If Kuechly Returns, Would This Soften The Blow Of Spaz 2012?

Brian: As you've probably heard by now, all indications are that Frank Spaziani will return as head coach of the Eagles in 2012. Fans are clearly frustrated that DeFilippo is digging in his heels here and backing his 2009 decision to hire Spaz.

But what if Spaz's return is enough to bring Montel Harris, Ifeanyi Momah, Kaleb Ramsey and ... Luke Kuechly back for next season? Thinking that Kuechly will return for his senior season seems like wishful thinking at this point, but stranger things have happened, right?

If BC gets all four of these players back for next season, would that soften the blow of having Spaz roaming the sidelines in 2012? Your thoughts?

Jeff: At the end of the day, I, like most fans, don't care what the name of our head coach is. I was to see Boston College win games. If Frank Spaziani continues to be the head coach, I question whether or not he will bring in the best players to help us win games. We know Spaz can develop players once he has them because of what he did while he was DC and the fact that the past two seasons, BC has finished the season much stronger than they started it. Next season, if Momah, Ramsey, Kuechly, and Harris are all back, we will be at least two and maybe three wins better in conference than we were this season which suddenly puts us at 5-3 or 6-2. Nothing wrong with going 6-2 in conference. Add to that some different non-conference scheduling and BC can 8-4 or 9-3.

For all intents and purposes, BC was 4-4 in conference this season. When it comes to evaluating whether or not to fire Spaz, you have to consider the Duke game a win. Now BC should be able to beat Duke to the point where it does not come down to a missed short FG at the end, but in a rebuilding year, as this turned out to be, I think it is fair to give Spaz the victory there.

If Harris and Kuechly are back, with how many freshman and sophomores played the majority of downs this season, there is absolutely no reason that BC can't be two wins better in 2012 in conference. Then, if BC had just played last years out of conference schedule, BC would have won 3 of those games. So if BC can get a year stronger and gain a year of experience combined with losing practically no one, getting back Harris, Ramsey and Momah, BC could be a lot better in terms of wins and losses since the schedule shakes out a lot differently as well. Next season we play Maine, Army and Notre Dame at home and Northwestern on the road in our out of conference schedule.

If Kuechly leaves, then there's a lot of questions to be answered. But if he returns, there's no way we are not significantly better.