still likely to be bad in 2018 and 2021. No one will care if BC wins. There will be scorn if BC loses (I've sat through a loss to Temple).

If Addazio and Bates are really determined to take it easy, there are other schools we could schedule. Look at private academic schools outside the Power 5. Look at teams outside the Power 5 in markets where we have good alumni populations. Schedule in regions where we want to begin recruiting. Schedule a unique opponent with some sort of cache, would generate a little excitement. Scheduling Temple won't. For decades BC fans viewed the game as an easy win or skippable game. I have a feeling they will see it that way in 2018 too.

Getting to know Ethan Tucky

Expectations are pretty high for Ethan Tucky. The new LB was a key part of the recruiting class and then when Jim Reid came onboard, he raved about him and explained how badly he wanted Tucky at Iowa. If you're looking for signs that he will contribute early, take this interview as an example. BC would probably not have him sit down for the Q&A if they didn't think he was going to play this season. 

The interview doesn't contain anything groundbreaking or dramatic, but does give some insight into Tucky's personality. It seems like he has a good head on his shoulders and a good model for getting better. Beyond the physical, Tucky also explains the learning curve of college football and the staff's preparation. 

There's plenty of comparisons to Milano and Kuechly. That's a high ceiling, but if he really is in that league, BC can have a dominant defense for years to come. 

The legacy of the Ice Bucket Challenge

Two years ago I posted my concerns about the Ice Bucket Challenge. At the time, I questioned people's motives and recommended people focus on the giving, not the ice. Well it turns out my crankiness missed the point. The Ice Bucket Challenge did raise tens of millions of dollars for ALS and that money led to a breakthrough with regards to genes connected to ALS.

Hopefully that discovering leads to meaningful improvement in treating the disease. Hopefully it leads to a cure for Pete Frates -- the man who helped make the Ice Bucket Challenge a viral sensation.

I still think I was right to question people's motives, but I clearly should have focused on the upside. Congrats to all those who gave and I hope they are proud of the breakthrough.

New details on ACC Network

Stewart Mandel posted a good article on the new ACC TV deal that resulted in a hard date for the ACC Network. What was clarified for the first time is how ESPN is going to generate money and guarantee carriage in a time when these types of networks are under fire. ESPN/Disney timed the launch of the ACC Network so that it coincides with the renewal of all the ESPN Networks. ESPN and the ACC will bundle the new network with the other ESPN Channels in an all or nothing proposal. If your cable company wants ESPN, they are going to need to carry the ACC Network.

Mandel also explains that basketball was a much bigger driver of the network than previously believed. All those Duke-UNC games plus the other second level powers will carry the network during the winter months.

I still have doubts that Notre Dame will ever give up football independence but they are the final piece in the puzzle. If the new playoff forced them into a conference, it will be the ACC. And if/when that happens, that gives the ACC one more trigger to juice the TV deal.

BC picked 5th in ACC Media Poll

Last week I predicted that the ACC Media would pick BC last in the Atlantic Division. Much to my surprise, they didn't. In fact, the media didn't even pick BC sixth. Instead our Eagles are expected to finish 5th. Maybe Addazio's enthusiasm and the confidence in BC's D is changing opinions.

The results of the poll show clear tiers in the division. At the top there is Clemson and FSU. Then some space before Louisville and NC State. BC is just barely ahead of Syracuse and then Wake. That's probably fair.

Just like my pessimism last week, this still doesn't mean much. BC has to go out and play the games, regardless of where they were expected to finish.

Based on media attention, Towles seems like the QB

The supposed open battle at QB doesn't look so open when you just read the press clippings. In interview after interview Addazio talked about the Towles and the mistake he made in not having more QB experience last season. This article references the "politics" of the situation last year. But the article also goes on about Towles winning qualities and fit with the approach. There is barely a mention of Wade.

in the end, I am not concerned with who plays and starts at QB. I am more concerned that Addazio learned from his mistakes. A QB rotation never really works and you can't worry about the player politics when the season is on the line. 

Addazio is putting last year behind him

Give Addazio credit. He continues to show nothing but confidence. If he is right about his talent evaluations, this team should be fine.

Addazio is raising expectations

Addazio, Myles Willis and Matt Milano ran the gauntlet of the ACC Media Days Friday. While the answers and topics from most of the one-on-one interviews will sprinkle out in the following days, Addazio's press conference and ESPN interviews are out. In these interviews he's expressing a lot of optimism.

Addazio owes us optimism after he screwed up last season. While he still references not having recruited the whole roster -- and even points to Willis and Milano as examples -- this is his team. He has his coaching staff in place. He has depth at critical positions and has an OC he trusts. During the interviews he still falls back to things not being exactly how he wants, but there are not valid excuses this year.

I don't think Addazio is blowing smoke either. I think he believes what he is saying. I think the players do too. Now it is just about translating it to the field.

ACC Schedule Basketball to expand

The launch of the new ACC Network will mean many things but our first tidbit is that the basketball schedule will expand to 20 games. This is good news for BC. We have had a hard time building good basketball schedules. They've been either too hard or too easy with few games at Conte filled. These two extra games will improve BC's RIP opportunity and increases the number of quality teams that come to Chestnut Hill.

What comes next? My guess is more ACC Football games. It will only make sense. Basketball is nice but Football is what will drive the new network.

BC unveils new marketing slogan

This video is our first glimpse at BC's new Marketing slogan: BC is Boston's College. I have doubts that it will work, but I like the message.

When people say Boston is a "pro sports town," the underlying idea behind the message is people don't care about college sports. In my opinion, it is not that people don't care. It is more about people's loyalty and their spending habits are tied to the professional teams. If you look at BC's TV ratings, people clearly care. Not all those homes are BC alums. I think BC's big challenge is to get those casual TV fans in Boston to care just a bit more. Care enough that they come to games and care enough that they spend a little more money on BC merchandise.

To get them to care more you might as well play up the Boston angle. Let them consider us on the same level as the pro teams and let them try to get on the BC bandwagon.

There will always be challenges. Why are BU grads, or UMass grads or people from any other college going to start going to BC games? And how do you get the casual fan with no real affiliation to BC to come over to Chestnut Hill for a game? Winning is first. Reaching out is second and delivering a good game day experience is critical.

One Youtube video is not changing BC's standings among fans, but this is the right message to send.

Hicks is gone

There were many "what could have been"s of the Steve Donahue era. One of the most intriguing was Darryl Hicks. But the injury bug that hit him in high school continued at BC to the point where he never even played for Donahue. Once he finally got on the court this year, we saw glimpses of potential, but nothing to make a difference with the terrible team. Now Hicks is gone. He's another example of predictable attrition as the roster truly becomes Jim Christian's.

With the depth the team has at guard and on the wings, Hicks was the odd man out. His minutes and productivity will be easily distributed. I don't think the loss will mean much to the success of this year's team.

I wish Hicks luck at his next stop. My advice would have been to stick out another year, get your BC degree and transfer. But maybe with all the bad luck he has had, he just wants a new start.

ACC Network coming in 2019

After years of speculation and enduring numerous changes in the college football and TV landscape, the ACC Network has a start date. It will come in 2019. The specifics and details will come later in the week at the ACC Media Days. But the highlights include extending the current TV, locking in Notre Dame and the ACC finally having a network. 

ESPN remains the key partner in the deal and that should help. Even in its decline, ESPN still has cash and leverage to get the ACC Network off to a good start. 

For BC this is continued good news. It provides stability. It provides more money. It keeps us on par with other Power 5 teams and for our fans, it means that much more coverage and content. 

Where will the ACC voters rank BC?

Later this week, the ACC Coaches and players will head to North Carolina for the ACC Media Days. Coming off of last year, BC will not be a hot topic. In fact, we will be an afterthought. Outside of BC's players and fans, not much is expected. So as the ACC asks the attending media members for preseason predictions, I expect BC to finish last in the Atlantic.

Why the last place? I think Syracuse's new coach and the idea of them opening up their offense will earn points with the ACC observers. Wake is bad too, but they will have enough local writers there that some will put them above BC. I think the goodwill lost with the Don Brown departure will offset any positives related to the change on the offensive side of the ball.

The voting won't impact anything on the field but it does give insight into how we are perceived. Hopefully we get to prove them all wrong.

BC looking to Canada Prep prospect

Many high school programs are mocked as "football schools." Canada Prep Academy is a football school. As in that's all they do. Founded in 2014 just across the border from New York in the Niagara area, the boarding school is small, focused purely on developing football players and plays an American schedule. I appreciate their specialization and cutting through a lot of the nonsense. The kids that attend are either trying to get noticed or improve their SAT scores. 

In the two years since it opened, BC has not been seriously involved with any of their players. Now we've offered their athlete Brandon Brown. Brown is currently committed to Central Michigan. I don't know or really care if we will pull Brown in, but I like establishing relationships with Canada Prep. It is a unique niche that will probably be a good stepping stone to under the radar prospects. You have to assume they want to play Power 5 football. Why not be top of mind for their coaches and late blooming players. 

Ty Graves highlights

We're in the dog days of summer, so enjoy this preview of things to come this winter.

News on Brace and other links

When Ron Brace died so suddenly, it raised plenty of questions. Fortunately there are more answers now. Brace died from a irregular heartbeat combined with high blood pressure.

BC is considered a sleeper for this year. I guess there is an upside to having such a bad season.

BCI is reporting that Baseball is set to hire LIU Brooklyn's Alex Trezza as an assistant coach.

Hoffses confirms Jeffers to BC

It has been rumored on BC message boards for weeks, but Wednesday Eric Hoffses and others confirmed that the Delaware's Maurice Jeffers will transfer to BC for his fifth year. The big man adds some frontline depth and experience to the team, but won't be a season changer. I just don't see him making a big leap from his Delaware productivity while at BC. What he does add is defense. Jeffers can block shots and hopefully protect the rim. Having a shot blocker should enable the wings and guards to be more aggressive on the perimeter.

Adding another 5th year means the team is still very unbalanced with an extreme mix of old and young. It is unlikely that BC will add any more basketball bodies before the season starts. I think this roster is better than last year's. Let's hope it comes together.

The Hockey departures and other links

As you've probably noticed, the BC Hockey team lost a lot of players this summer. Seven left and we are without any juniors. It is a big hit and even in BC's constant "reload" mindset, this is still an adjustment. But it is also the price you pay for having such a talented roster. 

This was actually a good ACC Media Preview precisely because it addresses the major issues in a way Addazio will not. 

I am used to our team receiving low rankings, but now our uniforms too?

The Saints expect big things from Edebali. 

BC sending Milano, Willis to ACC Media Days

BC named Matt Milano and Myles Willis as the Defensive and Offensive representatives at next week's ACC Media Days. As always with these things, this assignment is a bit of an honor and a bit of an indicator.

BC tends to send Seniors who can represent the school well and who have earned the special recognition. But they also want to send some of their best players as the media gatherings are a way to build up name recognition and help in getting individual and conference awards. Milano is not a surprise. He had a great season last year and is poised to be the team leader this year. Willis has certainly earned the right to go, but picking him also tells me that there are still huge question marks about the other offensive players. Sending either QB would be messy. When healthy Hilliman will get more carries than Willis. Is he not healthy yet or did they want to give Myles the shot now and Hilliman in the future?

Both guys will handle themselves well. I hope that they also use this sort of responsibility and motivation for a great season.

CFN predicts each game on BC's schedule

How does 6-6 sound? That's what College Football News predicts for BC's season. After last year that would be an improvement, however, it would still seem hollow. As part of the prediction they expect BC to go 2-6 in ACC play.

6-6 does not allow for even one upset. I hope that our style of play and improved offense allows BC to steal at least one game. Think of some of the close games from last year. Something should have broken our way. If Addazio can't pull out any close games, then you really have to start questioning his game management abilities. 

CFN does not get into Bowl predictions, but 6-6 would make BC eligible and likely headed to a bowl game. Whatever it takes to get that seventh win and over .500. 

390 athletes make ACC Academic Honor Roll

BC spends a lot of time on managing and publicizing APRs and graduation rates. However, just graduating athletes really undersells how much is done in the classroom by BC athletes. Nearly 400 students just made the ACC's Academic Honor Roll. That list recognizes students who maintain a 3.0 or better during one full school year. 

While some curriculums are easier than others, BC doesn't have fake majors or fake courses to pad these GPAs. These students work hard, especially when you consider their commitments outside the classroom. BC was third overall in ACC honorees. Congrats to all. 

What Syracuse's AD means for BC

Earlier this week, Syracuse hired former ESPN executive John Wildhack as their new Athletic Director. From an ACC and BC perspective, this is good news. Now as we design and negotiate new TV deals, we have a level of expertise unmatched by any other major conference. Wildhack understands ESPN in a way that few could. Hopefully, he also leads the charge in the every evolving ACC Network.

While hiring someone without any previous Athletic Department experience comes with risk, I applaud Syracuse for trying something new. Although non-traditional names were floated after GDF, Brad Bates was a safe and traditional candidate. The jury is still out on his success, but it seems pretty clear he is not going to make any major changes while in charge nor take any big risk. I hope that BC soon reaches a level of stability, so that when it comes time to replace Bates, BC can look beyond the traditional and make a hire like Syracuse just did.

ESPN's Scouting Report on Burton

Austin Burton switched to a Florida High School to raise his profile and become a better football player. Based on this ESPN article it doesn't seem like any of that was necessary. Burton gets high praise for his arm strength and accuracy. They also think he'll be more mobile than expected.

All this talk about Burton has me feeling good, but I can only wonder how it will play out. The verbal to BC put him on other schools' radars. Playing at a higher level will also raise interest. Let's hope he continues to progress, yet doesn't give into the temptation that will come with new offers. 

Hot Seats and other links

The Football season is nearing and Addazio is starting on many Hot Seat lists. Last year was disappointing, but it will take a lot for Bates to fire Addazio this year. Perhaps another winless ACC schedule.

Matt Ryan said all the right things at his BC press conference. He made a special point to thank and credit his two offensive coordinators -- Dana Bible and Steve Logan.

BCI listed all the ACC's odds for winning the conference and division. If you want to put money down on BC, you'll make big bucks if BC wins.

BC to retire Ryan, Kuechly's jerseys

In two separate ceremonies this fall, BC will retire the jerseys of Matt Ryan and Luke Kuechly. In the final paragraph of the release, BC explains:

Previously, Boston College has retired the numbers of Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Doug Flutie and Outland Trophy winner Mike Ruth and the jerseys of eight other standouts: Art Donovan, Bill Flynn, Gene Goodreault, Mike Holovak, Lou Montgomery, Charles O'Rourke, Tony Thurman and Louis Urban.

Both Luke and Matt are great guys who followed great BC careers with great NFL careers. Both have given back to BC and serve as role models for the BC Football community. This honor is well deserved. However, I do have a few quibbles with the process and timing.

Retiring numbers in football is difficult logistically. The massive size of the roster necessitates recycling iconic numbers. Hence most teams use some sort of ring of honor. The eight numberless jerseys that are honored at Alumni are in the same concept. BC doesn't clarify whether or not Ryan and Kuechly's 12 and 40 will be permanently retired, yet both are out of use and seemingly reserved for retirement. I think Ryan and Kuechly should be retired, but their numbers should live on with new players. In my opinion, Flutie's 22 should be the only number not re-used. (I would argue that even Ruth's 58 was premature...but that is another subject.) While both Ryan and Kuechly were special, I don't think either deserve the ultimate honor and honoring them in that way now is a trend that glorifies the recent past (in all sports) over true history.

My second issue is that this honoring skips over too many guys who came between the Thurman-Flutie-Ruth eras and the Ryan-Kuechly ACC era. I think Herzlich and Kiwinuka were both conference players of the year and both had incredible college careers. I feel like they are not being honored like Ryan and Kuechly because their NFL careers did not reach the same heights. That shouldn't matter.

There might not be a Matt Ryan era if not for the rebound led by Glenn Foley. How is his jersey not retired? What about all the great offensive linemen who have protected BC's stars? Mike Cloud, Derrick Knight and Montel Harris all finished their respective BC careers as the school's all-time leading rusher. Some acknowledgement is deserved, not to mention what Andre Williams' accomplished. Tom Coughlin and Tom O'Brien deserved the same honor that Mike Holovak received. I could go on, but the point remains.

In the short term this will be a nice little boost of PR for the Football team. I hope it leads to clarification of what BC is honoring --  "jersey vs number" -- and a whole new group of other players getting the recognition they deserve.

Happy 4th of July

There were several July 4th messages on Twitter, but this one was my favorite. I keep smiling at the player wearing 1776. That's the number I would want to request if I played BC Football. God Bless America.

Happy #4thofJuly hope everyone is having a safe & enjoyable weekend pic.twitter.com/5GN1IWl2bD

— Steve Addazio (@BCCoachAddazio) July 4, 2016

Dunn set to make pro debut

Justin Dunn completed the Mets 10-day throwing program for new signees and is now ready to pitch professionally. He's been assigned to the Brooklyn Cyclones and could pitch any day now. Dunn is starting in the Bullpen, so his usage will be a bit unpredictable. The team is monitoring his pitch count and adjustment to the new environment. Good luck to him.

Trying to rebuild local basketball connections

Despite being the only major conference team in the area, BC doesn't have great relationships with the AAU basketball powers around Boston. The problems and history are long, but it is partially because of admissions issues, JOB's scorched earth, Skinner's disinterest and Donahue not having enough time to build relationships. Jim Christian is trying to change that. Hiring a Boston guy like Spinelli was a first step, but so is getting in early on local talent.

BC just offered 2019 prospect Brycen Goodine. He is a BABC product. BABC is the oldest AAU team in the area and yet recruiting there has been hit or miss for BC. Can this be the start of a different era?

Goodine's graduation year is a long, long way away, so who knows if anything will come of this offer, but I am glad BC is being aggressive. It is just one more step to turning things around.

BC needs to get Holy Cross in Hockey East

As BCI points out, it appears Holy Cross wants to join Hockey East. There are lots of hurdles to clear, but if the Crusaders put together a solid proposal, BC needs to be their biggest advocate.

Even though the Holy Cross-BC rivalry doesn't mean much to any BC fan born after 1970, baby steps towards rebuilding it are good for BC. We are headed towards a time of uncertainty for college sports. Paying players, breaking off from the NCAA, and challenges to Title IX are all in play. Given that BC is proudly anti-athletic payment, I could see a situation where our leadership decides to de-emphasizes sports (especially if the Power 5 really starts up player salaries). However, if our historic rival is moving towards big-time sports (like Football and Hockey), it will put pressure on BC. Why would BC give up the marketing and community advantage that sports brings just when Holy Cross is embracing it? Holy Cross learned their lesson when they decided against the Big East basketball and gave up athletic scholarships.

I know that Holy Cross joining Hockey East is not the same as the Crusaders joining the Big Ten (or even something like the Conference USA), but it is a good first step. And even if it doesn't generate huge athletic momentum for them or start an athletic renaissance for BC and Holy Cross, it would still be good to play them more often. Their return to big-time sports is also a good reminder of what we did right over the years.