It's Not How You Start

12.2.2008 12:00AM

It's Not How You Start, But How You Finish
Six Eagles selected to All-ACC teams as BC takes on VT for the ACC Championship
Written By: Boston Sports SID

At the beginning of the year if you said the BC Eagle would be in the ACC Championship game, many Boston fans would have laughed in your face. But the Eagles are the only ones who are laughing now.

After three crushing conference losses to Georgia Tech, North Carolina and Clemson, BC ran the table with four consecutive victories to finish atop the Atlantic division at 9-3. For the second straight year, Boston College will play for the ACC Championship and will have another shot at an Orange Bowl appearance. The only team standing in their way is familiar foe, the Virginia Tech Hokies who are the Coastal division champs.

In preparation for the championship on Saturday December 6, six Eagles were named to 2008 All-ACC teams. Senior defensive end B.J Raji and offensive guard Clif Ramsey as well as junior linebacker Mark Herzlich were named to the first team while seniors Ron Brace, Ryan Purvis and sophomore Anthony Castonzo were named to the second team.

Every championship team has a championship defense and the Eagles are no different. Between Herzlich, Raji and Brace they combined for 152 tackles. Herzlich leads the team with 98 tackles and is currently fifth in the nation averaging 6.17 tackles per game. The BC junior is also one of only three college linebackers to have at least two interceptions returned for touchdowns this year.

Similar to Patriots veteran, Mike Vrabel, Herzlich is sure-handed linebacker, snatching six balls from opposing quarterbacks for fifth in the nation. What makes his six interceptions more spectacular is that he is only one of two linebackers to accomplish that feat this year.

Raji and Brace are a wall for offensive linemen and running backs. No one is going to get by them. They have combined for 54 tackles and 10 sacks - seven for Raji and three for Brace - this season. They are going to make some money next year with a professional football franchise.

Women's Ice Hockey

Tim Thomas is not the only goaltender in Boston having an All-Star season. A few miles west in Newton suburb, Chestnut Hill, junior Molly Schaus has the Eagles atop Hockey East with an 9-3-2 record, a 1.88 goals against average and 457 saves. The Boston Collge junior recently acquired her 10th career shutout for the Eagles with a 2-0 win over Northeastern on Sunday and the awards just keep on piling up.

Last week the Women’s residency program in Blaine, Minn. invited Schaus to attend the USA Hockey’s Women’s Holiday Camp, in the spring, along with teammates Megan Fardelman and Kelli Stack. Coming off her third shutout of the season – 10^th of her career – with a 2-0 victory over the Northeastern Huskies, Schaus and Stack were, once again, honored by Hockey East.

Over the Thanksgiving holiday, Stack fed on Princeton and Northeastern. On Friday afternoon, the BC forward recorded three assists in the Eagles 3-3 tie against the Princeton Tigers, to increase her total to 14. As the weekend drew to a close and all the students matriculated back to campus, Stack had the game winning goal against the Huskies just 23 minutes into the contest, Sunday afternoon. Her goal and three assists in two games earned the Eagles junior Hockey East Player of the Week honors.

While Stack took the Player of the Week, Schaus retained the Defensive Player of the Week honors. Two weeks ago, the Eagles junior earned the honors with her second shutout of the season against the UConn Huskies with a 4-0 victory on November 20. Schaus followed up a week later with another Huskie shutout, this time defeating Northeastern 2-0, keeping a firm grasp on Hockey East's Defensive Player of the Week.

The BC women return to action on Friday night when they travel to Storrs, Conn. For a re-match with the Huskies.

-- Boston Sports SID

BC Basketball

11.21.2008 4:04PM

BC LOOKS TO SOAR IN 2008-2009

Last year the Boston College Eagles men’s basketball team got off to a red-hot, 3-0 start against conference foes, Maryland, Wake Forest and Miami but then the tides started to turn. After a crushing 84-66 against the Cavaliers, the Eagles went down a slippery slope. Between January 19 and February 9 of this year, Boston College lost six consecutive games and finished the season at 4-12 in conference play – their worst record since joining the ACC.

Their lack of a post-player under the basket was a major factor in why the Eagles played so poorly last year. Against the weaker schools like Mercer, Florida Atlantic and New Hampshire this flaw was masked by the high powered offense produced by junior point guard Tyrese Rice. But there was no make up to cover up the fatal flaw of the Eagles against the more bruising, powerhouses in the ACC. The Eagles had no option to stop North Carolina’s Tyler Hansbrough and the tall, lanky forward was able to cruise right through the Eagle defense in Chapel Hill last year.

But do not think for a second Boston College had an entirely bad year last year. There were some great moments from last year’s squad that should not be forgotten. In their second to last home game of the year, the Eagles were up 20-points at the half of the, then, number one team in the nation, North Carolina, behind Rice’s first half 34 points. The Tar Heels clamped down on defending Rice in the second half and held the point guard to 12 points, where he finished the game with a new career high.

Coming into this season, the Eagles needed a big man and might have found one with forward Joe Trapani, who sat out all of last year under the NCAA’s transfer rules. In three games, the Boston College sophomore is second on the team in blocked shots with five. Sophomore Rakim Sanders leads the team with seven blocks. Trapani also provides some spark to the line up as he leads the Eagles with 52 point – eight ahead of Rice – through three games.

Sophomore Biko Paris appears to be the heir apparent to the point guard position when Rice graduates in May. If there is one thing, head coach Al Skinner knows, it is how to properly groom young players. Five years ago, the young Louis Hinnant was waiting and learning in the shadow of all-time points scorer Troy Bell. Then two years later, it was Hinnant’s turn to play mentor to the young Rice. Now Rice is mentoring Paris. It is the circle of life in professional and collegiate sports.

This year’s team no longer will worry about controlling the offense when Rice comes to the bench because Paris looks as if he has control of the Boston College offense. Rice will not have play every minute of every game, the Eagles can rest the senior during the early portion of the season in hopes of getting more out of him when they face the big dogs of the ACC – Duke, UNC, Virginia.

There are a few questions that remain when it comes to the 2008-2009 edition of the Boston College men’s basketball team. And I will try to answer a few of them as best I can.

Troy Bell had Craig Smith. Craig Smith had Jared Dudley. Jared Dudley had Tyrese Rice and Sean Marshall. Who will step up when ACC teams start double and triple teaming Rice like UNC did last year?

There are a couple of players who can take the heat off Rice. Biko Paris, Joe Trapani, Rakim Sanders and Corey Raji. From the first three games of the season, Raji is starting to look more and more like that guy. The sophomore forward reminds me a little of Sean Marshall, an outside shooter, who just keeps shooting and always wants the ball. The Eagles need some of this action to keep defenses honest and protect against the long range jumper. Fellow classmates, Sanders, Paris and Trapani will provide additional support when they are on the court. Look for Paris to act as the shooting guard when the Eagles go small and both he and Rice are on the floor together. Rice will dish the ball to Paris more than any player at the time. Sanders will get his fair share of the jump-shots while Trapani will clean up below the rim.

Who will emerge as the big man or possibly the next Sean Williams?

Josh Southern is my pick for the next Boston College big man. A shot blocker like Sean Williams comes around once in blue moon. Southern still has a lot to learn on the defensive side but has improved immensely from the last year. He still is tied for third on the team in personal fouls but he looks to be favorite to emerge as the big man in the post. Joe Trapani is also a candidate but against stronger competition I think his weaknesses will be exploited.

Lady Eagles

The 2008-2009 season for the Lady Eagles is in full swing. First year Boston College head coach, Sylvia Crawley, takes the helm of an Eagles team that finished 21-12 overall and 7-7 in the ACC last season and they are only expected to get better.

Although Boston College lost two key players in Kaydia Kentish and Rebecca Miles, the Eagles are returning 11 letter-winners including five starters from last year’s squad. Their top two post players, Carolyn Swords and Stefanie Murphy, return for their sophomore season at The Heights. Both players had incredible freshman years as Murphy led Boston College in overall points (464) and rebounds (246) while Swords led the team in points (451) and rebounds (100) against ACC opponents.

The Eagles came out flying against St. Francis University in their season opener at Conte Forum on November 14. Boston College had for players in double digits as the Eagles defeated the Red Flash 99-68. Swords led the team with 18 points while Murphy, senior captain Corey Rusin and junior Mickel Picco recorded 14, 13 and 11 points, respectively. Murphy was just one rebound shy of her 10^th double-double of her collegiate career.

Four days later the Lady Eagles traveled to Worcester in search of their 22^nd win against their Jesuit rivals the Holy Cross Crusaders. Swords’s sixth career double-double led the Eagles to their ninth win at the Hart Center while Picco followed with 19 points and Murphy with 10 of their own. Boston College now moves to 22-7 against Holy Cross all-time.

Boston College returned home this week to face the Hofstra Pride where they collected their third win of the season. The Eagles dominated much of the first half of the game but the Pride tried to make a valiant come-back in the second half that was stopped short by Picco and fellow junior Ayla Brown. Picco and Brown, both, recorded 16 of Boston College’s 71 points as they cruised to the 71-60 victory Thursday night at The Heights.

They women will return to the court Sunday November 23 when they face another long-time Jesuit rival the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame at 2pm.

-- BOSTON SPORTS SID

Chris Crane Era

Chris Crane and Matt Cassel have something in common.

No they will not be Hall of Fame Quarterbacks. They will probably not even be Pro Bowlers. Crane probably will not even make an NFL practice squad. But what they do have in common is they both know how tough it is to replace a legend.

Cassel is making his name known filling for Tom Brady after the two time Super Bowl MVP and league MVP went down in the first week of the season with a torn ACL in his left knee. Crane, on the other hand, is replacing the best Boston College quarterback since Doug Flutie, Matt Ryan. Talk about pressure.

But the fifth year senior has the high flying Eagles at a 3-1 record. Their lone loss was a bad ACC loss to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the home opener on September 6. In that game, Crane only threw one touchdown pass to Ifeanyi Momah that was very close to being picked off by Georgia Tech’s cornerback. At the north end of the stadium, Crane looked to his right and threw a jump ball to his left and it was clear the ball was up for grabs but the officials said Momah came down with possession.

The Eagles have a lot of work to do if they hope to even up the score in the win-loss column today against the NC State Wolfpack. There is no doubt all the Eagles will be playing all out today, they want to crush former coach Tom O’Brien for leaving them before their Bowl Game two years ago in December, 2006. Coach Jags will definitely have his team ready to play a big game today.

Prediction: 21-17 Boston College

BC Class of 2008 Looks Bright

Things are looking up at The Heights, no pun intended.

Nathan Gerbe holding the NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey trophy. Gerbe decided to forgo his senior year on May 7, 2008 to sign a 3 year deal with the Buffalo Sabres. (AP Photo)

Eagles men’s ice hockey forward, Nathan Gerbe became the sixth BC athlete to turn to the professional leagues. After helping lead the Boston College Eagles to their third NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Championship – and second in seven years – the nation’s leading points scorer for 2007-2008 signed a three year $2.55 million contract with the Buffalo Sabres.

The former BC forward over came a lot in his 20 years. Not only did he have to deal with people questioning his toughness because of his physical build. (Gerbe stands just 5’6” above the ground.) But he also had to overcome the diagnosis of Attention Deficit Disorder when he was senior in high school after receiving poor SAT and ACT scores. He may be short but according to a former BC teammate he has no fear and will try to prove himself at the next level of ice hockey.

Gerbe’s announcement to turn professional comes two weeks after three football players were taken in the 2008 NFL Draft led by quarterback and 2007 Heisman Trophy candidate Matt Ryan. Ryan was joined by offensive line man Gosder Cherilus and cornerback DeJuan Tribble in the 2008 draft class. Like Ryan, the Somerville native, Cherilus was also taken in the first round by the Detroit Lions with the 17^th pick overall. Tribble. Safety Jamie Silva and linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar were signed after the draft as amateur free agents by the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints, respectively.

In the past Boston College has been known to produce a number of young, talented, top-notched offensive linemen who performed well at the next level, including two Super Bowl Champions. New England Patriots center Dan Koppen and New York Giants guard, Chris Snee went from being teammates at Boston College 2002 to foes in Super Bowl XLII. But after seeing a quarterback, a corner, safety and linebacker from BC signed by the professionals, it will heighten BC, even more, on the national radar in terms of recruiting.

Since Gerbe, Ryan, Cherilus, Tribble, Silva and Dunbar have all been signed by professional franchises, there is one athlete who I am surprised has not declared. It is junior point guard Tyrese Rice. After putting up 46 points – 34 in the first half – against North Carolina on March 1, I thought for sure Rice was a goner and would choose to enter the NBA Draft in June. But it has been almost two months since the Eagles basketball season ended and the only hint about next year was Rice saying he expects to be back at The Heights.

Tyrese Rice reacts as he scores 34 points in the first half against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Conte Forum on March 1, 2008. Boston College had a 20 point lead at half time against the #1 team in the nation. (AP Photo)

QB Matt Ryan celebrates his fourth quarter comeback against the Virginia Tech Hokies on October 25, 2007. BC was down 10-0 with just under five minutes to go in the game and came back to win 14-0 with two touchdowns in two minutes. (AP Photo)

Jayhawks overpower Eagles

Kansas senior Darnell Jackson and sophomore Darrell Arthur led the Jayhawks to a 23-point victory, 83-60, over the Eagles in a Saturday matinee matchup at Conte Forum.

For the first nine minutes it looked like it was going to be a defensive game but Boston College’s 14 turnovers appeared to be too great a hurdle to over come. Halfway through the first half, the Jayhawks went on an 8-0 run.

There were not too many highlights for Boston College except junior Tyrese Rice’s and Rakim Sanders’s 20 and 21 points respectively. But both Rice and Sanders gave the Eagles faithful something to cheer for in the first when they nailed key three-pointers to bring the game back within reach. The Eagles won the blocked shots category 8-7 behind Tyrelle Blair’s five blocks.

Saturday’s game saw fatal flaws in the BC men’s basketball game. The Jayhawks clogged the lanes all game not letting the Eagles pass up the middle. When Boston College did try to pass up the middle, it almost always ended in a BC turnover. Also the Eagles were out-rebounded 33-21 while allowing the Jayhawks to collect 13 of their missed field goals.

Boston College returns to action to face the Robert Morris Colonials at Conte Forum on Monday January 7 at 7pm.

Tyrese Rice jumps over Kansas's Darrell Arthur to score two of his 20-points during the Eagles 83-60 loss to the Jayhawks. (AP Photo)