Monthly Archives: November 2012

BC needs a head coach to be its next coach

Date: November 30, 2012

Author: Mark

Brad Bates has had a week to put together his priority list for Boston College’s next football coach. The new Boston College Director of Athletics said that he will look in all areas to find the right person to get the Eagles back into a winning mode.

Now we are about to begin Phase II, which means that Bates will start interviewing candidates. That process should be completed during the next several days. If Bates can find a connection, it could be done quickly and BC could have a coach by the middle of next week. But if Bates wants to interview five or six candidates and then decide, it could take a while longer.

Bates made it clear that head coaching experience is a key factor, but not a deal breaking priority. With that in mind, here’s the list that I think Bates should put together.

Another “Rutgers” moment dooms Scarlet Knights

Date: November 30, 2012

Author: Mark

Categories: Blau's Blog, College Football

Comments: 3 Replies

PISCATAWAY, N.J.–It was at the end of another day and season filled with broken dreams when veteran Newark Star-Ledger reporter Tom Luicci was preparing to leave the press box at High Point Solutions Stadium after Rutgers had squandered another opportunity to win its first ever Big East title and first ever BCS bid.

Luicci, a Rutgers graduate, has been around the program for 39 years as a student, fan and reporter. But after seeing his alma mater squander a 14-3 second half lead to Louisville and drop a 20-17 decision on Thursday night, Luicci had made up his mind.

BC could get out bid on Golden

Date: November 28, 2012

Author: Mark

Categories: BC Report

Comments: 5 Replies

If you are Boston College Director of Athletics Brad Bates you are focused on what will probably be the most important person you hire during your tenure at BC–the next football coach, who will not only be in charge of the football team, but basically be the face of the entire athletic department.

If you are Brad Bates this should be your list, in order of preference.

New Big East needs basketball to survive in football

Date: November 28, 2012

Author: Mark

Categories: Blau's Blog, College Basketball, College Football

Comments: 8 Replies

It is almost over. With Louisville’s move from the Big East to the ACC on Wednesday, this round of conference reconfiguration is just about done. The only move that will be made is for the Big East in football is to replace Louisville. Look for Big East Commissioner Mike Aresco to look westward–maybe Fresno State, San Jose State or Utah State, if he can’t convince BYU or Air Force, which would be his first two choices.

The perceived loser in all of this is Connecticut, which had been a neck and neck battle with Louisville for the open ACC spot. Rutgers announced it was leaving for the Big Ten last week, West Virginia jumped to the Big 12 this season and Notre Dame (all sports but football) Pittsburgh and Syracuse are also headed to the ACC.

The Big East is also regarded as a loser, again taking a hit while it is in the middle of television negotiations which will ultimately determine the future of the conference.

BC ready to pay bigger bucks to get new fb coach

Date: November 27, 2012

Author: Mark

Categories: BC Report

Comments: 20 Replies

Boston College athletic director Brad Bates has tweeted that he is spending this week gathering information from people at the college and professional football level about finding a replacement for football coach Frank Spaziani who was fired on Sunday.

Bates also made it clear that this very well could be the most important hiring during his tenure at BC. With that as a mandate, sources at BC say that Bates is willing to up the ante to get his next football coach.

Bates also sent an email to all BC donors and friends of the program, explaining his mission in finding a new coach.

It read as follows:

Big East expands; ACC ponders its next move

Date: November 27, 2012

Author: Mark

Categories: ACC & BC Weekly Update

Comments: 9 Replies

While the Big East made its move by adding Tulane in all sports and East Carolina in football only starting in 2014, Atlantic Coast Conference commissioner John Swofford was attempting to form a consensus about what move the ACC will make after losing Maryland to the Big Ten last week.

Two conference calls among ACC member schools came up with three different agenda.

The picks: Tide rolls, Rutgers wins BCS bowl berth

Date: November 27, 2012

Author: Mark

Categories: Blau's Blog, College Football

Comments: 1 Reply

Final week of the season and it’s time to make a push to get above .500 against the spread and finish the year with a flourish. After that, we can deal with the bowl games.

1. Rutgers minus 3 versus Louisville. BCS bowl at stake. Rutgers goes for its first ever BCS bid. Doesn’t get bigger than this in Jersey.

The pick: Rutgers 24, Louisville 17

Big East adds Tulane and East Carolina

Date: November 27, 2012

Author: Mark

Categories: Blau's Blog

Comments: Leave a reply

Let the next chapter of conference reconfiguration begin. While the Atlantic Coast Conference was pondering its decision following the defection of Maryland, the Big East, which lost Rutgers to the Big Ten and may also lose Louisville and Connecticut to the ACC, made a move on Tuesday by adding Tulane in all sports starting in 2014 and East Carolina in football only, also starting in 2014.

“”I think we’re going to have a good football confererence” said Big East commissioner Mike Aresco who also is concerned about losing Louisville and/or UConn or even more Big East teams.

Aresco undestands the nature of the business which has changed the Big East into a wide-ranging Conference USA type of league.

“We’re just doing what we’re doing,” said Aresco

It is difficult for even Bigeastologists to keep up with what the conference will look like when all the moves are made.

Let’s start with football. Right now the Big East has 8 teams. It will lose Rutgers, which means 7 and could lose Louisville and UConn, which brings it down to 5.

But the Big East will add Boise State, San Diego State, SMU, Houston, Memphis and Central Florida next season which will bring it up to 11 or 12. Add Tulane and East Carolina and that makes it 13 or 14.

Calhoun ready for new challenge

Date: November 26, 2012

Author: Mark

Categories: Blau's Blog, College Football

Comments: 4 Replies

As Tom Cruise said when looking around for some companionship in the movie Top Gun, the wacky world of sports in New England and beyond offers a “target rich environment”.

Wonder what former Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun is doing to stay busy these days as he morphs into retirement as a Hall of Fame basketball coach? How about a television personality? We’re not talking a Dickie V type basketball analyst, although Calhoun is talking to ESPN about doing some work during the season. How about part of a new show on the increasingly popular Golf Channel called The Back Nine where you would hear Jim Calhoun talking about golf, Jim Calhoun talking about basketball, Jim Calhoun talking about life?

No interest in what Manziel has to say

Date: November 26, 2012

Author: Mark

Categories: College Football, Unnecessary Gruffness

Comments: 4 Replies

Texas A&M made freshman quarterback Johnny Manziel available to the media in a conference call on Monday.

This is the same Johnny Manziel who was not available to the media for almost the entire season because he was a freshman and ostensibly not ready to deal with the media on a regular basis.

This is the same Johnny Manziel who nearly beat Florida and LSU and did beat Alabama and was the subject of numerous stories–without being quoted of course–during the regular season.

This is the same Johnny Manziel who is now two weeks away from probably winning the Heisman Trophy, symbolic of being the best football player in college football.

And now he is available?