Spenser Rositano makes impact (BostonHerald.com)
"It was definitely a shock," said the Virginia native. "When (the departures) happened, (Spaziani) talked to me and said I would have to step up and get thrown in the fire. I just tried to memorize the plays, learn the system as fast as I can, and try and get better each day."
BC knows it can't overlook UMass matchup (ESPN Boston)
"There's a little bit of added pressure [playing an FCS team]," BC tight end Chris Pantale said Wednesday, "especially when you're 0-3 just searching for a win. Kinda gotta do whatever it takes to get that win."
No sense of panic (yet) at BC (ESPN ACC Blog)
"There’s still some positive stuff, as there was last week, but we’re close," coach Frank Spaziani said. "Like I told the team, ‘We’re still a long ways away to close that little gap,’ and that’s the trick here. We need to close that gap and it’s hard. It’s like a golfer trying to break 80. You can get close, but it takes a lot to get wherever you have to go. That’s where we’re at really."
BC-UMass game a reunion for former Brockton High players (Enterprise News)
Junior Darren Thellen is a starting safety for UMass while redshirt freshman Dominique Williams and freshman Al Louis-Jean are playing in the BC secondary. The three ex-Boxers have been offseason workout partners and are looking forward to the game on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Stadium.
Around the ACC: Freshman WR Watkins becomes a force for Clemson (jacksonville.com)
Boston College might finally get senior running back Montel Harris on the field Saturday when the Eagles play host to Massachusetts. Harris, a Trinity Christian graduate, hasn’t played yet because of knee surgery in the offseason. The affects on the BC offense are measurable: last in the ACC in total offense, rushing offense and scoring offense.
Montel Harris probable for UMass game (Boston Herald)
Boston College running back and preseason ACC Player of the Year Montel Harris has been listed as probable for Saturday’s game against UMass. Harris has yet to play for the Eagles this season after undergoing a second surgery on a torn meniscus in his left knee in August. Though head coach Frank Spaziani said that Harris will be on a "pitch count" for Saturday, his return should boost the 0-3 Eagles, who are averaging just over 80 yards a games this season.
UMass football giving its level best before jumping to FBS (The Boston Globe)
"The whole thought of, hey, they’re overlooking an FCS opponent to get to the rest of their ACC games, that’s probably out the window right now,’’ said UMass coach Kevin Morris. "They’re like us, just worrying about their next game and it doesn’t matter who it is. They’re going to just keep trying to grind and get better and we’re going to do the same. We’ve just been fortunate to come away with two wins and they haven’t.’’
College Football: Marlboro's Carter clan a competitive bunch (Worcester Telegram & Gazette)
"We need to be ready, we need to be fast, and we certainly need to be physical like we were last week against Rhode Island," UMass coach Kevin Morris said. "We’re looking for a great game up at the Heights. It’s a great in-state rivalry. We’re looking to come out on top, no question, but it’s going to be a battle."
UMass football prepares for Boston College, top running back Montel Harris (GazetteNET)
"If you take the best offensive player in the conference out of your mix it certainly has an effect," Spaziani said during Wednesday's ACC conference call. "We have some other factors that need to be addressed also, but having Montel makes things look a lot better. ... We have no excuses, but we've had some problems that we've had to manage our way through but it's been a little more difficult than we've anticipated."
UMass can build on a victory at BC (GazetteNET)
Fans with no allegiance will be more receptive too. Beating BC wouldn't have nearly the impact nationally that Appalachian State beating Michigan did in 2007. But in eastern Massachusetts BC is college football, while everyone else in the state is a faint blip in the radar. If UMass beats the Eagles, the Minutemen look like the scrappy underdog team people like to root for.
Gene DeFilippo on Twitter @BCGeneD
Coach Spaz bought lunch today for our entire maintenance crew. He is constantly making these kinds of thoughtful gestures.
Steve Donahue on Twitter @Coach_Donahue
Attention BC Students: Looking to find the students who wanted to start "Donahue’s Disciples" last year.