SHIP WRECKED

Congratulations are in order for the Virginia Tech Hokies on winning the 2008 ACC Championship game. Unlike Boston College, Virginia showed up ready to play and executed their effective gameplan from the first snap on a Sunny afternoon in Tampa.

Though he had been the subject of much criticism by VT fans in recent weeks, Head Coach Frank Beamer deserves credit for this blow-out victory.



Boston College, which looked flat from their first three and out offensive series, never seemed to have a chance in this game - despite cutting the Hokies lead to 14-7 and halftime.

Although Hokies quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who earned the game MVP, was contained for the most part (he rushed for 52 yards on 11 carries and was 11-of-19 for 84 yards passing), tailback Darren Evans rushed for 114 yards on 31 carries, the most any running back had gained this season against BC.

Superfans
Not surprisingly, the BC fans were few and far between, but for the few thousand that were there, hats off for showing your support to the Eagles!

ACC Championship Photos

BC Fans faced an uphill battle, being told by this guy and his friends to either sit down or be "thrown out."

Let Us Do This.

Thanks to Ahhhhhbuckles for the link

The Eagles are poised and focused to make their first major bowl appearance in the BCS era. The streak of nine bowls in a row (with 8 consecutive wins) is a nice story, but I think many BC fans (and players) were would prefer a shot at the Orange Bowl vs. a win in a lower tier appearance.

Even the BC freshmen, including standout tailback Josh Haden, have a sense of how big an Orange Bowl appearance would be for the program.

The rematch against Virginia Tech in the 2008 ACC Championship game is eerily similar as the 2007 contest in Jacksonville. Despite winning the regular season match-up against the Hokies, the Eagles could not seal the deal on a sunny Florida afternoon in December.

This year, the Eagles recognize that they can't rely on Virginia Tech miscues as they did in the regular season game, but instead, must make their own opportunities - on both sides of the ball.

Boston College Junior Receiver Clarence Megwa is on the
slow road to recovery after suffering a scary compound fracture of his leg on November 1, against Clemson. While it is unclear if Megwa will ever be able to run again, let alone play football, he is relieved to have survived unexpected complications following surgery to reset his broken leg.

Billy Flutie recalls the play that all but iced the game against Maryland and relishes his roll as BC's jack-of-all-trades.

In the absence of injured Senior Linebacker and Defensive Captain Brian Toal, BC's Mike Mclaughlin has stepped up and, along with Junior Mike Herzlich, has led one of the nation's toughest defensive units.

NICKED UP
Senior defensive tackle Ron Brace (foot) and Freshman running back Josh Haden (shoulder) both missed practice on Tuesday, but Head Coach Jeff Jagodzinski expects both to be ready for Saturday’s title game against Virginia Tech.


ROYAL-LESS BATTLE
Without the services of NFL Rookie Receiver Eddie Royal, the Virginia Tech offense has had to rely on one of its youngest wide receiving corps in years. Despite their youth, redshirt freshman Danny Coale and true freshmen Jarrett Boykin have been paying dividends for the Hokies this season.

SIGN OF THE TIMES
Historically, Boston College has a reputation for having a small fanbase that is unwilling to travel. This rap, confirmed at last year's ACC Championship game in Jacksonville, may continue to stick after this weekend.

In these uncertain economic times, even many Hokie fans are forgoing a trip to Tampa in hopes of a New Year's Day journey to the Orange Bowl.

As of today, Virginia Tech has only sold 3,000 of their 10,000 allotted tickets.


D-LINE U?
Virginia Tech Senior Center Ryan Shuman knows he will have his work cut out for him this week when he faces the Eagles' monster front four, including the mammoth duo of B.J. Raji and Ron Brace.

Despite Shuman's strong play on the offensive line, the Hokies have had difficulty running the ball between the tackles against Boston College. Over the Hokies' last four meetings with the Eagles, Tech has averaged 2.8 yards per carry. In this year's regular season meeting between the teams, VT tailbacks Darren Evans and Josh Oglesby combined for a paltry 40 yards on 23 carries, an average of 1.7 per tote.

Hokie QB Tyrod Taylor had a bit more success, however, srambling for 110 yards against the Eagles.

Meanwhile, currently ranked 6th best, Virginia Tech's defense remains one of the toughest in the country. If the Hokies defense moves up one more spot, they will become the first team in college football history to have a top 5 defense five years in a row.

ATLANTA EAGLES

I don't know how it happened, but somewhere along the way the fine city of Atlanta, Georgia - Terminus - the place I call home - became a virile nesting ground for Boston College fans from sea to shining sea.

Last year, dozens of Peach State Eagles made the smoky and circuitous 400 mile trek from Atlanta to Jacksonville for the ACC Championship game. Even now, as I write and you think up excuses not to buy a plane ticket and support your alma mater, a similar intoxicating airlift is being planned for these gentile fans to make their drunken siege upon unsuspecting Hokie fans in Tampa.

Armed with nothing more than gold shirts, embroidered pants, and an ill-conceived (albeit most likely successful) plan to smuggle copious amounts of booze past unsuspecting TSA workers at Atlanta's Hartsfield International Airport, these fans stand ready to descend upon Tamponians and cheer on this remarkable Boston College Football Team in this sky-is-the-limit age known as the Post-TOB Era!


If all goes well, oranges will be provided.

So bring your Vodka and whale pants and leave your "down in front" mentality in Beverly, Marblehead, or other appropriate North Shore enclave and get yourself to Tampa.

When you get there, look for the guy in the oversized yellow styrofoam cowboy hat wearing the #12 jersey and govern yourself accordingly.

He is, after all, what all BC fans should aspire to be.

Let's Go Eagles!

Some chump picks VT to beat BC in the ACC Championship.

BC - VT Preview

For the 2nd Straight Year, Boston College faces a familiar foe in the Virginia Tech Hokies in this week's ACC Championship Game.

The opening line on Saturday's contest is a pick 'em.

This writer, from Virginia Tech QB Tyrod Taylor's hometown of Hampton Roads, takes a look at 5 keys to Saturday's game and points out that both team's defenses are among the best in the country.


NEWS AND NOTES
• In just their fourth season in the ACC, the Eagles will be playing in their second conference championship game.

• After a 9-3 season, BC coach Jeff Jagodzinski has a 20-6 record as the Eagles' head coach.

• Virginia Tech owns a 10-6 advantage in the all-time series against Boston College. However, BC has won 3 of the last 4 meetings between the schools.

• The Hokies won seven-straight meetings between 1996 and 2002 (The Tom O'Brien Years).

• BC has scored eight non-offensive touchdowns for the second time in school history. The Eagles last accomplished this feat in 1999.

• The Eagles have three shutouts on the season. The only other team to record three shutouts this season is USC (Trojans).

• Since 2000, Boston College is 9-1 at neutral sites with their first loss coming in last year's ACC Championship Game.

• BC has played 13 different true freshmen this season.

• Boston College has 56 wins ove the last six seasons which is 11th best in the country and more than Tennessee, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

• BC’s 21 straight non-conference wins is the longest streak in the nation (LSU is 2nd with 18).

O-LINE U
Over the past 27 years, a total of 23 Eagles have been drafted to the NFL from the offensive line (including 5 first round selections). This year's version of the BC O-Line has an average height of 6-5, which is the tallest in the ACC. The five starters weigh an average of 307 pounds - which would be a good average for an NFL line.

TAKE THE EAGLES BOWLING
It seems pretty apparent that BC's Bowl opportunities are the Orange Bowl or bust, because, if BC should falter on Saturday, they will doubtlessly be passed over by the Gator, Peach, and Champs bowls leaving them with a dance partner in Nashville at the Music City Bowl.

Nonetheless, ACC Bowl Speculation abounds.

COALE-MINER'S BROTHER
Virginia Tech Freshman receiver Danny Coale grew up a die hard Virginia Cavaliers fan. But something strange happened along the way when Coale decided not to follow his brother to UVA, but instead opted for their main rival.

The 6-foot, 203-pound Coale leads all VT receivers with 27 receptions and is one catch short of matching the freshman record of superstar receiver Eddie Royal.

(2nd best) COACH OF THE YEAR
Although the ACC award went to Georgia Tech head man Paul "Fred Flintstone" Johnson, Coach Jags is deserving of some praise for the great job he has done in the post-Matty Ice era.

ALL-ACC HONORS

Six Boston College football players were named to the 2008 All-ACC Football Team. Those receiving all ACC First Team Honors were:

Junior LB Mark Herzlich,
Senior DT B.J. Raji, and
Senior OG Clif Ramsey.

Senior DT Ron Brace, sophomore OT and rising star Anthony Castonzo, and senior TE Ryan Purvis (who was a First Team All ACC selection in 2007) were each voted to the All-ACC Second Team.

Paul Anderson, Thomas Claiborne, and Matt Tennant earned Honorable Mention honors.

Virginia Tech Corner Back Victor "Macho" Harris was the only Hokie to make the All-ACC First Team Roster.


MANCHILD PART TWO
Herzlich leads the BC defense with 98 tackles, seven pass break-ups, six interceptions, and two forced fumbles.

Herzlich ranks 5th in the nation in tackles per game with 6.17.

Herzlich's six interceptions ties the amount that all BC linebackers had in 2007. He also has the 5th best interception total in the country and is one of just two linebackers in the nation with six interceptions. He is one of three linebackers in the country with two interception returns for touchdowns.


YOUNG GUNS
True Freshman Montel Harris continues his strong campaign recording five 100-yard games and breaking the freshman rushing record at Boston College. Harris along with fellow freshman sensation Josh Haden are the second-best true freshman running back pair in the country with an average of 112.40 yards per game.

WE'RE GOING TO THE "SHIP"

No Matt Ryan, two freshman running backs, and injuries to Chris Crane, Brian Toal, Alex Albright, and others?

No problem for this year's ACC Atlantic Champions.

BC has found ways to win each of it's last three games with a stingy defense and a great team effort.

NEWS AND NOTES
• BC's win over Maryland snapped the Terps winning streak over nationally ranked teams

• The Eagles are now 4-2 in the all-time series with Maryland.

• Robert Francois' 4th Quarter pick six marked the seventh straight game that the Eagles scored a non-offensive touchdown.

• Montel Harris broke the all-time Boston College freshman rushing record with his 798 rushing yards so far this season. Shelby Gamble previously held the freshman mark of 776 yards which he attained in 1979.

• BC dodged a bullett after Maryland's super-star receiver and future NFL 1st round pick Darrius Heyward-Bey was held out of Saturday's contest with a nagging calf injury.

• The Eagles held Maryland’s rushing attack (which had averaged 147.3 yards per game) to 6 yards on 26 carries.

• Many BC fans have been critical about Coach Spaziani's supposed reluctance to blitz. Maryland QB Chris Turner saw things differently:

“They blitz a lot. That’s what they do. They got to us a few times. To be honest we picked up a lot of their blitzes but they blitz a lot. A lot of the times, we burned them, but every now and again they’re going to get you, especially as much as they blitz.”

• Paul Anderson wore the number 31 as the recipient of the Jay McGillis Memorial Scholarship, given annually to a senior defensive back.

Jack-of-all-trades Sophomore Billy Flutie, who completed his first collegiate pass on a fake field goal for a Touchdown, is proud of his heritage:

“I don’t downgrade my last name. I am a Flutie and I take all of the honor in my last name. Darren and Doug did great things while they were here and I am looking to contribute to that and do the best that I can.”


TENACIOUS D
It's no secret that The Boston College defense has been integral to the team's success this year. If the old addage is true and defense wins championships, I like the eagles chances on Saturday as the BC defense is among the best in the country in the following categories:

• 1st in the Nation in interceptions with 25 (Florida is 2nd with 23).

• 7th in the country in rushing yards allowed with an average of 87.3.

• 2nd in the nation after forcing a total of 33 turnovers.

• 1st in the ACC and 9th in the country in pass efficiency defense.

• 8th in the nation in total yards allowed.


GOOD CLEAN FUN
• Boston College and Virginia Tech are tied for 8th in the country in fewest penalty yards per game (36.8). For the Eagles part, this is obviously due the lingering effects of ace disciplinarian Tom O'Brien.

CLUTCH!

Boston College broke the trend and came through with a tremendous victory over a pesky Maryland Team.

Next Stop: Tampa.

FEAR THE EAGLE

BC needs to start strong on Saturday. A few plays like this on defense would certainly help.

BC-Maryland Preview

O-LINE U

BC’s latest O-line commit is Oday Aboushi, a 6'6" 300 pounder out of Brooklyn, New York. Aboushi, who is rated a 4 star prospect by Rivals.com, is a senior at perennial football powerhouse Xaverian.

After their ACC Championship hopes were dashed in a blow-out loss to Florida State, conventional wisdom says that the Maryland Terrapins have nothing to play for in this weekend's season finale at Chestnut Hill.

Consider this, however:

• Maryland has won six straight against ranked opponents over the past two seasons. While some of those teams weren't exactly world beaters, a seventh straight win over a ranked team is exactly the type of momentum that Maryland is looking for heading into the bowl season.

• Speaking of Bowls, the Terps need a win over Boston College to maintain their place in the ACC pecking order.

• Maryland, which played in the less than ideal Emerald Bowl last year, still has an outside shot of landing in the Sunshine State and the much more prestigious Gator Bowl with a win over the Eagles.

• Maryland Head Coach Ralph Friedgen has extra incentive to keep his team focussed and motivated as his job sercurity is less than certain. Friedgen doesn't want to give the administration another excuse (like losing the final two games of the season) to fire him.

• With a win against the Eagles, Maryland would earn ACC Atlantic Division Co-Champion honors (though they would lose the tie-breaker to FSU). While not exactly premium trophy case material, it beats the alternative.

NEWS AND NOTES
• As expected, the coaching staff is spending extra time with Dominique Davis this week in preparation for his first career collegiate start on Saturday.


• Still no word on the indefinite suspension of Billy Bennett, but it is becoming more obvious that his short-lived career at BC may be over.

• Much like last week's broadcast, ABC and ESPN2 will be televising the BC-Maryland game to a national audience this Saturday at 3:30PM.

• Many of the BC students will be home and away from campus this Thanksgiving week. The big question is how many will return for this decisive season finale?


For more info on the BC-UMD game from the Terps' perspective, check out Turtle Waxing - a Maryland Terps Sports blog.

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.

NEXT UP: MARYLAND

CRANE GOES DOWN, BC WINS

Boston College continued their improbable run to the ACC Championship game, surviving turnovers, special teeams miscues, and an unfortunate end to Chris Crane's BC career.

Coming on in relief, Dominique Davis was hapless for much of the second half, until he led BC on a 70 yard game winning TD drive with less than a minute remaining in regulation. BC held on for the 24-21 win and a shot at beating Maryland and an ACC Chapionship game bid.


SHOCK AND AWE
Although he came through in the end, Davis said he was "shocked and overwhelmed" when Crane went down.


HITING HIS STRIDE
Steve Aponavicius was 3 for 3 against Wake Forest and has made his last 4 field goals in a row.



MANCHILD
Not since the days of Craig Smith, the original manchild, has Boston College seen such a dominant performer as Mark Herzlich was for the Eales on Saturday. Led by Herzlich, who had two picks including one for a score, the defense held Wake Forest to 191 yards of total offense and nine first downs.

BIG GAME FOR THE EAGLES

The Boston COllege Football program has seldom enjoyed a situation like today's must win game in Winston, North Carolina: controlling their own fate with two games left to play in the regular season.

Unfortunately for the Eagles, BC must first get past a pesky Wake Forest squad, on the road, in an state where they have never had much success.

This afternoon's nationally televised game should be a good tilt between two very evenly matched teams.

JET GROUNDED
Speedster Jeff Smith is listed as doubtful with a hip injury.

In other news, don't look for Billy Bennett to return to the field any time soon, if ever, at the Heights.

LUCKY IRISH
The Boston Globe has a nice piece discussing Notre Dame's fortuitous, if not undeserving, Bowl situation.