Monthly Archives: December 2017

Iced

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Yankee Stadium, in football mode. Photo by Ben Solomon.

The Eagles dominated the first half of play in terms of statistics, but were unable to parlay that advantage to a win in the Pinstripe Bowl against Iowa on December 27, falling 27-20.

BC ran 40 plays in the first half, compared to Iowa’s 23, and gained 281 yards in offense, while the Hawkeyes managed only 56 yards. (Iowa did average just under 39 yards on 3 kickoff returns, providing a shorter field.) Star running back AJ Dillon himself more than doubled the Iowa offense, gaining 126 yards rushing, including a 66-yard run. But the Eagles led by only 7, 17-10, at halftime.

Both teams, obviously, played under the same field conditions, which were terrible. With temperatures in the 20s and feeling like the mid-teens, the field was frozen. Players fell when trying to cut and their feet often slipped when simply trying to start movement. Maybe it’s because one is a BC fan, but it seemed the Eagles had more trouble with the conditions.

(Major football fields exposed to the elements have heating systems that prevent freezing or use artificial material that is less effected by temperature. Yankee Stadium, built as a baseball facility, has natural grass and no heating system.)

Freshman AJ Dillon ran for 157 yards. Photo by Ben Solomon.

In the second half, BC fortunes slipped and slid. The Eagles managed only 102 yards in offense, punting on their first 3 possessions in the half and giving up a fumble and interception on two of their last three possessions. A 24-yard field goal by Colton Lichtenberg was BC’s only score in the half.

Junior tight end Tommy Sweeney had a career high 7 receptions for 137 yards and scored a touchdown. Dillon added just 31 yards to his rushing total in the second half, finishing with 157 for the game. His season total climbed to 1,589, highest ever for a BC freshman and fourth best season total in BC history.

The Eagles finished 7-6. BC’s bowl game record under Coach Steve Addazio fell to 1-3.

BC’s 2018 season opens September 1 at home against UMass, followed a week later at home against Holy Cross. The BC-Holy Cross game will be the first football game between the historic rivals since 1986.

Bundled BC fans. Photo by Ben Solomon.

More than two dozen San Diego Eagles watched the game in much more comfortable conditions than the fans above.

Connections at brunches

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Rebecca Reid submitted the following report on the two brunches held recently.

Alumni met at Davanti in Del Mar on June 11 for a fantastic midday and the first in a series of brunches.

Everything started in the spring when Zeynep Barakat suggested hosting a women’s get-together to Lissa Tsu, current leader of the San Diego Chapter. Joining Zeynep and Lissa at the initial brunch were Wendy Fai Roos, Erin Holmes Carpenter, Rebecca Reid, Mary-Lou Kiley, Jodi Cilley, Lea Freeman, Christine Duggan, Rachel Cunningham, Martha Acosta, Anne Kornahrens, Holly Ann Juarez, Jessica Ipolito, and Kate Beaver. The ladies introduced themselves, with brief backgrounds. The group included educators, accountants, and a dentist, and many of the alums are entrepreneurs. On the patio, the ladies reminisced and each presented a special highlights from their years at Boston College.

Davanti is a central location for many of the female alums. The menu featured delicious breakfast staples and spectacular treats like lemon ricotta pancakes and Italian donuts called bombolonis. The bottomless mimosa and bloody mary bar provided a variety of libations, including outrageous garnishes.

The June event spawned a second brunch on October 23. Davanti was again chosen. Sitting inside at the common table, the ladies again enjoyed the hospitality at Davanti. In attendance again were Lissa, Zeynep, Erin, Rebecca, and Mary-Lou. New alums to the brunch included Mary Berube, Nikki Knight Ramsay, Susan Hamilton McNab, Jennifer Wong Gatewood, Sarah Cockerill, Jocelyn Campese, Lisa Giorlamo, Jenny Lockheimers, and Julia Leone.

Porky

Nikki and Erin, former co-leaders of the San Diego Chapter, shared stories of events past. Introductions all around found more entrepreneurs and a social worker. The group discussed how the BC curriculum shaped each of their careers. All the ladies loved the Davanti mascot, Porky.

Come join us at the next brunch, February 18, again at Davanti!

 

Hawkeyes . . . in New Yawk!

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Boston College will play the University of Iowa in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl in Yankee Stadium. This was perhaps the most attractive option for which the Eagles were being considered — strong alumni presence, noted but not great team. Iowa defeated Ohio State 55-24 in early November, but finished the season 7-5, same record as BC.