BACK TO THE FUTURE?

As much as Boston College Football fans want to suppress and ignore it like the boogeyman knocking on your bedroom window, the original "WTF" loss to Syracuse in 2004 continues to haunt the Eagle Nation.

It's just all too similar:

• The injury to the starting QB in the penultimate game of the season;
• The entrance of an able, but unproven redshirt freshman QB making his first collegiate start;
• A historic first BCS Bowl bid on the line;
• A final, post-Thanksgiving home game in which BC is the prohibitive favorite

But in there's-no-such-thing-as-monsters optimism, the significant differences can not, and should not, be overlooked:

• Coach Tom O'Brien has left for "greener pastures" in Raleigh;
• The current edition of the Boston College defense is one of the most stout in the country;
• This team, unlike the 2004 Eagles, has had a taste of the Big Game.

No matter what happens on Saturday, look for the Eagles to come out swinging and give a first rate effort.


Dominique Davis and Mark Herzlich were named ACC Players of the Week for their stand-out performances in BC's win over the Demon Deacons. This is the third time this season that Herzlich has been named a Player of the Week by the conference.


Meanwhile, Maryland is concentrating on regrouping and bouncing back after a 37-3 blow-out loss to FSU. In a game in which nothing went right for the Terps - including their decision to wear all black uniforms - Maryland lost at home for the first time this season.


VOTE FOR PEDRO
Maryland QB Chris Turner, whose father is John Turner of RATT fame, is something of a character. After taking over for the injured Jordan Steffey in 2007, the eccentric 4th year signal caller has led the Terps on an up and down ride through the ACC standings. While Turner has enjoyed great success in some games this year - 28 of 41 passes for 321 yards and a touchdown in a blowout win over Wake Forest, he has also suffered a few lowlights - 13 of 28 passes for 207 yards and 3 interceptions in a loss to Middle Tennessee State.

Indeed, Maryland has perhaps been the most two-faced program in college football this year with wins over Cal, Wake Forest, Clemson, and North Carolina while suffering losses to Virginia Tech, MTSU, FSU, and UVA. If BC can jump out to a fast start, minimize turnovers, and create some kind of home field advantage in the friendly confines of Alumni Stadium, it could be a great day for Eagle fans everywhere.