Boston College hopes long offseason ends soon

By Lee Roberts  |   Thursday, June 04, 2009  |  Comments( 1 )

Boston College Eagles
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The offseason in college football is usually a time for players and fans to recover from the long season while the coaches diligently recruit and prepare for the upcoming campaign. Other than the few weeks of spring practice, it should be a relatively quiet time for a college football program. Unfortunately, the offseason has been anything but quiet for Boston College. At this point, I’m sure they’re just hoping to make it to August with what’s left of the team still intact.

The drama started quickly for the Eagles. Former coach Jeff Jagodzinski flirted with the NFL and was burned. Of course, he clearly wasn’t tied to the Boston College position considering he interviewed with the New York Jets knowing that it would cost him his job. So, he gambled that he’d get the job against long odds and lost. But the biggest loser in that deal was Boston College, which came across as petty for not letting its coach interview elsewhere and also had to spend several weeks searching for a replacement, missing valuable recruiting time.

Once new coach Frank Spaziani settled in, he could focus on football and hope the worst was over. Unfortunately, it was just beginning. After the spring semester ended, ACC Defensive Player of the Year Mark Herzlich returned home to Pennsylvania with a sore knee. A couple visits with the doctor later, and he discovered he had cancer. The doctors caught it early and are hopeful, but it’s way too early to tell what Herzlich’s future holds, especially in football, at this point. The concern around BC is entirely for Herzlich’s health, as it should be, but this also takes a huge piece out of the puzzle for the Eagles’ football team.

Another missing piece is quarterback Dominique Davis. Expected to be the starter after showing promise at the end of last season, Davis recently was suspended for academic reasons. As a result, Davis decided to transfer. Now, Spaziani must choose between Justin Tuggle and Codi Boek to lead the Eagles in his first season as coach. Considering neither player has thrown a pass in a game for Boston College, it’s not an enviable decision.

With preseason training camps only two months away, Boston College is anxious. The 2009 season will be an adventure with a new coach, no quarterback and its star player battling cancer. While Boston College may not win many games this fall, the distraction of just playing football will be welcomed with open arms. After all, anything would be better than this offseason.
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About Lee Roberts

Born in Richmond, Va, I moved south to UNC-Chapel Hill for college and received a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. I currently live in Charlotte, NC and cover Auburn, LSU and the ACC.
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