By Bud L. Ellis
Nine bowl games in this decade for the Boston College Eagles have resulted in eight victories.
One of those wins came back in 2003, when the Eagles knocked off Colorado State 35-21 in the Emerald Bowl at AT&T Park in San Francisco.
The Eagles hope to replicate that success and end their season on a good note when Boston College faces Southern Cal in this year’s Emerald Bowl on Dec. 26.
When the Eagles take the field at AT&T Park to face the Trojans, they will become the first team to make a second appearance in the Emerald Bowl. Under first-year head coach Frank Spaziani, the Eagles – who were picked to finish near the bottom of the Atlantic Coast Conference – finished 5-3 in the conference. Late-season road victories over Virginia and Maryland boosted Boston College’s bowl standing.
BC’s impressive 8-1 bowl record this decade will be put to the test against a Southern Cal squad that struggled down the stretch, yet nonetheless is one of the more premiere programs in all of college football.
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Wednesday, December 9, 2009 at 6:41 am by bud
Tags: ACC, AT&T Park, Boston College, Colorado State, Emerald Bowl, Frank Spaziani, Maryland, Southern Cal, Virginia
Boston College (8-4) will be making its 11th straight bowl appearance this season, as they’re set to take on the USC Trojans (8-4) in the Emerald Bowl on Dec. 26.
The Eagles, who have rung up an impressive 8-1 record in bowl games this decade, look to put the finishing touches on the most disappointing USC season in coach Pete Carroll’s career.
Carroll had turned USC into a national powerhouse, with the Trojans having played in seven straight BCS bowl games… but every dynasty has a down year, and with QB Mark Sanchez declaring for the NFL after last season, the Trojans struggled in the second half of this season.
“We could not be happier with this matchup,” bowl director Gary Cavalli said. “In USC, we have one of the great brands in college football and a program that is almost always in the national championship hunt. In Boston College, we have one of the nation’s premier academic institutions and an overachieving team that overcame a lot of adversity this season.”
Boston College lost its only game against a ranked opponent this season, as then No. 5 Virginia Tech handed the Eagles their worst loss of the season, a 48-14 laugher. But the Eagles bounced back in stride, taking the beating right back to North Carolina State this week as they rocked the Wolfpack 52-20.
A close loss to Notre Dame earlier this season is the best barometer of how BC might match up to USC (as USC beat the Fighting Irish earlier this season)… although, it’s too early to rule out the Eagles from the possible upset, as the Trojans have unraveled in the second half of the season after winning games against three ranked opponents in the first half.
The Eagles will be the first team to have played in the Emerald Bowl twice, after beating Colorado State 35-21 in 2003.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009 at 12:36 am by bryan
The Boston College Eagles used a big fourth down stand to help them get past the Maryland Terrapins, 19-10.
Holding a 16-10 lead with just minutes remaining, the Terrapins faced a fourth and short deep inside their own territory.
Instead of punting the ball away, the Terps elected to go for it knowing they needed a touchdown to win.
Maryland tried a quick snap, but Boston College wasn’t nearly as unprepared for the play as they hoped.
The Eagles stuffed the Terps on the quarterback sneak, then kicked a field goal to seal the victory.
Friday, December 4, 2009 at 3:11 pm by steve
