Top 50 countdown: No. 43 Boston College (Sporting News)
To call Boston College’s offense a one-trick pony is a disservice to Montel Harris, who’s as productive as any ACC running back ever. But unless coach Frank Spaziani and first-year offensive coordinator Kevin Rogers figure out a way to diversify the Eagles’ offense, Harris could break former N.C. State great Ted Brown’s longstanding ACC record for most career rushing yards while playing on a losing team.
No. 43 Boston College at a glance (Sporting News)
Our confidence level in this pick: Iffy. Not only is the latter half of the Eagles’ schedule difficult, the first half isn’t easy either. Games against Northwestern—a hard-nosed, but talented team—C-USA champion Central Florida and Duke (which is improving under David Cutcliffe) could go either way. A poor start to the year will make it hard to gain ground later, when road games against Virginia Tech, Notre Dame and Miami loom. Home games against Florida State and N.C. State in that span won’t be easy, either.
College Football 77 in 77: #48 Boston College Eagles (The Sports Bank.net)
Huh? "In the ACC, anyone can go 6-6. Because the conference is (with the exception of Florida State and Miami, maybe NC St.) mostly a crapfest. (But hey, at least it’s not as bad as the Big East). For B.C. it’ll be all about going 8-4 or better, which seems somewhat doable."
QMJHL: Could Shea be bolting from BC to Moncton? (Buzzing The Net)
The NCAA exodus to the CHL appears like it might continue this month, as rumours abound that Brandon Shea could de-commit from Boston College and join the Moncton Wildcats.
For Boston… (Slightly Chilled)
McPhee put in a phone call to BC coach Jerry York, who coached McPhee, the 1982 Hobey Baker Award winner, in college at Bowling Green State. Haar was committed to Northeastern and decommitted a day after he was drafted by the Capitals after coach Greg Cronin left the program to be an assistant with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Opponents / ACC
2011 Season Preview: Strategies, Tactics And The Florida State Seminoles (SBNation.com)
The biggest issue for FSU in 2011 is quite simply the schedule. They will still be a rather young team in September, when they face off against a Top 5 team in Oklahoma (at home) and a Top 20 team in Clemson (on the road). If the 'Noles are 4-0 at the end of September, then they will almost certainly be 8-0 at the end of October, and things will begin to get very interesting.
The Consensus: This time, Florida State is all the way back (Dr. Saturday)
That sense, combined with a talented, experienced lineup, a manageable schedule and a prediction industry apparently determined to see the Seminoles as the garnet-and-gold-clad Horsemen of the Apocalypse who ran roughshod over college football throughout the nineties, will get you a ticket that says "BCS or Bust." The recent history of power programs breaking through in their second year under a new head coach only raises the stakes.
Debriefing: The Florida State resurrection is here (Dr. Saturday)
It's not hyperbole to say this year's Florida State team has the power to make fans feel like they're in the 1990s again. Remember those days? When 10, 11 and 12-win seasons were the norm and competing for a national championship was expected? The 2011 Seminoles have the potential to be that good.
The Maple Street Press Irish Kickoff Series: Part One (Offense) (One Foot Down)
As Clausen developed from shaky freshman to NFL-ready junior, the ND offense went from 119th to 65th to 8th. Last year with a rookie Crist and Rees, ND had the 61st best offense in the country (based on total yardage). I think a similar jump into the top 10 might be pushing it, but getting into Top 25 territory certainly sounds reasonable, depending of course on the season-long presence of one Mr. Floyd.
One Less Day Til Football Season, Post 5: Offensive Line (Sippin' On Purple)
Was the o-line good last year?: There are not enough ways to fully express the word "no". Let me start by saying that if I mention a stat in this article that should not be accompanied by the phrase "Big Ten worst", I will mention it when I cross it. If some soul seeking for a fairer depiction wants to argue that NU allowed more sacks and tackles for loss perhaps because NU ran the most plays on offense of any team in the conference - true, NU's 942 plays from scrimmage topped Michigan's 941 by one - sure, this contributes, but not enough to absolve allowing the most sacks - 40, 28 in conference, while no other team allowed more than 14, which is half as many - and tackles for loss - seven per game - than any other team in the Big Ten.
College Football Countdown: Nos. 71-75 (D1scourse)
Wake comes in at no. 75. "Assuming a player didn't receive impermissible benefits, no one can take away Wake Forest's 2006 ACC title. But no one will take away the gradual regression to the mean (which was to be expected) or last year's complete cratering (which was less expected) as the Demon Deacons have turned back into the Demon Deacons over the last four years."
College Hockey
Notre Dame to Hockey East? I’m not making this stuff up (Warrior Rink Rat)
Those that have suggested Hockey East does not want Notre Dame aren’t looking at the big picture. Yes, it’s called Hockey EAST, but that doesn’t limit their geographical footprint to New England states. Notre Dame brings with it a lot of cash. Cash is king. Notre Dame, theoretically, makes the league more money by expanding its footprint and opening avenues through television and other marketing that wasn’t there before.