Spaziani, Master Of Lowering Expectations
by Brian Favat on Jun 20, 2011 2:30 PM EDT
in Boston College Football
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PrintBrian: In Mark Blaudschun's latest Boston Globe article about Boston College and ACC expansion, Spaz talked about the struggles that the BC football team may have going forward. While he continues to build the program, are there really choppy waters ahead?
"When we came into the ACC, Florida State and Miami were in down cycles,'' said Spaziani. "Now they're both on the up cycle. It's not going to be easy."
First, while Florida State appears back on the upswing, the Seminoles haven't won anything just yet. Last I checked Virginia Tech was still the reigning ACC champ. Second, Miami is breaking in a first-year head coach in Al Golden, and the Canes still haven't even been to one ACC Championship Game. Is Spaz saying that he's not as good a coach as Al Golden? Jimbo Fisher? Finally, Miami is on the other side of the division. Due to the ACC's unbalanced schedule, BC plays Miami four out of every 10 years. Other than the possibility of an ACC Championship Game matchup with Miami, the Hurricanes aren't really standing in the way of BC's yearly goal (win the Atlantic and compete for the ACC title).
In a year when football is struggling mightily to sell tickets, how can Spaz's comments and his lowering of expectations on the Heights be good in any shape or form? Do you see any merit in these comments, or are you as confused and frustrated with Spaz and his approach to the media as I am?
Jeff: I am fine with his comment. Florida State and Miami are commonly lumped together and will be considered the class of the ACC until someone else starts winning multiple National Championships in football. Frankly, I don't see anyone from the league doing that anytime soon. Is Miami really going to stand in our way? No. Miami is in the other division so BC doesn't play them often and losses against Coastal Divisions teams don't have too much effect on the outcome of the Atlantic Division title race in most seasons. His comment may or may not be correct in that both teams are back on the up slope. Miami is the more questionable one there. Florida State did at least return to the ACC Championship Game last season for the first time since its inaugural edition in 2005. So as it pertains to Florida State, Spaz is correct in that they accomplished more last season than they had since 2005 which was still only an eight win season for them.
Now winning the ACC -- which is BC's goal each season -- is never easy. Spaz is not Jags. Jags would be saying right now that he feels we have as good a shot as anyone. I did like Jags more as a coach and he did sell more tickets. But knowing that Spaz is going to be more humble, I have no problem with him saying this. Next offseason he might remark that we have a tougher Coastal Division schedule or that N.C. State, Clemson, Florida State and Maryland are all ranked or getting votes in the preseason polls. Who knows what it will be right now but I promise it will be something.
I also guarantee that the people considering buying tickets are not reading these quotes anyway. The people reading these quotes have tickets already or have no intention of getting tickets regardless. Spaz isn't selling as many tickets because he's a promoted long-time coordinator who isn't putting out as good of a product as the guy who won the Atlantic Division in consecutive seasons.
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Spaz- he is who we thought he was
I’m all for making outlandish promises, and being arrogant, hence my like for the Miami Heat, etc., That being said I don’t expect Spaz to sell tickets via quotes. As a guy trying to keep his job he’s lowering expectations in hopes of exceeding them.Right? Maybe he likes the underdog role, trying to use a little reverse psychology on the players.
Either way I don’t really read in to much he says. Competing against big tradition programs like miami and fsu, we’ll always be at a disadvantage. The only thing that I know i’ll get with Spaz is a stellar defense, and here’s hoping that the OC can put us in a position to score.
Spaz
Just once I would love to hear follow that up with something like “but we have a really good team too.” You can praise opponents while also promoting BC.
Underdog Status
If BC wants to win this year, it has to be an underdog squad (in my opinion). Spaz never coaches an athletic, Bowden’s Seminoles-type team, but will win with smart players and solid defense. The same will be true this year. I really think we can be a solid team if we embrace an underdog mentality.
Master? Hardly
Spaz is not a master of lowering expectations. He is a pessimist – and an inarticulate pessimist at that.
My concern is not the fans, but the recruits. He just too old school in a parody doofus kind of way. Let us hope that Rogers is all that spazoo is not and he kicks ass and takes over. Face it, spaz is most naturally a number 2 guy.
by waterwater on Jun 20, 2011 11:00 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Miami will peak this year then fade for at least a while...
but that’s not BC’s problem. The problem is that Florida State got serious again, Clemson is loaded with superior talent, and BC cannot reasonably expect to be anything but an underdog during this part of the current cycle. Spaz said that. Him throwing in a “we’re good too” would ring a little hollow, IMO. You have a decent shot to beat FSU Thursday night this season but even then I would not expect you to be favored.
It’s going to get worse before it gets better and Spaz is just telling it true. (Yes, I’m an FSU fan but I’ve always liked the Eagles, pre-ACC, and I like your coach.)
Dogs bark in the night but the caravan moves on.
what a load of hooey
1. Miami will peak this year? Obviously not. They are at the bottom of their cyle right now. new coach etc.
2. Clemson always claims to be loaded with “superior” talents, but the team only talent appears to be not meeting expectations
3. Heavily favored FSU almost lost to BC last year. Do not get too cocky yet Mr Nole .
4. But do keep underestimating BC. We luv it. Just ask Bobby Bowden about that
Your #1 could not be farther from the truth
And is a perfect example of most CFB fans naive perceptions.
You definitely have not followed 1 bit of UM recruiting classes over the last few years. 12 and 13 are going to some of the worst years UM football has ever had due talent that is on par with VA,etc.
And FSU didnt underestimate BC they suffered from subpar coaching, recruiting, player development and a lack of a strength and conditioning program. Compile this with schemes and philosophies that had not been relevant within CFB since the late 90’s, very early 00’s.
Spaz is partly correct and if you dont get expections in check, it is going to hurt that much more when you fail to again ever sniff the ACC Title game.
1 - 2 Jimbo's coming for you, 3 - 4 Gator’s better lock their door, 5 - 6 grap your crucifix, 7 – 8 Muschamp better stay up late, 9 - 10 never sleep again!!!
by Seminole4Ever on Jun 21, 2011 8:19 AM EDT up reply actions
I don’t think you have any idea about what is going on at Miami.
'11: Minimum Goal: Win 10 games again
'10: 7th in offense, 41st in defense. Division Champions. 10-4. (6-3)
'09: 3rd in offense, 107th in defense. 7-6 (4-4)
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I'll counter 1 through 4
1. UM will be better this year than they will be in the foreseeable future due to sub-par recruiting efforts. 2012 and 2013 will be brutal for UM – hence fmnole’s “fade” comment, which was right on.
2. Clemson generally IS loaded with talent rather than just claiming to be. They certainly consistently have greater talent than BC. BC as of late has done more with the talent they have and that I will give you is non-debatable. However, your coach recognizes that teams like Clemson will likely always out-recruit BC and Clemson merely needs the right coaching staff to be a success.
3. FSU struggled against a disciplined BC team. Until FSU achieves Jimbo’s level of discipline they could struggle to win on any given Saturday against nearly any level of competition. This leads us to number 4…
4. Under Jimbo FSU is unlikely to take very long to reach the level of discipline required to win consistently and this is what your coach recognizes. I don’t think most FSU fans underestimate BC – in fact I think they respect what BC has done of late. However, to believe that victory over Bobby the last few years is indicative of future consistent victories fails to recognize how low FSU fell over the past 8 to 9 years. If FSU is back – IF – then BC will need lots of luck to win the division more than once every decade.
by scalp'em Noles on Jun 21, 2011 8:36 AM EDT up reply actions
On Miami, quickly:
Miami recruited quite well 07-09. Those players are not upperclassmen. They recruited poorly in 2010 and 2011. And then, 10 of the 30 2010 signees ended up getting kicked off, meaning the poor 2010 class is now an abortion of a recruiting class.
20 senior losses coming (including 11 starters):
J. Harris
S. Whipple
T. Benjamin
L. Byrd
A. Johnson
B. Ayles
C. Ford
H. Gunn (G)
T. Horn
J. Figueroa
M. Regis (DT)
A. Ojomo
M. Robinson
A. Smith
R. Buchanan
J. Futch
S. Spence
J. Nicolas (CB)
L. Chambers (CB)
M. Williams (CB)
'11: Minimum Goal: Win 10 games again
'10: 7th in offense, 41st in defense. Division Champions. 10-4. (6-3)
'09: 3rd in offense, 107th in defense. 7-6 (4-4)
Tomahawk Nation Nole-Holds-Barred Analysis of FSU Sports!
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Haha, Bobby Bowden.
You act as if it was impressive to beat him during his final 7 seasons. You don’t really think beating way-past-his-prime Bobby says anything about the ability of your program or the inability of ours, do you?
FSU beat you with a one armed quarterback last year. And the one good arm he had was his non-throwing arm.
MiNDSET? SWAG-ER-ISM!!!
---------------------------------------------------------
Trick is right.
Wherever you are, Trick, you are wise, indeed.
Correct, Sir Trick.
Thanks tricknole!
You truly are one of God's treasures, Trick
Hardly the Worst Thing Spaz Has Ever Said
But it’s still the overall sentiment that drives me beserk. Spaz continues to show this malaise about being mediocre, that was highlighted in his halftime report versus Nevada. I want BC to be coached by a guy with an attitude like Rex Ryan. The Jets never have the best team, but they go in with the attitude that they can beat anybody, and they usually do. (All of the talking and crap I could live without, but you get the point) If BC wants to continue to recruit like they do, and grab strong character guys, a coach that believes that they are the best team, and they can beat anybody will sell to not only their current players, but recruits as well.
Contributor at BC Interruption
Founder of Mass Hysteria Sports
this is normal coach speak
but with the exception of Miami being on an “up cycle”, I don’t see how this is flubbed statement.
from 2006-10 FSU has been 3-5, 4-4, 5-3, 4-4 and 6-2 in ACC play respectively. I’d say FSU will continue to be closer to the 6-2 record than the 3-5 record going forward; so it’s only natural that winning the division or the ACC will be harder for teams in the Atlantic.
BC can throw out what they knew during the late bowden years, FSU is a different animal now
Continue stalking me on Twitter at SaintChaos1.
I think FSU fans respect BC's defense a lot
and your QB – when he was a NFL first round pick
but you all are not a top tier program – you can beat anyone one a given day – but on average you will lose to a top ten team.
"On average, you will lose to a top ten team"
Much like FSU these past few years.
Agreed but that is not what we are talking about - if you want to talk about FSU and the lost decade - come on over to our site
we acknolwedge who we have been the last ten years – what about you?
I do not thinks last year’s performance by FSU was the performance of a top ten team
Yes but
on average 98% of college football teams will lose to a top 10 team. I don’t think any BC fan would say we’re a top tier program, but only a handful can boast that they are and that they on average would beat a top ten team. Saying that we’d lose to a top 10 team on average doesn’t really say much at all.
Record vs. Top 10 schools
“On average you will lose to a top ten team.”
This applies to FSU as well, as the Seminoles have done a whole lot of losing to top 10 teams in recent years, including getting dismantled by OU last season (which is why the rest of the country thinks ACC football is a joke):
- @ Oklahoma L 17-47
- @ Florida L 10-37
- Florida L 15-45
- @ Boston College W 27-17
- @ Virginia Tech L 21-40
- Florida L 14-21
BC has the same number of wins over top 10 teams as FSU in last 5 years in 3 fewer games. I’m not arguing that BC is more talented than FSU, just that blanket statements like “on average you will lose to a top ten team” are misplaced. I have no doubt that Florida State is on the rise, but the Noles also fall into the “on average you will lose to a top ten team” bucket too (including last year with Jimbo). Until FSU starts beating Top 10 teams again, let’s curb the FSU arrogance a bit.
BC Interruption, SBN's Boston College Eagles blog
I am not trying to compare FSU to BC in the last ten years and say one is better than the other
If I were to do so – I may call it a toss up – FSU stronger in the beginning – BC stonger in the end – but I would rather have been a BC fan – because you all exceeded expectations in my opinion – where as we did not.
We think we can get back to being a top ten program during the next ten years. I do not think BC will be a top ten program during the next ten years and that the record against each other will reflect that.
You say FSU losing to OU is why the country thinks the ACC is a joke.
I say FSU being in the ACC is the only reason the ACC isn’t a joke. You do recall FSU beat two SEC teams last year, right? One of them was SEC East Champs.
FSU is the better program and that’s not arrogance. But we have more proving to do before we can shut up rival fans through our play on the field. I understand thinking that FSU has received national publicity in years past and failed to live up to it so that this year may not be any different, but I don’t understand believing that thinks aren’t likely to change. At some point the vastly superior program will put forth a vastly superior team.
MiNDSET? SWAG-ER-ISM!!!
---------------------------------------------------------
Trick is right.
Wherever you are, Trick, you are wise, indeed.
Correct, Sir Trick.
Thanks tricknole!
You truly are one of God's treasures, Trick
“I say FSU being in the ACC is the only reason the ACC isn’t a joke.”
Because FSU has held up their end of the bargain in the post-expansion ACC? Without Virginia Tech and to a lesser extent BC the past few years, the ACC is much closer to the Sun Belt than the SEC when it comes to football.
BC Interruption, SBN's Boston College Eagles blog
Despite FSU's lack of RECENT success, it is arguably the biggest name in the conference.
Without FSU the ACC wouldn’t be worth nearly as much.
MiNDSET? SWAG-ER-ISM!!!
---------------------------------------------------------
Trick is right.
Wherever you are, Trick, you are wise, indeed.
Correct, Sir Trick.
Thanks tricknole!
You truly are one of God's treasures, Trick
with about 120 D I teams - your math is not good stating 98% of teams
can’t beat a top ten team on average – in any event
I am stating we expect to beat a top ten team on average during the next ten years – we do not expect BC to do the same – and we expect BC to be good not great and have a losing record to FSU.
Not to insult you but – You all are like the LA Clippers or the Pit Pirates – you dont devote the resources neccessary to compete for championships consistently
98% was an exaggeration. You get the point.
Yes comparing BC to two of the worst franchises in pro sports is real accurate. And when you say the “resources necessary”, do you mean paying for math “tutors”?
Sorry
but you call my team the Clippers and Pirates of college football and expect no shots fired back? Please.
I'll play
Yes. You absolutely have to cheat (not illegal, just against NCAA rules) to win at the highest levels of college football.
'11: Minimum Goal: Win 10 games again
'10: 7th in offense, 41st in defense. Division Champions. 10-4. (6-3)
'09: 3rd in offense, 107th in defense. 7-6 (4-4)
Tomahawk Nation Nole-Holds-Barred Analysis of FSU Sports!
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That's the spirit!
If you ain’t cheating, you ain’t trying!
Maybe you should've paid for better history "tutors" at BC and your insult would've at least been accurate.
MiNDSET? SWAG-ER-ISM!!!
---------------------------------------------------------
Trick is right.
Wherever you are, Trick, you are wise, indeed.
Correct, Sir Trick.
Thanks tricknole!
You truly are one of God's treasures, Trick
Our players don’t need others to take their daggum History of Rock & Roll 101 exams for them …
BC Interruption, SBN's Boston College Eagles blog
See, that's a better insult.
MiNDSET? SWAG-ER-ISM!!!
---------------------------------------------------------
Trick is right.
Wherever you are, Trick, you are wise, indeed.
Correct, Sir Trick.
Thanks tricknole!
You truly are one of God's treasures, Trick
What do you want him to say?
Do you want him to channel his inner LeBron and say “once we start practicing and playing games, it’s going to be easy”? Or do you want him to channel his inner Rex Ryan and say that BC is the toast of the town and more popular than the Patriots? Maybe Spaz can come out and say he’s going to kick Jimbo Fisher’s ass? Spaz is realistic and he does a little bit of buttering up to opponents. Lots of coaches do this, especially in football. Belichick comes to mind. Do you ever hear Belichick saying bad things about other teams publicly? Nope, he usually compliments them (heck you’ll hear him say how good of a team the Buffalo Bills are – they haven’t beaten the Pats since 2003). But Belichick is a huge stiff, right? Tom Coughlin too, he’s a pessimistic coach. But he has no idea what he’s doing. It’d be one thing if he was saying “we’ll be lucky to beat these teams” or “we’ll be lucky to win this league” or “we have no shot.” He’s saying “it’s not going to be easy.” Of course it’s not going to be easy! If winning the ACC was so easy, we’d be 6 for 6 in titles right now. Obviously it’s not easy, even when the league is as watered-down as it’s been.
Another coach that comes to mind (different sport) with the buttering up and talking up the other team is Guy Boucher of the Tampa Bay Lightning. After every game against Washington, he kept saying how his team was extremely lucky to win against a vastly superior team (not sure if he was being sarcastic or not – who knows with his evil scarface). He also was calling Tim Thomas an “enigma” and was saying his team needed “miracles” to score on him – though they scored 5 goals I think 4 different times in the series. It’s just how some coaches function.
This obsession with what Spaz says needs to stop. My God – I know it’s summer and a little slow around here, but how about we wait for Spaz to make another bonehead decision or to not call a timeout before we find reasons and excuses to start the constant bashing again.
"Spaz is realistic and he does a little bit of buttering up to opponents. Lots of coaches do this, especially in football."
There’s a clear difference between complimenting our opponents and lowering your own program’s expectations. Spaz is clearly doing the latter here. How is that good for the program? You think recruits want to hear that it will be tough to win at BC in the ACC?
Unlike pro sports (Belichick, Boucher), in college it’s extremely important to sell the program as an HC. Being a good salesman comes with the territory. You wouldn’t hear a Honda car salesman say, "You can buy this Honda Accord now knowing that Toyota has had a bunch of recalls lately, but once Toyota fixes their issues, the Toyota Camry is probably the better long-term purchase."
BC Interruption, SBN's Boston College Eagles blog
by Brian Favat on Jun 21, 2011 10:47 AM EDT up reply actions
I think realism is absolutely necessary
If you want to grab the character guys that have the matzi to compete with these southern teams that truly have better access to resources and talent (not so much coaching in many cases-cough-Clemson-cough) YOU NEED TO BE FORTHRIGHT. Nothing is worse than a coach who blows smoke up your ass.
If schools from the NE want to compete w/o making it blatantly obvious they are cheating, then they have to find some way to devalue the land in New England. The reason the south tends to have more talent isn’t because there are more people down there. No, actually quite contrary to that. Its because the land is cheap and the costs of playing football are more affordable to lower income families.
NE has always been a flagship area for the progress for sports. Basketball, Baseball, football, lacrosse, soccer, hockey, etc… However, once the game has nationalized, the sports that require lots of landmass and equipment tend to migrate elsewhere on the talent map. Lacrosse is slowly moving south as its being adapted more and more across the country. I don’t ever see Ice Hockey moving out of NE as Ice Hockey will always be a middle class sport; way more money to maintain an ice ring than a football field which can house several different high-grossing sports.
In any case, best of luck to BC this year. I hope I am pleasantly surprised by FSU this year.
Comparing BC football to Wake Forest ...
That’s like comparing Georgia Tech to Duke in the Coastal.
How is lumping BC and Wake Forest together as the ACC Atlantic “mice” even a justifiable analogy? BC has way more history than Wake; it’s not even close.
BC Interruption, SBN's Boston College Eagles blog
They have both recently won an ACC division crown and are ill-equipped to do so again anytime soon.
'11: Minimum Goal: Win 10 games again
'10: 7th in offense, 41st in defense. Division Champions. 10-4. (6-3)
'09: 3rd in offense, 107th in defense. 7-6 (4-4)
Tomahawk Nation Nole-Holds-Barred Analysis of FSU Sports!
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BC has more historical success in football than any team in the Atlantic other than FSU and Clemson. Lumping them with Wake, who historically has been an ACC doormat recently and has a winning pct. hovering around .400 is unfair.
BC Interruption, SBN's Boston College Eagles blog
I am not denying their historical success. I lumped them together because they have both recently won an ACC division crown and are ill-equipped to do so again anytime soon.
'11: Minimum Goal: Win 10 games again
'10: 7th in offense, 41st in defense. Division Champions. 10-4. (6-3)
'09: 3rd in offense, 107th in defense. 7-6 (4-4)
Tomahawk Nation Nole-Holds-Barred Analysis of FSU Sports!
Follow Tomahawk Nation's Twitter feed!
BC has won 2 division crowns both since Wake won their one. BC has also been just one win away from the division crown every season since joining the league until this past season. Wake has been a non-factor many times. Or if you don’t want to look at history at all, even recent history, then anyone following the ACC will agree that BC has a better chance at the Atlantic than Wake does.
by Jeff Martyn on Jun 21, 2011 10:45 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I’m not saying they are on the exact same level. I am saying both have very little shot of winning the division anytime soon.
'11: Minimum Goal: Win 10 games again
'10: 7th in offense, 41st in defense. Division Champions. 10-4. (6-3)
'09: 3rd in offense, 107th in defense. 7-6 (4-4)
Tomahawk Nation Nole-Holds-Barred Analysis of FSU Sports!
Follow Tomahawk Nation's Twitter feed!
by Bud Elliott on Jun 22, 2011 10:36 AM EDT up reply actions
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