Unfortunately this is not the way I had hoped to have started my blog on BC athletics -- commenting on a string of bad news for the University's athletic department. But, the good news is that it can only get better. In the interim we can recall the good times and allow for these recent incidents to act as an opportunity to demonstrate, truly, the real quality of Boston College's athletic program.
However, the past few weeks have not been kind for BC sports.
Let's review: The men's hockey team suffered an absolutely heart-breaking loss to Michigan State on April 7 in the national championship game -- dubiously becoming only the third men's team in NCAA men's history to lose in the national championship two years in a row; the women's hockey coach was caught in a scandal involving one of his players and resigned; and in a two-week span BC football lost its assistant director of football operations, a recruiting assistant and offensive line coach Jim Turner. Ouch.
Amidst all this, twisting the knife a little more, former basketball center Sean Williams officially declared for the draft yesterday -- reminding fans of his acrimonious departure from the team as Williams, arguably the country's best shot blocker and the second-best overall player on the team, was kicked off the team along with teammate Akida McClain damaging -- but not destroying -- a promising year.
As a BC alumni and fan I don't need any of this and neither does the administration or the athletics department. Over the past few years, we, as BC fans, have suffered quite enough. Aside from winning consistently in virtually every major sport, Boston College has not shaken the reputation of being unable to "win the big game." But, I would argue that's not true and this blog, written from a diehard fan's perspective, is meant to counter the perceived belief that BC's sports program is unable to win big games. In fact I'm quite sure seven consecutive bowl wins over the past seven years for the football team, seven men's Frozen Four appearances in 10 years (including a national championship) and six NCAA men's basketball tourney appearances in seven years counters any notion that the Eagles always blow the big game.
Those examples cited only scratch the surface of how impressive the overall success of BC athletics in the Gene DeFilippo era has been. Of course there will be plenty more discussion, dissection and PASSION of and for Boston College sports on this blog. As I write this initial blog, hockey and basketball have only been over for about a month and football is still four months away from opening at Alumni against Wake Forest. So, over the remaining months until BC football kicks off on September 1, there will be plenty of Red Sox blogging as I need to give some love to my other child.
Again, this is not a blog where stories will be broken or news reported; instead I want it to be an expression of a true Boston College fan and an outlet to examine, reflect upon and appreciate BC and the rest of the Boston sports scene.
As for the unfortunate incidents to occur on Chestnut Hill over the past few weeks, the coaching departures of the BC staff will only be a blip on the screen. I truly see this year, for the football team, to be one of the better ones in a long time (hinging on whether Brian Toal redshirts) and the women's hockey team will find a new coach.
None of this should be frustrating to BC fans. The true pain for Boston College followers stems from the lack of respect Boston College sports receives in Boston and nationally for an exceptional program. It's time to change all that.
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