Pinstripe Bowl Recap: Thumbs Up And Thumbs Down

Boston College has dropped another one, this one a close bowl matchup with the Iowa Hawkeyes. The Eagles led at halftime, but only managed three points in the second half. But what about the individual and unit performances? Let’s take a look and breakdown this depressing loss.

THUMBS UP

Tommy Sweeney: Though his tip caused the first interception of the game, Sweeney was masterful against a tough defense and a slippery surface. He was the first BC receiver with a 100 yards receiving game this year. He really turned it up the second half of the year and you have to be excited about what he will do in the future.

AJ Dillon: Take the equipment malfunctions out of the picture, and Dillon had a great game against a good defense. Clearly the 60 yard run he had would would have been a touchdown on a non-glacier surface, but he got his 100+ yards again.

The Offensive Line: Thought they did a good job this game. When Wade dropped back he had all the time in the world, with very little pressure. Against the run defense, they were adequate, but after Daz fell back into his predictable patterns they had no chance.

Noa Merritt: In his final game with the Eagles, Merritt was a force making play after play even when BC was up against it. That was two straight bowls with big plays by the senior.

Davon Jones: With injuries to John Lamot and Kevin Bletzer, Jones came in and recorded 9 tackles. But my favorite play of the game was when he absolutely blew this play up:

THUMBS DOWN

Steve Addazio: After earning back some doubters after a strong second half this game was not what he had in mind. The second half play calling was mind numbingly bad, and I have no idea what he was thinking at the end of the 1st half. The Pinstripe Bowl was an exhibit of all his flaws. The final drive, BC had the ball with one minute left and he started the drive with a draw that just ate up the clock and ended the game. He is going to have no excuses in 2018, with a stacked offensive line, A.J. Dillon and Anthony Brown to run his offense. This is going to be put up or shut up time for the 6th year coach.

That Personal Foul On Noa Merritt: BRU-TAL, and basically turned the momentum back to Iowa. I hate to blame refs for failings, and believe me there were many other reasons BC lost, but that bulls*** call was a gamechanger.

Special Teams: Michael Walker was off, with two scary almost turnovers, they Eagles had all kinds of trouble tackling Akrum Wadley on kick returns and there was the missed extra point. Not a good game all around.

Playing a Bowl Game In New York: That was not fun. I think if Boston College had won I would have said the same thing, so no this isn’t sour grapes. The field was a frozen tundra, players couldn’t get their footing (and no I dont’ have a clue if that was on the equipment), it was just miserable. While the 2014 Pinstripe Bowl was a bit warmer and let teams move the ball, this entire game looked like the football was a cinder block. I’m done with the Pinstripe Bowl, let’s hope for something warmer in the future.