Monthly Archives: December 2019

January bowl game!

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BC’s bowl game is in January, the Eagles will be coached by someone other than Steve Addazio, and San Diego Eagles will convoke at a new gamewatch location.

BC will play the #21 Cincinnati Bearcats (10-3), who finished second in the American Athletic Conference, in the Birmingham (Ala.) Bowl at noon on January 2, 2020. The Bearcats had wins over UCLA, South Florida, and Houston, and their three losses were to Ohio State and twice to Memphis.

The Eagles (6-6) are coached on an interim basis by Rich Gunnell ’10, MS’14, who had served as wide receivers coach on the Addazio staff. BC had announced on December 1 that Addazio would be relieved of his duties as head coach, effective immediately. It also announced on December 14 that Jeff Hafley, co-defensive coordinator for Ohio State, would replace Addazio. Hafley will take over when the Buckeyes, competing in the national championship playoffs, finish their season.

A bowl game at midday on a weekday, the day after New Year’s Day, is not the most attractive possibility for San Diego Eagles, but those of us interested and able will gather at the Green Dragon Tavern and Museum in Carlsbad. Besides having been inspired by the Revolutionary War-era tavern of the same name in Boston and serving as a museum of artifacts of the time, the Green Dragon has an even more direct link to Boston College. The daughter of the Green Dragon’s owner is Brooke Bartlett Rodriquez ’00.

 

Wreaths on Point Loma

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From left: Ray Smith ’18, Rebecca Scease Reid ’96, Katharine Smith, Brian Tsu ’00, Lissa Herrick Tsu ’00, Josie Campese ’02, Bill McDonald ’68, and Mary-Lou Kiley MSW’77.

San Diego Eagles participated for the first time as a group in the annual Wreaths across America event earlier this month. They joined several hundred participants on December 14 at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery on Point Loma to lay wreaths on hundreds of graves of veterans and members of their families.

Mary-Lou Kiley MSW’77 lays a wreath on a veteran’s grave.

Wreaths across America sponsors and organizes events such as this at national cemeteries throughout the US. The Boston College Veterans Alumni Network has sponsored  the event for several years at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne, Mass., on Cape Cod. Alumni chapters have also begun to participate at Arlington National Cemetery.

Opening ceremony at Fort Rosecrans

The next national event will take place on December 19, 2020. 

Panthers succumb

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Running back AJ Dillon secured the win for the Eagles.

Pitt had more first downs than BC in yesterday’s game. The Panthers also gained more yards in total. They had a higher number in another category, however, that spelled their doom — turnovers.

Pitt lost the ball four times — three fumbles and a pass interception. The mishaps thwarted Panther drives and at least once gave the Eagles a short field and three subsequent points on their way to a 26-19 victory.

Near game’s end, when Pitt had kicked a field goal to make it a one-score game, BC got the ball on its 25-yard line with 5:26 remaining on the clock. It seemed likely that Pitt could get the ball back to try to tie or win the game. Instead, the Eagles asked running back AJ Dillon to secure the win and he answered the call.

Carrying the ball on eight straight plays, gaining 48 yards, Dillon got BC four first downs and allowed the Eagles go into victory formation with QB Dennis Grosel taking a knee three times to run out the clock.

Overall, Dillon gained 178 yards on 32 carries. In the third quarter, Dillon scored on a 61-yard touchdown run, his longest of the season. It was the seventh time this season that Dillon gained more than 150 yards in a game. 

As this was the regular season finale, Dillon finished with 1,685 yards, the fourth-highest season total in Eagles history. Already BC’s all-time leading rusher, after three seasons, Dillon’s career total rose to 4,382 yards.

Here are highlights.

The win brought the BC season record to 6-6, making the Eagles eligible for a bowl game. Announcement of which bowl game will take place December 8. The bowl game will feature an interim coach. BC fired coach Steve Addazio today and wide receivers coach Rich Gunnell ’10, MS’14 will prepare the team for their next game.