Spaziani and BC: How the Eagles Will Soar in 2009

(Photo By Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

After a 9-5 season under coach Jeff Jagodzinski, the BC Eagles are looking at a season of uncertainty and change as former Defensive Coordinator Frank Spaziani steps up to fill the vacancy left by the firing of Jagodzinski in January.

While all eyes will be directed towards Spaziani in his first outing as head coach on Sep. 5 against Northeastern, much of the pressure will fall on the veterans of this dominant ACC team. Players like offensive lineman Matt Tennant and wide receiver Justin Jarvis will have to help protect and nurture a group of young quarterbacks that including David Shinskie, Mike Marscovetra, and Junior Codi Boek.

On defense, veterans like Senior defensive end Austin Giles and Junior defensive tackle Damik Scafe will be leading forces into battle for BC. The best chance BC has to control games will come from the defense as Spaziani not only knows the art of shutting down offenses, but will be able to perfect it as head coach of the Eagles this year.

Early season games against Northeastern, Kent State and Clemson will help to determine the abilities of both coaching staff and the players. In 2008, BC defeated Kent State with a 21-0 shutout but was trounced by Clemson in an early November heartbreaking 21-27 loss. While Clemson is coming off of a 4-4 record in the ACC from last year, there is still the chance for a repeated beating and looks to be as close of a game as last year.

Florida State and Maryland will look to usurp power from the Eagles in the Atlantic Division. Recently the 'Noles were ranked 18 in a Lindy's preseason ranking and look to take the place of the Eagles at the top of the division this year. Maryland, if all goes according to plan, could rack up multiple OOC wins in the early season and end up a contender towards the end of the season when the Eagles meet them on Nov. 28.

Of course, BC will also have to look out for fights against Virginia Tech and North Carolina towards the end of the season. Virginia Tech was ranked fifth overall in the Lindy's Magazine and North Carolina was ranked below FSU at 19 this year. While at the top of the Atlantic Division last year, the Eagles were still bested by the Tarheels at the end of the season and the Hokies in the ACC Championship game 12-30; there is no doubt that both sides are looking for a rematch against the birds from Boston come the end of November.

Not only would a return to the ACC Championship game help to solidify Spaziani's coaching ability, but it would also remind the rest of the Atlantic Division that BC is still a contender during this year of transition.

Originally Posted on SportInformant.com

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