What Day Will Boston College Football Host Miami Over Labor Day Weekend?

Mark Blaudschun's 76-word article in yesterday's Globe reporting that BC will host Miami over Labor Day weekend caused quite a bit of commotion in the Florida-area papers. Blaudschun reported that the likely date of that game was Sunday or Monday, which would work for the Eagles since they would follow that game up with a home game against I-AA Maine.

But would those dates work for Miami? Well, not so much, according to the Miami Herald.

"UM opened last season on the road at Maryland on Labor Day, so it seems unlikely that the Hurricanes would play BC in 2012 on that day. Additionally, the Canes play Kansas State the following Saturday, Sept. 8, so it's likely they would meet BC - if the game does materialize - on Saturday, Sept. 1."

And according to the Palm Beach Post.

"But a UM source said Thursday that the game would probably be Saturday, Sept. 1. The Hurricanes travel to meet Kansas State in Manhattan, Kan., on Sept. 8 and UM does not want to face back-to-back road games on a short week.

UM opened the 2011 season against Maryland on Labor Day then took 12 days off before playing Ohio State at Sun Life Stadium."

I agree that asking Miami to travel to Manhattan, Kansas on short rest after opening in Chestnut Hill isn't the most fair scheduling arrangement for the Canes. But don't look at a program like Georgia Tech for sympathy, who has to go on the road to Blacksburg in week 1, giving the Hokies the entire offseason to prepare for the Yellow Jackets triple option offense.

My guess is this game gets moved back to Saturday to accommodate UM's request. Though unless another ACC program moves a non-conference date, it's unlikely that BC-Miami is moved off opening weekend altogether.

The release of the ACC schedule has been delayed due to West Virginia dropping its non-conference game with Florida State as the Mountaineers try to get free up the appointment calendar to accommodate next year's Big 12 schedule, whose release is also delayed.

In other scheduling news, spring practice begins on February 18 and the Jay McGillis spring game has been set for March 31.