Boston College Football: Players Respond To Those Critical Of Football Program

Jeff: Spiffy Evans gave us this tweet after the loss to Army Saturday.

What's a game to y'all (bloggers, fans, outsiders) is our life.

— That guy(@spiffy_thatsme7) October 7, 2012

This unfortunately comes the same week that an Ohio State player tweeted that football players should not be required to attend class and in the same season that several Michigan State players got into some trouble for mocking Michigan QB Denard Robinson on twitter while he was playing Alabama.

If what Spiffy Evans is trying to say here is ...

Hey fans and bloggers (who are really all fans so I'll just say fans from now on), if you're disappointed we lost, how do you think we feel?

If that's the case, I can get on board with that. If he is just trying to create some buzz, get retweeted a bunch and be the focal point of a BC Interruption post, then mission accomplished! But, if he, or any other college football player is trying to say that a football game is no longer a football game for the players, then I'm curious. What is it?

Does Evans means there are consequences to winning and losing for the players and there are not for the fans? What are those consequences? A few more sprints in practice? No trip to a warm destination in December for a bowl game? Less of a chance of making it to the NFL? Or are they just bummed out all week just like the fans are waiting for the next W?

Boston College played Army of Saturday in a GAME. It's a GAME to the fans, coaches, and players and always will be a GAME.

Every BC full scholarship athlete is enjoying their time at BC free to them because of their skill set and accomplishments shown in the past. Whether in high school or for a few walk ons and transfers in college, they showed enough skill and ability to be offered a full ride to BC. That means they don't pay to attend class like most of their classmates do, they don't pay to eat at the dining halls like most of their classmates do, and they don't pay to live in the dorms like most of their classmates do. There are no stipulations in athletic scholarships that a certain number of games must be won in order to maintain that scholarship. So, how is it not a GAME for these players?

Brian: Let me first say that I don't know what made Evans bristle here. There's clear frustration all around and players, bloggers, fans and outsiders all want the same thing here -- to see the players and the program succeed and to win football games.

The only context that this comment makes sense is when applied to the coaches. In that context alone, college football is not only a game, it is a profession and a livelihood. The game puts food on the table for the members of the coaching staff. The staff moves their families to the area and makes a good living coaching a game played by college kids. This is the one group of people where the game is truly their life.

College football is not the players' life. Without question, it's one (major) aspect of their lives and their college experience. But over 90-95 percent of the current roster isn't going to make an NFL roster so when they walk away from the Heights, the game ends. Even for the few players who do catch on at the next level, right now college football is still just a game.

If Evans is frustrated with those calling for Spaz's job, he has that right. But fans, bloggers and alumni who have long supported the program and dedicate large amounts of time or resources to the school and the program also have a right to their own opinion.

Those critical of Spaziani and the coaching staff aren't doing so claiming that they don't work hard or that they aren't nice people. But at some point, one has to examine the entire body of work and evaluate performance accordingly. Based on Spaz's record of performance, he simply isn't getting the job done. Like Bill Parcels said, "you are what your record says you are" or in Spaz's own words, "it is what it is."

On some level, it's also hard to feel sorry for the coaching staff as they are very well compensated, especially when considering the record of performance through 3 1/2 seasons. Spaz will be very well compensated when he "steps down" and the coaches on the staff that want to continue their careers coaching will land on their feet.

Players have as much of a right to stick up for their embattled head coach as fans, bloggers and alumni have to demand change (for the better of the program and the players' situation). Regardless of the difference of opinion, in the end both groups want the same thing.