Tag: Boston College Eagles

Boston College Adds NFL Pedigree with Doug Marrone to Coaching Staff

BC adds a third coach with NFL experience to their coaching staff. The latest is Doug Marrone.

Boston College is making a bold statement by incorporating an unprecedented level of NFL expertise into its coaching staff. The Eagles, not content with just two former NFL coaches, are upping the ante by adding a third, Doug Marrone, as a senior analyst for football strategy and research.

For those keeping score at home, Marrone is not just any ex-NFL coach. We’re talking about a guy who helmed the Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars, bringing years of top-tier football acumen to Chestnut Hill. While his NFL record might not be the stuff of legends, his balanced tenure at Syracuse demonstrates that he has the chops to influence the collegiate game significantly.

Now, one might wonder why this move is a game-changer for the Eagles. Marrone, alongside Bill O’Brien—the same O’Brien who steered the ship for the Houston Texans—and Rob Chudzinski, who brought his insights from the Cleveland Browns to BC over the past four seasons, are forming a triumvirate of NFL-bred wisdom. Not just about adding resumes to the roster; it’s about injecting a professional perspective into Boston College ball, a strategy that could well redefine how the game is played in Chestnut Hill.

Imagine the synergy—Marrone’s strategic mind-melding with O’Brien’s leadership and Chudzinski’s experience. O’Brien and Marrone are not strangers to collaboration, having crossed paths at Georgia Tech and Alabama. At Georgia Tech, Marrone was molding tight ends and offensive linemen, while O’Brien was honing his craft with running backs and later as a graduate assistant.

At Alabama, their roles were amplified—Marrone as the offensive line coach, bringing his NFL head coaching experience to refine the Crimson Tide’s talented front, and O’Brien as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. This isn’t their first rodeo, and if history indicates, their partnership could bring out the best in the Eagles.

However, here lies the critical point: Boston College is coming off a decent season, not earth-shattering, but solid. With this highly experienced coaching staff, what lies ahead? Are we looking at a team that’s poised to shake up the ACC, or is this an experiment in coaching star power that might not translate to on-field success?

Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure—Boston College is not playing it safe. They are going all in, betting big on NFL coaching experience to elevate their team. As the Eagles prepare to kick off their season against Florida State, all eyes will be on this newly minted-coaching lineup.

Will this NFL infusion be BC’s secret sauce to soar to new heights? The college football world is watching, waiting, and, let’s be honest, a tad envious of the Eagles’ bold strategy. Boston College football just got a whole lot more interesting.

Men’s Basketball: Duke’s ACC opponents for 2024 are set

The ACC released its conference opponent schedule for 2024-25 on Thursday evening. See who Duke will host and travel to here.

The Duke Blue Devils have officially entered the month of March, which means things will get serious for them on the basketball court. The Blue Devils have just three regular-season games remaining before they play in the ACC Tournament and, after that, the NCAA Tournament for a chance to win the program’s sixth national title.

Even while that takes place, there’s an eye on next year’s team as the Blue Devils discover who their conference opponents will be for the 2024-25 season.

Next year is a big year for the ACC as it welcomes three new teams to the conference: SMU, Stanford, and California.

The expansion means some tweaks to the normal ACC schedule, however, and the conference revealed each team’s ACC foes for the 2024-25 season on Thursday.

Duke’s 20-game schedule for 2024-25 features two two-game series (home and away) versus its two current partners, North Carolina and Wake Forest. The Blue Devils are 1-2 currently this year against both teams. They also have a home-and-away series with the Miami Hurricanes for next season.

Duke will host California at Cameron Indoor for the first time. The last time the schools played was in 2019 when Duke blew Cal out by 35 points in an 87-52 win in the 2K Empire Classic.

Florida State, NC State, Notre Dame, Pitt, Stanford, and Virginia Tech will all come to Cameron next year. Duke will travel for road games at Boston College, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Louisville, SMU, Syracuse, and Virginia next season.

Duke is 3-1 all-time against SMU in basketball. The Blue Devils’ road trip to SMU is only their second all-time, having played in Dallas on Dec. 8, 1977 – a game which Duke won by 24 points 91-67.

The ACC recently announced that, with the conference expanding to 18 members, only the top 15 teams in the conference will participate in the ACC Tournament next year, which is set to be played March 11-15 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The full schedule will be announced early this fall, equipped with specific game dates, times, and networks.

O’Brien taps talent from Patriots, Florida, and UFL for Boston College

Bill O’Brien aims to revitalize Boston College’s football program, handpicking a diverse coaching staff from the Patriots, Florida, and the United Football League.

As the new head football coach at Boston College, Bill O’Brien is wasting no time putting his imprint on the Eagles’ program. O’Brien, who officially took the helm on Friday, has swiftly moved to assemble a coaching team that promises to bring a fresh perspective and revitalized strategies to Boston College football.

At the core of O’Brien’s inaugural moves is the appointment of Will Lawing as offensive coordinator and Tim Lewis as defensive coordinator, both of whom bring rich backgrounds and proven track records to their respective roles.

Lawing’s journey with O’Brien stretches back to their days at Penn State, creating a coaching synergy that has flourished through stops in Houston, Alabama, and most recently, New England with the Patriots. Lawing’s expertise, particularly with tight ends, has been a hallmark of his coaching career, promising an innovative offensive strategy for the Eagles.

On the defensive side, Tim Lewis, a former NFL cornerback and seasoned defensive coordinator, brings a wealth of NFL and collegiate coaching experience. His tenure includes significant roles with the Steelers, Giants, Seahawks, and 49ers, alongside collegiate positions at SMU and Pitt. Most recently, Lewis showcased his defensive acumen as co-defensive coordinator of the Arlington Renegades in the United Football League, underlining his ability to adapt and excel across different levels of football.

Further bolstering the coaching staff, Jonathan DiBiaso is set to be promoted to quarterbacks coach. DiBiaso’s rich football lineage and coaching stints at various collegiate programs, including his recent role at Boston College, position him as an ideal mentor for the Eagles’ quarterbacks, promising to develop a dynamic and effective passing game under O’Brien’s leadership.

Additionally, O’Brien is reuniting with Craig Fitzgerald, naming him the team’s strength and conditioning coach. Fitzgerald’s departure from Florida to join Boston College underscores the importance of physical conditioning and player development in O’Brien’s vision for the team.

To maintain continuity and build on existing strengths, O’Brien plans to retain Matt Appelbaum (offensive line coach), Darrell Wyatt (wide receivers coach), and Savon Huggins (running backs coach) from the previous coaching staff. This strategic blend of new and returning coaches exemplifies O’Brien’s comprehensive approach to team building, aiming to leverage both fresh insights and established relationships within the program.

Bill O’Brien is reuniting with former Penn State staff members at Boston College

Bill O’Brien has lured a former popular Penn State assistant to Boston College from Florida.

Former Penn State head coach [autotag]Bill O’Brien[/autotag] returned to a role as head coach last week when he was named the new head coach of the Boston College Eagles after a brief stay on the Ohio State coaching staff. As O’Brien works on assembling his staff at Boston College, he is bringing in some familiar faces from his time at Penn State.

One of the first notable names to join O’Brien at Boston College was Craig Fitzgerald as the team’s strength coach. Fitzgerald held the role of Director of Strength and Conditioning in 2012 and 2013 under O’Brien, and he was well respected in that role. Fitzgerald followed O’Brien to the NFL when O’Brien accepted a job to be the head coach of the Houston Texans. Fitxzgeerald spent four seasons with O’Brien and the Texans before returning to the college game to work in the same role for Tennessee in 2018 and 2019. He then returned to the NFL with the New York Giants from 2020 through 2023.

Fitzgerald was announced as Florida‘s Director of Football Performance in December, so his quick move to Boston College is a big hire for O’Brien.

But O’Brien may have some other staff members with ties to his time in Happy Valley.

According to FootballScoop, O’Brien is set to add Will Lawing to the Boston College staff as the offensive coordinator. Lawing has worked with O’Brien with the Texans, Alabama, and the New England Patriots. Lawing started his working relationship with O’Brien as a graduate assistant at Penn State in 2013.

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Is the secret weapon for Duke…Jared McCain’s rebounding?

Jared McCain, a 6-foot-3 freshman guard, has at least 10 rebounds in three of Duke’s last four games, and his effort might be massive in March.

There’s nothing revolutionary in the idea that rebounding is important once the college basketball postseason comes around.

A team needs to win six straight games to cut down the nets, often needing to survive at least one nailbiter in the process. An extra two or three possessions, or stopping the other team from an extra two or three possessions, can be the difference between a trip to the Final Four and an opening weekend exit.

It wouldn’t take a mad scientist to tell you Duke’s best rounder is the 7-foot sophomore Kyle Filipowski. The potential All-American leads the Blue Devils with 8.2 rebounds per game, and the Blue Devils are a top 20 team in the nation in defensive rebounding by KenPom’s metrics.

However, there’s a less expected name who demands attention when you break down Duke’s prowess on the glass, and he might be the difference in the biggest games: freshman Jared McCain.

The 6-foot-3 first-year Blue Devil weighs less than 200 pounds, according to the official team site, so one would be forgiven for overlooking him at first glance. He’s also a sharpshooter, averaging more than 38% from beyond the arc.

However, he’s grabbed at least 10 rebounds in three of Duke’s last four games, including double-doubles against North Carolina and Boston College. He’s finished with double-digit rebounds in five college games so far, and his 4.7 boards per game are the third-most on the team.

Even when you dig into KenPom’s advanced rebounding metrics, McCain’s 15.4% defensive rebounding rate is behind only Filipowski and sophomore Mark Mitchell among Duke players averaging more than 15 minutes per game.

The answer to his production on the glass is simple: effort.

Head coach Jon Scheyer praised McCain’s hustle after Duke’s loss to North Carolina, saying the freshman impressed him with his dedication and routine. If a ball gets tipped out of the paint during a Duke game, there’s a high chance McCain is racing after it a little harder than anyone else.

No, the Blue Devils probably can’t rely upon a 6-foot-3 guard averaging 4.7 rebounds per game as a primary board-getter during March Madness. However, as we discussed off the top, the difference between a win and a loss in the postseason can often come down to a possession or two, and McCain gets one or two more rebounds than most guards his size.

He can’t replace Filipowski if the 7-foot star has a truly off night, but if Duke needs an extra surge to flip a one-score game, the freshman has proven himself to be reliable.

The best photos from Duke’s Saturday win over Boston College

Duke beat Boston College by 15 points in front of a pleased home crowd on Saturday after a second-half surge powered by Mark Mitchell.

The Duke Blue Devils won their second straight game in front of the Durham crowd on Saturday, taking down Boston College for an 80-65 victory at Cameron Indoor.

Boston College ripped off a 14-5 run late in the first half, powered by three straight baskets from guard Jaeden Zackery, to take a one-point lead, but Duke answered with a big run of its own through the halftime break to make sure the Blue Devils faithful left the game happy.

Sophomore Mark Mitchell stole the headlines for the game, with 15 of his 17 points coming after halftime, and he added seven rebounds to his impressive performance. Despite the early hiccup, all five of Duke’s starters finished with at least 10 points in one of the team’s most productive offensive showcases of the year.

Here are the best photos from Saturday’s game.

The five biggest takeaways from Duke’s win over Boston College

The Blue Devils struggled from beyond the 3-point line against Boston College and couldn’t build a big first-half lead, but which of those two things is more worrisome for the future?

The Blue Devils trailed late in the first half against Boston College, but they persevered for a 15-point win that never felt close in the closing minutes.

Sophomore Mark Mitchell led the team with 17 points, and he made multiple 3-pointers for just the second time this season. Freshman Jared McCain had an off day, making just five of his 15 attempts from the floor, but he still finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Boston College is by no means one of the top teams in the ACC, with Saturday being the Eagles’ seventh loss in their last 11 games. However, which side of the coin matters more? Is it the fact that each of Duke’s starters scored 10 or more points, or is it the fact that the first half required some sweaty palms?

Here are the most important takeaways from the Saturday win.

Duke outlasts Boston College despite first-half lull for second straight win

The Blue Devils lost the lead for a minute after a 14-5 Boston College run in the first half, but Duke dominated the rest of the game.

The Blue Devils didn’t have their best day from long range and briefly lost the lead in the first half against Boston College, but Duke pulled through for a comfortable 80-65 home victory.

The game couldn’t have gotten off to a better start for the Blue Devils from a statistical standpoint. Duke outrebounded the Eagles early, jumping out to an early 10-6 lead on the boards and finishing the first half with a 21-15 advantage behind high-motor performances from Mark Mitchell and Jared McCain.

Boston College also made just one of their first 10 3-point attempts, firing up desperation heave after desperation heave in a discombobulated effort.

Even Boston College’s leading scorer, Quinten Post, who came into the game averaging more than 16 points, scored just two in the opening half after not hitting a shot from the floor.

However, the Blue Devils couldn’t put the Eagles away. Star forward Kyle Filipowski made three of his nine first-half attempts, and Duke only led by six points midway through the half despite Boston College’s offensive struggles.

Duke not landing an uppercut early came back to haunt them near the end of the first half when the Eagles went on a 14-5 run to take the lead. They figured out the deep shots weren’t falling, and guard Jaeden Zackery made three consecutive mid-range jump shots to get his team on the board.

The 3-point lid finally came off for Boston College with back-to-back triples a minute later, and Duke head coach Jon Scheyer called a timeout to regroup.

The Blue Devils figured something out during the break, outscoring the Eagles 9-4 over the closing minutes to take a 36-32 lead into the half.

The run continued after the break with Duke scoring the first seven points of the second half, stretching the lead to double-digits for the first time and finally getting some distance between them and the Eagles.

Boston College’s early struggles from beyond the arc were well-detailed, but Duke didn’t fare much better from long-range early on. The Blue Devils made just five of their first 21 3-point attempts for the game despite working in some open looks.

The struggles existed beyond Saturday, though, as Duke is shooting just 31.9% from the 3-point line over the past three games.

However, the form from earlier in the season came back in a big way at the right time. Senior Jeremy Roach drilled one from the corner to stretch the lead to 12, and Mitchell made just his fifth 3-pointer of the year just two possessions later.

Mitchell was outstanding the entire game for the Blue Devils. He made another 3-pointer in the final minute, a rarity for the sophomore, and he finished the game with a team-high 17 points and seven rebounds.

Filipowski and Proctor each made a 3-pointer to keep the run going, and Duke finally looked like the team that led the ACC from beyond the arc through the end of January.

Once their lead became commanding, the Blue Devils coasted for the remainder of the game. All five Duke starters ended the game with at least 10 points, including 16 from Filipowski and Roach each.

McCain finished the game with 11 points and 10 rebounds, his second double-double in the past three games, and Tyrese Proctor also added 10 points.

The victory moves Duke to 18-5 and 9-3 in conference play, within striking distance now that North Carolina has lost two ACC games. They get the chance to keep their momentum with the final game of their home stretch against Wake Forest on Monday.

Scouting Report: Everything you need to know about Boston College ahead of Saturday’s game

Duke takes on Boston College in its second straight home game on Saturday afternoon. Here’s a quick primer on what you need to know about the Eagles before tipoff.

Duke’s home stand continues on Saturday with a second consecutive game in front of the Cameron Indoor crowd, this time against Boston College.

The Blue Devils have won 11 of their 13 games in front of the Durham crowd so far this season, with their losses coming against a top-10 Arizona squad and to Pittsburgh while battling injury.

However, with fewer than 10 games left on the regular-season schedule and a current spot as a No. 4 seed in March Madness (according to the latest Bracketology projections), the time is now to go on a run.

Duke hasn’t seen Boston College yet this season, so here’s a little rundown of what to think about before Saturday’s game tips off.

Boston College officially names Bill O’Brien head coach

Bill O’Brien is taking over a Boston College program coming off a winning season and a bowl victory but faces a big test in 2024.

Former Penn State head coach [autotag]Bill O’Brien[/autotag] is back in the saddle as a head coach for a major college football program. Just over a decade after coaching his final game for the Nittany Lions, O’Brien has officially been named the next head coach of the Boston College football program, keeping him in the New England area after his brief return to the NFL’s New England Patriots this past season.

O’Brien takes over a Boston College football program that just recently lost its former head coach Jeff Hafley to a job as a defensive coordinator on the coaching staff with the Green Bay Packers. O’Brien was lined up to be the offensive coordinator for Ohio State this season but will now take on the head coaching role with the Boston College Eagles.

Boston College is coming off a 7-6 season, its first 7-win season since 2018. The Eagles won the Fenway Bowl in Boston this past season to clinch its first winning season since 2020. O’Brien will be tasked with keeping the Eagles program on the winning side of the margin and hopefully bring the program closer to competing for an ACC title shot. Boston College has not had a top-25 finish since 2007 when Matt Ryan was the quarterback and the Eagles climbed as high as no. 2 in the rankings before national title dreams came shattering down with back-to-back losses to Florida State and Maryland, and ultimately ended with a loss in the ACC Championship Game against Virginia Tech.

O’Brien’s head coaching debut for Boston College will not be an easy one. Boston College is scheduled to open the 2024 season at defending ACC champion Florida State on Monday of Labor Day weekend. O’Brien will also coach the Eagles in non-conference replay at Missouri and home against Michigan State.

O’Brien was named head coach at Penn State in 2012, at which time he took over a program in its darkest days following the unraveling of the Jerry Sandusky scandal. Months later, Penn State was slammed with hefty NCAA sanctions making the job even more difficult for the first-time head coach. But O’Brien kept the program afloat and finished with back-to-back winning records in 2012 and 2013 against most odds.

O’Brien was named the 2012 Paul “Bear” Bryant National Coach of the Year and the George Munger Award winner for Coach of the Year by the Maxwell Football Club following his first season at Penn State.

At this point in time, there are no future matchups lined up between Penn State and Boston College, so we won’t be getting any James Franklin vs. Bill O’Brien battles any time soon barring any potential postseason matchups to come.

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