While our Atlantic Division rivals flirt with the captain and Miami went with an energetic, former BC staffer as their next head coach, BC's AD made it clear that the school has their man -- extending Frank Spaziani's contract through the 2015 season.
"Frank Spaziani has done a terrific job in his first two seasons as our head football coach," DeFilippo said. "There is no doubt in my mind that he has our program headed in the right direction. He is a man of uncompromised integrity and principle, and he has provided great stability to our program. He has overcome some obstacles along the way and is building the foundation for great things to come. This contract extension is an indication of the University's confidence in him."
Spaz's future job security wasn't looking so hot not two months ago, as the Eagles lost to the Terrapins 24-21 back on October 23 to fall to 2-5. Losers of five straight, the natives were getting restless. A website URL -- firespaz.com -- was purchased and a Twitter hashtag campaign was launched in hopes that DeFilippo would show Spaz the door not two years into his tenure as HC.
One way of silencing your critics is to turn a five-game losing streak into a five-game winning streak (regardless of strength of schedule), finishing the season 7-5 and making the program's twelfth consecutive bowl appearance (even if it was the last bowl in the ACC's bowl pecking order).
The timing of this move is a bit curious, given Maryland and Miami's recent coaching turmoil, and is sure to rub some loyal season ticket holders the wrong way. Especially with Maryland poised to hire fan favorite Mike Leach as their next head coach.
Though in all likelihood, this is a sign that Spaz and GDF have agreed on some sort of shakeup of the coaching staff for next season (Tranquill out?) and the program can move forward on the recruiting trail and in preparation for the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl against Nevada.
Spaz is 16-10 through two seasons as BC's head coach, though ultimately he'll be judged on how his teams fare in ACC play, against Notre Dame and in our bowl games. Through two seasons, Spaz is 9-7 in ACC play, 0-2 against Notre Dame and 1-1 in bowl games (though his one win came as interim head coach in 2006).
A real test of Spaz's coaching abilities will come next year with a rather unforgiving schedule - just six home games, road trips to Miami Gardens, Blacksburg, Clemson, College Park and South Bend, nine bowl teams and Division I-A opponents that went a combined 79-56 (.585) this season.