Go ahead, gimme one good reason: One good reason why your team is better than all the rest. One good reason why your team will win this season’s ACC title game. One good reason why your team will get back to a bowl game.
Or, you can wait for me to give it to you.
I’m a neutral reporter, though, so I see both sides of the story -- why your team will win, and of course, why it won’t. Let the series begin today with one good reason why …
Boston College will get back to a bowl game: Only Florida State has more returning starting experience.
The Eagles return 17 starters, including a two-year starter at quarterback in Chase Rettig. It’s not like coach Frank Spaziani doesn’t have anything to work with. This is not a rebuilding year for the roster. It’s a group of hard-working players who are disappointed with the direction of the program, and are willing to do their best to turn it around.
Nine starters return on offense, including four on the offensive line. What was a major question mark at this time a year ago should now be a strength for BC’s offense. First-year offensive coordinator Doug Martin said the offensive line should be one of the most improved groups. Even without running back Montel Harris, the Eagles have depth at the position. The biggest question is, who will emerge as a dependable wide receiver? Defensively, the Eagles have big shoes to fill after the early, but expected, departure of linebacker Luke Kuechly, but there is still plenty of talent at linebacker. Also, the defensive linemen gained valuable experience last season, and should be better at stopping the run.
Why it won’t: There has been too much turnover at the offensive coordinator position, plain and simple.
Martin will be the Eagles’ fifth offensive coordinator in five seasons, as BC has replaced Steve Logan (2008), Gary Tranquill (2009-10), and Kevin Rogers and Dave Brock (2011). The players have had to adjust to yet another personality, philosophy, scheme and terminology. How much better would Rettig have been, or how much more rapid would his growth have been had he continued to progress in the same system? The entire offensive staff got a shakeup this offseason, as four of the five assistants from last season are gone. Some have wondered whether or not Spaziani is an effective staff manager. He has maintained that Rogers took a leave of absence for health reasons, and the others left for better opportunities. All that matters this season is that everyone works together well enough to win, but even the players know staff stability counts for something.