Tuesday, July 26, 2011

7/26/11 draft: Final record in '11-'12

Last year's schedule was one of the easiest we have had in a long time. This year, it's the exact opposite, ranked the 6th toughest in the country by Phil Steele. The question is, given all of the changes that have taken place this last year at The Heights, what will our record be at the end of the year?



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1Wesley) 9-3

Maroon glasses on here, no doubting it our schedule ranks as the number 6 in the nation, and I definitely agree with it we have a hard road ahead of us..9-3 wouldn’t be great, but it would be good. I still believe 2012 is our year. But we will be able to have some good wins. Over the Irish, Miami, UCF and NWU


2Mike) 8-4

I had my glasses on like they should be last year, and given the uber-easy schedule we had I really thought big things. Now, I know we should have a little better team this year having broken in plenty of freshman last year and, in the “prayers answered” category we scored Kevin Rogers which we all hope will really turn around the offense. That being said, we really do have quite a tough schedule this year. I think we probably will go 9-3 or thereabouts, so I’ll go a little bearish here at 8-4, which would still be a good season and put us on track for a very good team in 2012-2013.


3W) 4-8

This actually pains me to write, cause I have to admit.. Im a BC fan , and think there are tons of chances to win.. But don’t let me overshadow the schedule, its is not forgiving, and we do have a very young team. With a first year Offensive coach. And a new OL to gel, and some key losses on the DL as well.. I wouldcall 4-8 a low water mark, as I honestly can't see it going much worse thanthat.. We have some winnable games, WF, UMASS , etc.. But in recent history we havent necessarily beaten the pants off of those teams.


4M) 7-5

After reeling off a string of wins early in the year, the Eagles have a dreadfully tough schedule starting when we travel TO Blacksburg where we were prison raped without lubricant the last time we had “the pleasure”. While I think we’ll certainly be in just about every game, there are too many good teams towards the end of the schedule that have an opportunity to trip up our Eagles. It’s certainly possible we keep the early good momentum going, but make no mistake it’s clearly an uphill battle the second half of the season. Here I think we go 7-5 and likely are beyond battle tested by whatever bowl game we go to and completely annihilate whomever we face.

5W) 12-0

I call this the marooned out glasses view..
I will say , there is some reason for optimism.. Larmond is back! New Offensive Coordinator

Montel's senior year, Chase progresses. The stars align.. IT COULD HAPPEN, believe you and me, it without a doubt could!


6M) 10-2

There’s the blinded homer we were looking for! You guys didn’t really think we would go through a whole draft w/out some national championship talk, did you? Lol….

I’m going 10-2 here because I think it’s slightly more likely than a 6-6 record. I think BC matches up well with Northwestern and UCF, I think we beat UMass and Wake easily. Clemson is in a bit of a downward spiral and has lost a good bit of talent, plus they’ll be breaking in a new OC WITH a new QB. I think it could be close, but I think our Eagles win. From there it’s a six tough, close games that our Eagles manage to win four of.

7W) 6-6

I call 500 a losing season, I know its not but Its not a winning , so in my mind its losing.. We get off to a bumpy start and basically bounce like a skipped rock over a pond..

I say we beat NU, we fall to the C-USA champs, and win no others than the few obvious ones along the way.. I would not be happy with this result, and Spaz would officially be on the very hot seat.


8M) 5-7

I think so much depends on the start of the year for our Eagles. If we stumble out of the gate and have no concept of Rogers’ offense, we could be sitting at 0-2 early with the possibility of going 2-3 in our first five before our trip to Clemson—another team with a lot of inexperience but much reason to be hopeful. If we’re a wounded duck early I think it’s likely we won’t go bowling and our Eagles wind up below .500. The real question is: does going 5-7 cause Spaz to lose his job? I don’t think so only because Rogers won’t have had enough time to really put his offense in place and Gene can’t fire Spaz and promote Rogers if the offense is unsuccessful.


9W) 3-9

I really don't see this happening, there just isnt much on the board now..
A 3-9 season would without a doubt but Spaz on the hot seat. And be a killer to BC.. BC prides itself on consistency, the possibility of not making a bowl game is huge, as is only coming away with 3 wins. Although this is a VERY hard schedule, we should do much better than 3-9, if it happens, it will be very painful


10M) 11-1

I don’t think there’s any way that this team wins less than four games. If it does, I agree—heads need to roll. The D will still be very stout and we have a lot of talent returning on offense now under a coordinator who drinks more Pepsi than Metamucil. We’ll be fine.

Next is my rosy glass prediction. I can’t very well take 2-10 or 1-11, so I’m going with the last one left in the positive, 11-1. Clearly I think we have to go unscathed through our first six games. The question is, where does the loss come from? I think that while most folks are big on FSU, we get them at home on a Thursday night. I think our toughest contest will be at VT, and we’ll drop that one—but have a chance to redeem ourselves in the A3CG.

RECAP:

Wesley drafted: 9-3, 4-8, 12-0, 6-6, 3-9
BCMike drafted: 8-4, 7-5, 10-2, 5-7, 11-1



7-26 Draft: Who predicted the more accurate '11-'12 season?
Wesley: 9-3, 4-8, 12-0, 6-6, 3-9
BCMike: 8-4, 7-5, 10-2, 5-7, 11-1
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Thursday, July 21, 2011

7/21/11 Draft: We look in the mirror and what do we see?


As much as we complain that it's not fair or that it's tough for a small private school in the northeast to compete with the jumbo juggernaut state schools in the south, there are, in fact, a couple schools out there that BC would likely share a beer or two (okay, maybe scotch or wine and cheese) with. Maybe we don't like everyone on this list, but you have to admit, we run in the same circles...

We look in the mirror and what do we see?
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1Mike) Notre Dame


As much as we despise the fraudulent french, they are our
Catholic brothers as one of only two 1A (FCS) schools playing football among the behemoth public state schools that can throw tons of taxpayer money at the game. We're also both private, fairly small schools that still give a flying flip about academics and making sure our players graduate.

Lastly, there's the whole Irish roots thing which I contest as my great-great-grandfather's ship didn't land in Indiana, but along the eastern seaboard...but I digress.

You also won't find many folks who are terribly neutral about either school. Sure, ND is more polarizing than BC is, but people who generally like us REALLY like us and those who feel the other way do so with great zeal.


2Wesley) Stanford


Mike I agree, but danggggg is it painful.. But can't disagree
on the similarities.

I am going with Stanford, and actually I would like to play Stanford on a regular basis if it was possible. Stanford has the increased academia requirement, and in a larger city, but does a small advantage on the recruiting grounds being in California.


3M) Georgia Tech


Yes, I know it's not private and it's in the south but hear me out.
It's an excellent academic school in a large, sports crazed town whose residents and media do not give the Jackets the time or attention they deserve.

Sound familiar?


4W) Northwestern

All too familiar, but Mikey boy, I think you missed an
easy one here, how bout who the Eagles square up against on September 3rd?? How bout them CATS!! Private school , in Chi Town.. Who struggles filling up their small stadium.. Oh and they are private, and have some serious academic requirements.

Honestly we go head to head with them on a ton of recruits.. I do see a little bit of our Eagles, in Northwestern.. No doubt about it .


5M) Vanderbilt

Good call with Northwestern, Wesley—I was going to go there myself but thought GT was a tad bit closer to BC.

For my third pick, fifth overall I’m going with Vandy. How Vandy is in the SEC and not the ACC is still a mystery to me, but that’s another topic I suppose.

The Commodores have had success both on the football field and on the hardwoods, but it comes in spikes—much like the Eagles. Every now and again they’re really good, but don’t really get the respect they deserve because they’re not a typical powerhouse year in and out and, much like the rest of the schools listed above, give two shakes about academics and admission requirements.

While I’m still bitter about the bowl loss we had to Vandy on New Year’s Eve a couple years ago –and I’m not sure I’ve completely thawed out yet either—I still cheer for Vandy as the deck is usually stacked against them in the SEC.


6W) Penn State

Mike, good one with Vandy! Man that was the coldest game ever in Nashville.. And such a hard loss...

I mean Spaz is getting up in age, but hell he played for
Joe Pa lol.. Penn State has some good academic requirements, in the same general area of the northeast, and we do battle them for recruits at times. I really do wish we had them on the schedule in a regular form. What a great home and away that would be. Although Happy Valley isnt necessarily as urban as Chestnut Hill... I do still think we have a good bit in common.


7M) BYU

That really was a hard loss…but at least we enjoyed some delicious grilled venison! Lol….

I’m not sure I agree with you on the Penn State one there, Wesley. I like Penn State as well as my old man did his Graduate work there, but as a gigantic state school with insane funds to throw at the program and one coach in 50 years (unlike our four in twenty), I’m not sure if a BC Eagle looks in the mirror we see a Nittany Lion…

My next selection is brought to you by former Boston College Quarterback and Eagle in Atlanta man-boy-crush, Paul Peterson. I’m taking the Cougars of BYU with my 4th selection. The obvious compressions are that it’s a private school and a religiously affiliated one at that. While BC and ND are the only Catholic D1A foo
tball schools, there are a couple other private religiously affiliated ones as well.

However with BYU the comparisons don’t end there. I think the Cougs suffer the same “meh, it’s ____” that BC gets if the team is 3-0, 4-0, etc. Only when the Cougs are 5-0, 7-1, etc., do they really get much respect. Like our Eagles, it needs to be earned year in and out for respect to be given to them. If Auburn or LSU
are 3-0, they’re ranked. Period. Not so with our Eagles or the BYU football team.

Lastly, I’d point out that we both have a surprisingly impressive string of putting QB’s into the NFL. BC’s I don’t have to name for you, but how about BYU? Sure you know Steve Young, but what about Jim McMahon? Ty Detmer? Max Hall? They usually have someone pretty good chuckin’ the pigskin in Provo.


8W) Boston University

Mike I like the BYU match up, I really do, but I think the rest of the choice was a bit of a stretch.. But we are getting towards the final rounds so I wont fault you too much for that.


Now I know I am going to get torched for this one, I know .. I know BU is very different but there are some similarities that you cannot overlook. First, I live in Alabama, I tell people I am a diehard BC fan, and they automatically think oh the university in Boston.. Nope that’s not it.. But it doesn’t always register that there may be about 50-60 more colleges in the city of Boston. Secondly the price of tuition is similar, as BC and BU seem to have a battle for highest tuition that they both are either winning or losing. Heck, they are on the same street! I agree BU is VERY different, but they definitely have some similarities


9M) Syracuse

Seriously? BU? Sure, their football team has been undefeated since what, 2003…but past that they’re not really the same aside from a world class hockey squad. Yes, we’re both on the same street but both BC folks and
BU folks look and smell pretty darn different, IMO.

With my last selection, I’m going with The Orangemen. Yes, we have our differences but as a fellow private school with solid academics in the northeast, they face many of the same challenges we here at BC do. They also have had some historically awesome players there but seem to go with big dips of ups and downs (maybe they’re coming out from the valley soon?) much like our Eagles.


10W) Duke

Mike don't be mad that I stole your selection haha.

I actually have sooo much confidence in my draft ,
I am going to go outside of the box on my last pick, and I am going to choose West Virginia!!!. Haha yeah not exactly..
I am going Duke.. Duke is a great school that shares a great conference. Like BC Duke sometimes gets overlooked on the Gridiron(not on the hardwood though) and sometimes plays second fiddle to the other teams in town--which in their case is UNC and NC State.


RECAP:
BCMike selected: ND, GT, Vanderbilt
, BYU, Syracuse
Wesley selected: Stanford, Penn State, Northwestern, BU, Duke


Who drafted the better mirror to BC?
BCMike: ND, GT, Vanderbilt, BYU, Syracuse
Wesley: Stanford, Penn State, Northwestern, BU, Duke
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Saturday, July 16, 2011

7/16/11 Draft - Putting the Hex on a team

Welcome back, Drafters!! As we look longingly at the season, wishing it to begin this weekend but knowing we're still months away, we look into our deep well of schadenfreude and bring you teams we'd like to put a hex on in 2012.

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1Mike) Ohio State

Because I’m really tired of the Buckeyes being
on top and am admittedly enjoying this black-eye they’re currently showing to the world. I know they have a lot of talent left, however how great would it be to see a bowl-free OSU?






2Wesley) Notre Dame

Because I wouldn't be a BC fan if I chose something different.


















3M) UCan't Puppies

I understand wanting ND to do poorly--i really do.
However, I want them to be ranked when we play them so we can throw them off the mountain. Besides, after losing two in a row to the fake Irish, we need to beat a GOOD ND team to set things back in place.

For my next team I'm hexing this year is UCan't. They lost a ton, including their Head Coach Randy Edsall (if only a BC coach would have had the forward thinking to tell a recruit about this...) and having a huge bomb of a year would suck all of the air out of the program. I'm hoping for a bottom of the barrel finish for the puppies in 2011.



4W) Alabama

With my 4th pick, I am going with Alabama..


Call it personal that’s fine, but I get sick and tired of the SEC.. The we are in a whole other league talk gets old. Yes SEC is the best conference, but its not the NFL..Your strength of schedule is in the 20's BC is #6 so STFU bitches.


5M) U$C

Because it’s fun to watch Kiffen sweat and I’m hoping
that eventually the losses will pile up and the cupboard will again eventually be bare.

The Reggie Bush fiasco did take entirely too long to unravel and I don't think the NCAA did nearly enough to them, but at least they're still banned from post-season play for a little while longer. Enjoy the sucktitude.



6) UNC

Because momma told me cheaters never win..
Butch still has a job?? Really? This is getting a bit ridiculous. UNC needs a wakeup call, and hopefully they get it on the football field this year.. repeatedly!!








7M) SUNY J

Plus, it just seems like UNC always has our number in
football when I always think we’re better than they are…maybe that’s a “me” issue….

Jersey has always been a solid recruiting bed for BC but ever since the snake-oil salesman Schiano came into town, we’ve missed out on more recruits that were wowed by the state-supported helicopter rides and facilities. Another season like last year and it won’t matter what type of rides Schiano is giving out or what snake oil he's peddling, kids are going to start putting two and two together and realizing that there are better places to spend 4-5 years than Piscataway, NJ.


8W) Texas


It's one of those teams that got knocked down last
year, and I would prefer they stayed there. 5-7 last year, that just makes me smile... And you have to admit their strength of schedule wasnt all that either. 1-4 in the Big 12 south.. oh and to top it all off how was that loss to Baylor. haha.. AND STAY DOWN!!!








9M) West by hate of God Virginia


This one isn’t really based on the way the wind is
currently blowing, but rather a nice long, old standing feeling of detest to our toothless hick neighbors to the southwest.

Consistently the most classless bunch of fans and “alums” (can you really call yourself an alum from a two year junior college?), every Mountaineer loss is a good loss.

In my dream world, Rich Rodriguez returns to the helm next year and then burns the place down in retribution for the way his family was tortured when he tried to better his family by leaving West Virginia for a state that had dentists.


10W) Oregon

You can only rob and steal and play crappy PAC – 10
competition for so long before it catches up to you..

Wait make that PAC –12.. My give a crap meter for them may still be at zero..
Make sure you note that they will lose to Colorado this year, Write that down, you heard it here first.

Poor ugly ducklings.

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RECAP

BCMike selected: O$U, UCan't, U$C, SUNY J, UWV
Wesley selected: Notre Dame, 'Bama, UNC, Texas, Oregon



Who drafted the better teams to HEX in '12?
BCMike: O$U, UCan't, U$C, SUNY J, UWV
Wesley: Notre Dame, 'Bama, UNC, Texas, Oregon
pollcode.com free polls