Better know a ’12 opponent: Boston College
We’ve reached the point of summer when a lot of sportswriters are on vacation. So with Boston College and Virginia left on the opponent previews for 2012, I might have to get to the Ask a Beat Writer portion whenever I can get a response.
So far, I’ve had no luck getting through to anyone on the Boston College beat. And the esteemed Doug Doughty is getting some vacation time in right now, so the Virginia part will have to wait until he gets back.
I’ll do the team previews for both BC and UVa in the next two days, then circle back for the Ask a Beat Writer portions if and when I can get them.
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Coach: Frank Spaziani (fourth season, 20-19; assistant with BC, Calgary Stampeders, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Virginia and Navy before that)
2011 record: 4-8 (3-5 ACC, 5th Atlantic)
Looking back: The season started off on a wrong foot, when offensive coordinator Kevin Rogers mysteriously took a personal leave for what was termed “health reasons,” although rumors have persisted that there were chemistry issues and a fractured staff. With that as a backdrop, the Eagles started the season 1-6, with losses to Northwestern and Duke and its lone win against Massachusetts, an FCS team. Making matters worse, running back and preseason ACC Player of the Year Montel Harris, the school’s all-time leading rusher with 3,735 yards, re-injured his knee and was lost for the season. Nevertheless, BC relied on a defense led by tackling machine Luke Kuechly and managed to win three of its final five games, beating Maryland, N.C. State and Miami and playing Notre Dame close in a 16-14 loss. Still, it was the Eagles’ worst season since going 4-7 in 1998 and snapped a 12-year bowl streak.
2011 stats/rankings:
- Rushing offense: 130.92 ypg (82nd nationally, 8th ACC)
- Passing offense: 167.83 ypg (100th nationally, 11th ACC)
- Total offense: 298.75 ypg (112th nationally, 12th ACC)
- Scoring offense: 18.17 ppg (112th nationally, 12th ACC)
- Rushing defense: 151.08 ypg (59th nationally, 6th ACC)
- Passing defense: 243.25 ypg (81st nationally, 11th ACC)
- Total defense: 394.33 ypg (70th nationally, 8th ACC)
- Scoring defense: 23.50 ppg (43rd nationally, 4th ACC)
- Turnover margin: -.33 (t-85h nationally, 9th ACC)
Offensive starters returning/lost: 9/2
Defensive starters returning/lost: 7/4
Losses: RB Montel Harris (BC-record 3,735 career rushing yards, 27 TD, dismissed from team), TE Lars Anderson (10 catches, 81 yards, TD), C Mark Spinney (26 starts), DE Max Holloway (47 tackles, 8 TFL, 2.5 sacks), LB Luke Kuechly (1st ACC, 191 tackles, 12 TFL, 3 INT), CB Donnie Fletcher (35 tackles, 2 INT), FS Hampton Hughes (39 tackles, 2 TFL, 2 INT), P Ryan Quigley (38.5 avg.)
Returnees: QB Chase Rettig (1,960 yards, 12 TD, 9 INT), RB Rolandan Finch (705 yards, 3 TD), RB Tahj Kimble (156 yards, TD), RB Andre Williams (517 yards, 4 TD), WR Colin Larmond (34 catches, 528 yards, 3 TD), WR Bobby Swigert (44 catches, 470 yards, 3 TD), WR Alex Amidon (20 catches, 220 yards, TD), TE Chris Pantale (21 catches, 236 yards, 3 TD), LT John Wetzel (12 starts), LG Bobby Vardaro (8 starts), C/G Ian White (14 starts), RT Emmett Cleary (26 starts), DE Kasim Edebali (27 tackles), DT Kaleb Ramsey, DT Dominic Appiah (36 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 2 sacks), DT Dillon Quinn (21 tackles, 2.5 TFL), LB Kevin Pierre-Louis (74 tackles, 6 TFL), LB Steele Divitto (72 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 2 sacks), LB Sean Duggan (30 tackles, 3 TFL, INT), CB Jim Noel (30 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 INT), SS Spenser Rositano (40 tackles), FS Sean Sylvia (38 tackles, INT), CB Manny Asprilla (30 tackles), CB Al Louis-Jean (15 tackles, INT), PK Nate Freese (10-16 FG)
2012 schedule:
- Sept. 1: vs. Miami
- Sept. 8: vs. Maine
- Sept. 15: at Northwestern
- Sept. 29: vs. Clemson
- Oct. 6: at Army
- Oct. 13: at Florida State
- Oct. 20: at Georgia Tech
- Oct. 27: vs. Maryland
- Nov. 3: at Wake Forest
- Nov. 10: vs. Notre Dame
- Nov. 17: vs. Virginia Tech
- Nov. 24: at N.C. State
Strengths: Rettig wasn’t spectacular last year, but he got another full year under his belt and has started 21 career games. Now a junior and with another new and more permanent offensive coordinator (Doug Martin from Kent State), he could take strides forward behind an offensive line returning four starters. The defense lost Kuechly to the NFL, but almost everyone else returns. The Eagles might have given up a lot of yards last year, but they didn’t give up a ton of points (23.5 ppg). There’s at least something to build on with the defense.
Weaknesses: Harris is off the team, dismissed in the spring for repeated violations of team rules. For an offense lacking in play-makers, losing the school’s all-time leading rusher is a big blow. Yes, BC had to do without him last year, but it also ranked 112th nationally in total offense. With a fifth offensive coordinator in five years, the offense will be re-learning a whole new system once again. Defensively, Kuechly did almost everything for that group. Replacing him will be nearly impossible in all aspects, so the Eagles will have their work cut out for them. From a distractions standpoint, Spaziani might be answering a lot of questions about his job security.
Fun fact: (Via the BC athletics website) “A committee of students, led by the school-spirited T.J. Hurley (class of 1885 and composer of ‘Alma Mater’ and ‘For Boston’), was appointed to determine which hue would best represent BC. After considering the colors of rival Jesuit institutions — Holy Cross’s purple, Fordham’s maroon, Georgetown’s blue and gray — the committee selected two Papal colors: maroon and gold. The student body unanimously approved.”
Series with VT: Virginia Tech leads 14-6
In the last 10 years:
- 2011: No. 16 Virginia Tech 30, Boston College 14, in Blacksburg
- 2010: Virginia Tech 19, Boston College 0, in Chestnut Hill
- 2009: No. 5 Virginia Tech 48, Boston College 14, in Blacksburg
- 2008: Virginia Tech 30, No. 18 Boston College 12, in Tampa (ACC championship)
- 2008: Boston College 28, No. 17 Virginia Tech 23, in Chestnut Hill
- 2007: No. 6 Virginia Tech 30, No. 12 Boston College 16, in Jacksonville (ACC championship)
- 2007: No. 2 Boston College 14, No. 8 Virginia Tech 10, in Blacksburg
- 2006: Boston College 22, No. 22 Virginia Tech 3, in Chestnut Hill
- 2005: No. 3 Virginia Tech 30, No. 13 Boston College 10, in Blacksburg
- 2003: Boston College 34, No. 12 Virginia Tech 27, in Blacksburg
- 2002: No. 4 Virginia Tech 28, Boston College 23, in Chestnut Hill
Previous entries:
- Georgia Tech — Team overview | Ask a beat writer
- Austin Peay — Team overview | Ask a beat writer
- Pittsburgh — Team overview | Ask a beat writer
- Bowling Green — Team overview | Ask a beat writer
- Cincinnati — Team overview | Ask a beat writer
- North Carolina — Team overview | Ask a beat writer
- Duke — Team overview | Ask a beat writer
- Clemson — Team overview | Ask a beat writer
- Miami — Team overview | Ask a beat writer
- Florida State — Team overview | Ask a beat writer
June 25, 2012 - 12:06 AM
Will the Eagles fly ?
Interesting that you included pictures of the coach and the athletic director.
I don’t think it is just a coincidence that the departure of mMatt Ryan and coach Jag (fired for having an interview with the Jets per stipulations in his contract) started the decline of the Eagles. They used to give Tech tough outings. Now, they aren’t so much a threat as they are a headache to the Hokies.
Wasn’t the 2006 game where Herbstriet spent nearly the entire 2nd half ranting about the Hokies?
Andy, could it be in the land of the Patriots, Celtics, Bruins and Red Sox there might not be a true Eagles beat writer, or at least one who would admit it? Kidding of course. Back in ’99 I think it was, my son attended a VT game there. VT was hot, had MV and BC was pretty good too. He said the stadium had the intensity of a picnic at my mom’s old folks home. Regardless, they’ve played us tough over the years and nothing is a given in conference play. I wish them well except on Nov. 17th…
Well, I know the one for the Herald also covers the Bruins, and he had some Las Vegas bylines recently for the NHL awards.
good memory trevor! i think it was 2006. trivia time- who was the hokie caught shakin it dancing during the timeout to sweet caroline and busted by ESPN?
Slight correction: I believe the player in question confirmed later that he was dancing to “Ridin’ Dirty” by Chamillionaire, not “Sweet Caroline.”
damn- andy you are good. i guess you know the player too! they should have never let you out of alabama. their loss is the times gain here. believe me they need you to sell papers. if new orleans paper can go under- i guess any can .
Andy, how about some news on our team’s goings on, even if it’s Gentry put 7 lbs on JC Coleman, it’s more interesting than a team bio on BC. We already know these teams inside out. Just sayin’ brother.
The team previews are almost over. Just one more team to do. There will be plenty of time to talk about Virginia Tech coming up.
And there’s nothing more boring that summer conditioning stories. Breaking: the players are lifting weights this summer and getting stronger. (Not that I won’t post something when there are updated heights and weights, but still …)