2007 Boston College Season Preview -- "THE BIG EASY!" Jul 28, 2007 | 10:28AM - This I my 2nd BC Season preview on this BLOG.
I accept full responsibility for this 10 year TOBlunders0-10 -- Tom O'Brien --blight on BC, but reading the magazines and watching ESPN lather praise on the "disciplinarian", I guess I and many others, well, we never drank that polluted media kool-aid and just concentrated on the performance track record, in game coaching, play calling and the pitiful 8-21, or 28% pathetic record versus Top 25 Teams. Our Marine Supply Officer was mainly a patsie killer.
In 2004, my preview title was “No Excuses”, and of course our former resident clown TOblunders0-10 gave us 3 more WTF’s, as he also did in 2003, with Wake Forest -3, Pittsburgh -10, and of course Syracuse -12, and cost us a BCS Bunny getting torched by 27, at home on Senior Day.
In 2005, my preview was ““Just get Nasty”, and the clown gave us the full metal jacket of Quintina “Pick6” Porter starting over loud fan objections and even the louder players objections, and North Carolina -5, cost us a ACC Title shot and a possible BCS Bowl.
Versus UNC, our cowardly Ginger punted at mid-field with 8:35 left in the 4th, with a short 4th and 4, a red hot Ryan, and down 2 scores. The worst yellow wimp moment in BC football history. After that, it was too late for Ryan to save the patient that Nemo Bible and Blunders butchered.
In 2006, BC had a beautifully spaced schedule and the teams played BC had games before and after us that was to BC's favor.
My preview was ““Just Let it Rip”, and of course as soon as we get a small lead [---in of course the new high powered CFA passing game---], our juvenile Nemo Bible and the incompetent Blunders try and run out the clock early in the 3rd quarter, or halftime, which of course led to North Carolina State -6, [Wake Forest -4; exception], and Miami -4.5 and cost us a ACC Title shot and BCS Bowl.
Then on December 6th, the Football Gods Redeemer came to Chestnut Hill.
“The Lord delivered my people from the bitter bondage of the wicked Puscadores!” A scoop first posted nationwide by me on another site!
Say Halleluiah Eagle Nation!
In 2007, BC has a badly spaced schedule and a very rough slate.
I predicted 14-0 last year and aforementioned, BC lost 3 as a favorite and lost those 3 to freshman quarterbacks in 2006, so mea culpa for having a flicker of faith in this now gone miserable jerk loser and his staff.
2006 was yet another year BC coulda ran the table, yet no one in the media sees the horrible WTF Track Record history on the other tacked thread as TOBlunders0-10 lives life large like many incompetents and losers who daywalk this earth.
The poor die-hard football fools at NC State will learn shortly that Fowler was sold out by his "consulting and advisory" team. Poor Wolfpack Nation, unless the Blunders and Nemo change their incompetent ways? Could happen? I doubt it.
BC had 2 seasons where the dreams ended with poor, scared and pathetic head Coaching and Coordinator timidness and all our losses were as favorites. In 2004, BC has 2 as a double digit favorite.
There is no team that BC can’t beat, so berate me for seeing another 14-0 season, and why not? Please, do not act surprised or shocked when this happens!
We have one of the best QB's in America , the kid is healthy and stronger now and has grit and will finally be unleashed and maybe our defense seals up some cracks. We have a lotta smart, gritty, hungry, motivated players coming back!
This shall happen, and Boston College is going to New Orleans 01-07-08 .
I need to get to Vegas or have someone get a 200-1 bet down for me on the Eagles.
NOW 150-1 or less. I can move the lines in Vegas.
The Big Easy. I hope to be there so we can eat at all the great places.
************THE ANALYSIS*************
>>>>>>>>THE WEAKNESSES
Frank Spaziani ---not my returning choice after the NCSU Hail Mary and 4-3-4 defense he had in after a timeout---needed a summer tour to a Defensive Coaches clinic like Chizik at Iowa State and maybe one other trip, or spend some quality time with Belicheck?
I find the decision to keep Spaziani a high risk deal and even higher if BC doesn't blitz, have lots of new blitz packages, and jam receivers and have much better aggressive defensive schemes.
Frank shoulda blitzed, disrupted and shaken those 3 freshman QB's and given them some pounding hits, even if a penalty or two, to rattle their games. But nope, we just try and burn the clock and let them get settled in and get confident and come back and beat us!
Maybe Spaz will upgrade and change, one can only hope Jags and Logan will have some major input or changes.
The new learning curve capacity software is simply not a program that runs on Spaz's hard drive. You get the blue screen of death, or worse WTF losses. Being burned with 3 Hail Mary’s --previously 2 Wake Forest Games-- is still a major black mark that needs erasing.
We are gonna find out by next January. Count me amongst the absolute faithless unless I see Atkins and Dunbar or others side-by-side in Game 1 blitz and kill some QB’s, blitz like Georgia Tech does and others, 2 off the same side and all types of blitz packages and angles and our defensive backs line up within the same time zone as the opposition receivers.
Other weaknesses that I gleamed from watching and reading is:
1-- We need another nasty cornerback to step up and play tight.
2-- Our Strong Safety needs to step up and start making some pass coverage plays.
3-- Our linebackers need to be more aggressive and use our speed LB’s on our deep roster.
4-- LV and Andre are slow. Unless they lost some weight, I hope we see more of Brooks, Smith and anyone else. I say replace the 2 Seniors early and often. We need a speed threat and breakaway runner if Ryan gets the passing game going early.
5—Now that Nemo Bible sleeps with the fishes, its step up time for our TE’s and WR’s, and no drops. BC's TE's need to be the weapons they were in the past.
>>>>>>>>>>THE STRENGTHS:
1-- Matthew Ryan staying healthy and assuming leadership with Logan . This to me will be the “Bobby Orr Difference Maker” in the BC season. Full mobility and a mentor that doesn’t sit on the ball like Nemo hatching an egg, Do not forget Chris Crane is a big strong guy so BC has the trigger position covered. Major edge in case of any injury!
I see BC and Ryan starting hot and scoring first and fast and giving our defense a chance to freelance and take chances and this strategy is my key to running the table, since Spaz may be willing to blitz more with a nice ead instead of blitzing to force mistakes and get an early lead when tied or behind?
Jump on them quick and kill them early!
2-- Our defensive line. Depth, power, size, we have 4 huge guys, and some real talent. If BC ever gets pushed around and we don’t take tons of blitz chances at LB, then shame on us and see you at 8-4 or worse with this schedule.
3—Our offensive line. I read the baloney on the zone blocking and then looked at the returning starters and others. Please. Like Zone blocking or any variation is a major mystery? You see a different color and knock it on its butt. What's the big problem?
This is not Medical school.
**********THE SCHEDULE******************
BC: 7 Offensive and 9 Defensive returning starters.
The number is my personal ranking of degree of difficulty considering each teams returning starters, QB’s and returning letterman depth.
Teams 2 through 8 are so close, any team can be interchanged, so no offense intended!
Sept. 1 Wake Forest 8
Sept. 8 NC State 9
Sept. 15 at Georgia Tech 5
Sept. 22 Army 12
Sept. 29 Massachusetts 11
Oct. 6 Bowling Green 10
Oct. 13 at Notre Dame 6
Oct. 20 Open
Oct. 25 at Virginia Tech (Thursday) 1
Nov. 3 Florida State 2
Nov. 10 at Maryland 7
Nov. 17 at Clemson 4
Nov. 24 Miami 3
Those are my rankings of toughest games from 1-12. Here is my schedule by game reasoning:
Sept. 1 Wake Forest -- Next Game: Nebraska
Wake Forest : 9 Offensive and 5 Defensive returning starters. Last year WF 21- BC 14.
These guys have been over achieving for years with a great Coach. BC is bigger, stronger and when Ryan got unleashed he killed WF through the air, but BC was playing from behind. I see a BC victory 31-15. When I rank WF 8, and they owned us, you can see how I ranked the rest of the teams and how difficult this schedule will be. Sam Swank is a huge weapon if the game is close, --YIKES--, but we recruited some kid named Bennett who will be his equal one day and may surprise with a boomer!
Season: 1-0 ACC: 1-0 Division 1-0.
Sept. 8 NC State -- Previous Game: UCF -- Next Game: WTFWofford.
NCSU: 8 Offensive and 6 Defensive returning starters. Last year NCSU 17- BC 15.
Ain’t no Hail Mary gonna save this sad, ungrateful, overpaid bad mouthing TOblunders0-10. BC players send a message that the leaving comments by this clown were heard and BC has a much higher ceiling, with a real Head Coach.
Mike Archer, a defensive wizard, may keep it close, but this NCSU offense gets Nemo and stuffed. I see BC pulling away late for a 34-13 win and two WTF’s from last year are reversed.
Season: 2-0 ACC: 2-0 Division: 2-0
Sept. 15 AT Georgia Tech -- Previous Game: Samford -- Next Game: At Virginia .
GT: 7 Offensive and 8 Defensive returning starters. Last year DNP.
I thought Reggie Ball was more bad than good. This is a solid team and a solid Head Coach and one of the best defensive coordinators in America in Tenuta.
This game will be a real test for Matt Ryan versus a sophisticated, magnificent, aggressive defense and blitzing system. Maybe BC sees that after being 2-0 and GT maybe upsetting Notre Dame at ND in the opener, maybe BC can eke out a win knowing it’s the first of 5 rough road warrior events.
BC 16 GT 14
Season: 3-0 ACC: 3-0 Division 2-0.
Sept. 22 Army -- Previous Game: AT Wake Forest -- Next Game: Temple
Army: 6 Offensive and 6 Defensive returning starters. Last year DNP.
Matthew Ryan gets to the middle of the Heisman Trophy race with a 56-6 blowout win.
Season 4-0 ACC: 3-0 Division 2-0
Sept. 29 UMASS -- Previous Game: AT Maine Next Game: Villanova DNP Last Year.
Matthew Ryan goes higher in the Heisman Trophy race with a 38-17 win. I hate playing hard nosed scrappy Division 1-AA teams who have a chip on their shoulder and UMASS is a great AA program with great coaching and kids.
I wanted Texas in Austin. I saw cranes there last week adding like 20,000 seats and a practice grass field that looked like Augusta for 300+ yards and the indoor practice center. Alas, our AD turned down a great long term home and home and broke lots of BC GUY hearts!
When Texas calls, you even take a 4 road and 3 home deal!
BC's neighbor's treat us like criminals over the past 144 years and we have pumped billions into their hoods.
Time to build a retractable 75,000 seat dome on the new St. John's land and more in my future VISION post, like Jerry "Boss Hogg" Jones did for the Cowboys and say...Enjoy!
Season 5-0 ACC: 3-0 Division 2-0
Oct. 6 Bowling Green -- Previous Game: West. Kent . -- Next Game: Miami Ohio .
BG: 7 Offensive and 8 Defensive returning starters. Last year DNP.
This is the quintessential trap game versus a solid MAC team. Last year BC was one tipped pass away from a major National TV MAC Chippewa embarrassment at the hands of run out the clock at halftime loser TOBlunders0-10.
If BC looks ahead to Notre Dame, BC will be in big trouble with a team that has WR’s and can throw, but alas, the two major #### Puscaodore’s are now NCSU’s problem.
BC wins a shootout 34-24.
Season 6-0 ACC: 3-0 Division: 2-0
Oct. 13 AT Notre Dame -- Previous Game: AT UCLA -- Next Game: USC.
ND: 4 Offensive and 5 Defensive returning starters. Last year DNP.
The reason I have this as BC’s 6th toughest game is the above. ND had huge graduation losses and no Brady Quinn. ND recruited well, but its schedule is more imbalanced than BC with 8 tough games and 4 lesser “creampuffs”.
You heard it here first. If this ND doesn’t jell early, it could be 1-5 or 2-4, and that would be bad in one way, since UCLA should beat them the week before.
Me, I am hoping ND beats UCLA! GO IRISH versus the Bruins!
No way ND beats USC, so with 4 easier games after USC, and ND may actually need this BC win for a bowl game. ND will be one monster battle, since ND recruited very well in the past years and this year!
SCARY GAME -- as always!
This game is the season tipping point for greatness or whatever comes next.
The ND fans, The Irish Blind Eyes, have circled this game for years with the BC upsets and 4 straight wins. Going 5-0 will make the Irish faithful explode with anger and shame. Please wear the green uni's again.
In the old days, ND would always win games in the BC position in the many road snake pits due to talent and players.
BC is more experienced and talented and has Matthew Ryan and I like our chances to go 6-0, and Dome shuts down in anguish and humiliation after BC wins for the 5th straight time.
Jesus loves the Eagles. I will have a price on my melon, until I get a letter of dispensation from the PopeB16.
That ain’t gonna happen kids with a sharp and ready Ryan.
BC wins 33-21. Matthew Ryan is at or near the top of the Heisman race and BC is now a contender for the title, but alas, the season is just begun.
Season 7-0 ACC 3-0 Division 2-0
Oct. 25 at Virginia Tech (Thursday) Previous Game: Duke -- Next Game: At GT.
VT: 8 Offensive and 8 Defensive returning starters. Last year BC 22-3.
VT was embarrassed and humiliated by its play and sideline shenanigans last year. This will be a classic monumental rival battle and BC toughest and most important game in years in terms of what is on the line.
I say a mature BC team with Jags beats the Hokies in a close defensive battle and BC’s defense will have to stop VT. Edge Ryan over Glennon.
This may be the first of 2 since VT has Miami at home. See you in Jacksonville December 1st??? Beating one of the two coastal favorites twice in one season will be a Herculean effort.
BC is ranked higher than at any time in its history with a win.
BC 16 VT 13
Season 8-0 ACC: 4-0 DIVISION: 2-0
Nov. 3 Florida State Previous Game: Duke -- Next Game: At Virginia Tech.
FSU: 6 Offensive and 8 Defensive returning starters. Last year BC 24-19.
Two toughest games back-to-back.
If BC wants to go to Jacksonville , the road goes through beating a revamped and retooled offense in FSU. Would rather have played them in an opener before they get their act together. Matthew Ryan shows why the “ICEMAN FOR THE HEISMAN” posters all over town and in my bedroom posted over my wedding portrait!
BC is now a contender for the Florida Gator Crown.
BC 38 FSU 27
Season 9-0 ACC: 5-0 DIVISION: 3-0
Nov. 10 Maryland Previous Game: North Carolina -- Next Game: At FSU.
Terps: 8 Offensive and 6 Defensive returning starters. Last year BC 38-16.
If you wanna win National Titles you have to win lots of tough ballgames or lose one early, like Florida did last year, and hope to sneak in with politicking and lobbying. BC ain’t Florida and has to win them all. Maybe the Terps have QB issues is my hope and BC continues to run the final 6 pack gauntlet.
Beating Friedgen 3 in a row is very difficult. This is The Terps last home game for Seniors and Maryland beat some big teams last year. Maryland if their QB gets going quickly, could be in the thick of the ACC Title hunt.
Ryan the Magician pulls out another win and the Heisman is his to lose. BC is one win away from Jacksonville .
BC 30 Maryland 17
Season 10-0 ACC: 6-0 DIVISION: 4-0
Nov. 17 at Clemson Previous Game: Wake Forest -- Next Game: At South Carolina .
Tigers: 5 Offensive and 7 Defensive returning starters. Last year BC 34-33.
Same with the Tigers, I hope they have QB issues late. BC sees the dream is real and very achievable and the ceiling is what the players make it, not what some ungrateful, disloyal, disgruntled, non-conference title Head Coach says it is!
Beating Bowden and Clemson in Clemson 2X, and 3 straight years like Maryland on the road will be a huge accomplishment. This is a 5 pill blood pressure event washed down with pork BBQ!
Clemson does not want to lose to a northern team 3 straight years, 2 at home. UGH! This also is the last home game for Clemson seniors, also a contender for the ACC Title.
Badly spaced schedule unlike last year, but hey, that is what makes Champions. You would like to catch either team before the new QB settles in, but you knew the job was dangerous when you signed up!
BC 24 Clemson 16
The Heisman is now Matthew Ryan’s.
THE ICEMAN COMETH. THE ICEMAN LEAVETH WITH THE STATUE.
BC has a date in Jacksonville with the Coastal Champion, with one game to go, since all division games and tiebreakers are ours.
Season 11-0 ACC: 7-0 DIVISION: 5-0
Nov. 24 MIAMI Previous Game: At Virginia Tech
Canes: 9 Offensive and 7 Defensive returning starters. Last year Miami 17-14.
BC goes up 20-6 at halftime and Jags tells the ABC sideline babe, “Well were up aren’t we, so I am headed to Mary Ann’s ---a local BC Bar ---for a beer and watch the rest of the game doing tequila shooters with the BC babes!”
[An Inside Shot at assclown TOB for last year's arrogant comment at Miami Halftime on National TV and then BC lost!]
Your's truly has a massive coronary event, and the 5th paddle whack at 400 amps starts the loon’s ticker and then Jags says, “Just wanted to make sure my kids knew what was on the line and were paying attention!”. I then take 5 nitro’s and wash it down with a Bud.
BC holds off a furious Miami comeback and wins 37-35. Matthew Ryan wins the Heisman Trophy.
BC with its strength of schedule is ranked Number 1 just ahead of USC and LSU.
Season 12-0 ACC: 8-0 DIVISION: 5-0
Dec. 1 ACC Championship Game in Jacksonville versus Virginia Tech.
Beating VT once is a major chore. Twice with the events of the past year is like I said, a Herculean task, but Lady Luck is with the Eagles and I promised to take us to New Orleans and this season theme, which I know you are all waiting for is.........
“THE BIG EASY!”
BC defense which was maligned and suspect by this writer comes through again and stuffs the classy Hokies and BC wins 30-16.
BC ends the season undefeated and ranked Number 1 in the BCS with the 10 tough games since Bowling Green has a great year, and goes to….New Orleans .
“THE BIG EASY!” is just that.
Season 13-0 ACC: 9-0 CHAMPIONS. DIVISION: 5-0
Jan. 7 BCS Championship Game in New Orleans Sugar Bowl versus USC.
Pete Carroll’s bunch was not tested like our Eagles and if Mack Daddy Brown can out coach him, so can Jags.
In a game to BC’s tempo and passing attack, BC wins an epic Vince Young type of aerial circus against the deep and talented high school All Americans at every position and speed to burn Trojans, and BC continually blitzes Booty and he throws 2 Pick6’s and BC wins, 38-37.
The PopeB16 hands Jags the Glass football!
Yours truly, heads off to collect huge $$$$ in Vegas with his new squeeze Jessica Alba but is tragically hit by a speeding Paris Hilton and wanders off into the desert and Jessica cashes his tickets and says “BCEagle 74 who?”
GDF replaces James Gandolfini in the new HBO series, “The Boston Tenor’s!”
TOBlunders0-10 says, “Well, I recruited those guys and I knew they could do it all along!” and suddenly a deranged naked man covered with sand fires a sharpened poisoned cactus needle through a blowgun and TOblunders0-10 is killed instantly as the mysterious Sandman escapes laughing into the humid* night air.
*A Classic TOBlunders0-10 juvenile deliquent excuse why we lose in Miami!
I am so glad Flutie nailed hime with the cash he received at SMU for cheating and getting his alma mater the death penalty. Craig James is as I have posted....A PUNK!
Week 8 WORST Voter -- Craig James
Craig James is a well known commentator for ESPN/ABC and previously CBS. He is generally very knowledgeable about pro and college football, having played his college ball at SMU and in the NFL for the Patriots. However, his week 8 AP Poll Ballot makes him this week's dubious winner for the second week running. Some highlights from his ballot:
1) Pollspeak and its voters aren't always going to agree on who is the week's worst, but in this case we do. James received over 700 votes mostly, it seems, from people baffled that he would rank Kentucky #24 after they defeated consensus #1 LSU. Most voters have Kentucky in the top 10. James ranked Kentucky by far the lowest of any voter. There is usually a cattle prod that separates the Worst Voter from the pack, and Jame's Kentucky ranking is this week's shocker. Similar to how James surprised us last week by leaving Virginia Tech completely off the ballot.
2) Boston College ranked #10 and Arizona State ranked #13. This is the lowest ranking for BC by any voter. True, BC hasn't played a tough schedule, but neither has Ohio State (James' #1). When looking at these two team without bias, they should be ranked closer together...either high or low, but they are in similar circumstances. James also has the widest margin between Ohio State and BC. The same argument could be made for Arizona State (James' #13), which has had arguably the toughest schedule of the three. James is not alone with his ranking of the Sun Devils, but Pollspeak doesn't see enough difference between these three teams to rank them so widely apart.
This is all BC's and Yawkey's fault. Bob Ryan, Mike Lupica, Doug Flutie, all cash paychecks from Mother Mouse and where is the ACC Media machine for you new little brother??
Like I said, most of the best articles and PR for BC are posted here on FOX by me and do not come from Yawkey, or the la-la Heights, the ACC, it comes outta Texas.
Tell me why no one can see what I can?
6 TEAMS WILL automatically disappear before BC in the rankings by the schedules I have listed in my blog!
>>The SEC is in deep fratracide mode! One will emerge, maybe with 2 losses as the SEC Champ!!
>>Clemson was 10, why are we not 10th? We beat Clemson?
>>Notre Dame was napalmed, why are they ahead of BC?
Who have they beaten and who will they beat before USC? ND schedule is cream filled cupcakes, and they get huge rankings because of PR AND SPIN!!
Good for ND, but where is Yawkey, ACC and the Boston and National Media?
Asleep.
Simple math: BC has to go 12-1 and start shaking the tree a little early just to get on the radar screen if we beat WF, Maryland, Miami, and GT.
No easy task with 2 road games!
Also, our ACC media and Coaches need to list BC in the Top 10 like Clemson. If BC makes no jump, well GDF our AD, needs to start making some phone calls!!
Where is the ACC brotherly love for BC and GT???
Someone besides worthless me needs to sound the Clarion Call and say, BC is way underranked and with the tough #### schedule ahead should be right there with all the other 1 loss teams in the selection for the BCS number 2 slot, and ahead of any possible undefeated Big East cupcake loaded scheduled team, >>> if BC goes 12-1!
I am sure BC will make no significant jump past the 6 teams it should be ahead of this week, but that is why you send in 6 defensive backs with 20 seconds left and not a 4-3-4 defense when the Hail Mary is about to be unleashed. (North Carolina State!)
One incredibly stupid 4-3-4 NO PREVENT defense and 8.5 seconds away from being ranked ahead of a weak-assed schedule WVU at 8-0 and 4th, and now in the big picture of possible 1 loss teams, BC is now NO WHERE??
HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?
Mark May Says Florida. Flutie says Florida. James says Florida.
Pumpkin Head Holtz says California. I guess he hopes USC beats Cal and pumps up ND's BCS points, and now the leprechaun loser says the loser Michigan-Ohio State should be number 2.
Holtz is such an embarrassing joke. It changes by the hour and calls from people who tell him he looks like a ####!
Again, Boston College is no where.
BC needs 5 straight wins, and some huge PR NOW, and not from me posting at FOX as a lone lunatic, but someone saying, hey BC beat 9 teams, of which 8 were ranked pre or during the season.
>>AT CMU--possible MAC Champs -- not ranked, but nice BCS points! >>BYU--possible MWC Champs --will be ranked soon!
>>AT Miami, Clemson, AT Wake Forest, Maryland, AT FSU, VT, all pre-season or ranked when played --6--
>>GT in Jax and ranked --9--
Boston College gets nary a mention for possibly running the table and going 12-1 and playing in Phoenix. : --> : -->
Poor old Lou is such a disgrace. Even the Irish faithful must be cringing!
He is a Phil Rizzuto homer, but Phil was loved and Lou is now a ESPN HOUSE IRISH DRUNKEN FOOL!
ND should not even be ahead of most teams in the polls!
Last week we had Charley Weis whining, and now the new HOLTZ ESPN South Bend House Organ wants, as my BLOG mentioned, a USC win, and USC ain't the same 03-04-05 powerhouse, to propel the Irish into the National Championship Game with a weak schedule and a Michigan napalming.
What if Ohio State beats Michigan 24-23?
Tell me how a weak scheduled ND slides by a 1 loss Michigan and team that nuked them?
Tell me how ND slides by my Eagles with the schedule of teams BC beat and only a last second 2 point loss if we run the table versus stronger teams and a ACC Title game and go 12-1?
One last question, how many boxes of donuts does Charley Weis send Lou every week for his sad #### promoting of the new :
"Lou's Leprechaun Pot of Gold USC Game For an Irish Title Shot!"
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