On Friday night, Boston College football will face off against Florida State in its annual Red Bandana game, in memory of BC alum Welles Crowther, known as “the man in the red bandana,” who sacrificed his life on 9/11 to save others. The Eagles will wear special helmets, cleats, gloves, and towels that have a red bandana pattern on them. It is a very cool tradition, one that makes me extremely proud to be an Eagle.
Boston College will honor alumus & 9/11 hero Welles Crowther, "The Man In The Red Bandanna" with gloves, cleats & helmet stripe on 10/7 pic.twitter.com/IeULo8ouw7
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) October 3, 2016
Coming off of two straight wins, BC will welcome the reeling Florida State Seminoles to Chestnut Hill on Friday night. While BC had an extremely difficult start to the season, they have rebounded quite well, first shocking reigning Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson and Louisville on a last second field goal, and then putting an absolute beat down on Virginia in Charlottesville.
It appears the Eagles, coming off of two of their best 60 minute performances since USC three years ago, paced by AJ Dillon, Anthony Brown, and a dominant defensive front seven, have some momentum going in ACC play. Despite having fans chanting for his job just two weeks ago, it appears head ball coach Steve Addazio has lit a fire under his team (maybe he just needed the effects of staring at the solar eclipse to wear off). BC is finally playing inspired football and there’s no reason that shouldn’t continue on Friday night.
Steve Addazio isn't here for your #SolarEclipse2017 science. "I'm gonna look at it and I'm not wearing glasses. See if I'm blind tomorrow."
— Riley Overend (@RileyHeights) August 21, 2017
AJ DILLON THREW THAT POOR MAN DOWN LIKE A RAG pic.twitter.com/O8bl9DIm6N
— BC Interruption (@bcinterruption) October 14, 2017
If BC does come out flat on Friday Night, no small blame should be placed on the students. With a chance to beat Florida State for our third straight ACC win, the students should be LOUD on Friday night. The Friday night game is always popular for students and since the team is actually playing well, there’s no reason for the Superfans to not stay for the full game.
With four games left, the Eagles have a chance to rebound from a disappointing start to the season. They play three beatable teams and UConn (it would be insulting to FSU, Syracuse, and NC State to call them beatable) and possibly end the season at 8-4. What once looked like a lost season all of a sudden has some promise and the student body should recognize that, come out in force, and give BC a real home field advantage, something we haven’t had much of in recent years.
BC alumni are starting to get excited for the Eagles as Thadd Smith, Kobay White, and Jeff Smith have proven to be speedy options on offense and Brown, Dillon, and Tommy Sweeney have shown composure and the ability to get a first down when necessary. The defense has shown its versatility over the last two weeks, first containing Lamar Jackson and then forcing a late turnover to set up the game winning field goal. Then, against UVA, completely shutting down the UVA offense, holding them to ten points and holding the passing game to 152 yards.
Guys
— Arthur Bailin (@arthurbailin) October 21, 2017
BC football is fun again. And it feels damn good.
With a suddenly electric offense, BC fans should have no reason to complain about the team’s excitement and have no reason to come out and support the Eagles on Friday night. With a chance to extend the winning streak to three, let’s get to Alumni for kickoff and make some noise to support our Eagles.
To paraphrase Daz, it is coming together, and it sure is beautiful (and relieving).