Linked to the Heights, June 14: More BC Football Previews
By Joe Micik
One of the rites of passage of the college football offseason is shredding apart Boston College previews from the outside. Such is the case again today.
Boston College Football
• Rant Sports College Football Rankings: No. 72 Boston College Eagles (Rant Sports, Michael Briggs)
This Boston College football preview from Rant Sports on Friday is better than the one we found from Sports Chat Place yesterday.
Overall, the evaluation is fair. Like the other previews, including the Paul Myerberg piece from Thursday, this one makes note of the losses of key players from the 2013 squad, including Andre Williams.
Unlike the second preview we evaluated yesterday, this one does not write the Eagles off as having “no quarterback.”
"QB Chase Rettig is gone, but the Eagles don’t appear to look too much worse for wear thanks to Florida Gators transfer Tyler Murphy, who does not have the same deep-ball ability as his predecessor, but should make up for it as an open-field threat (39 rushes for 248 yards in 2013). Murphy does not have a ton of experience, but did start six games for the Gators in the SEC last season. He will be a fine player given Boston College is not looking to operate through the passing game, anyway."
That’s an acceptable position to take. It does not diminish the fact that there will be change for Boston College, but it acknowledges that Murphy brings other things to the table which Rettig could not do. These things, by the way, are much more in line with Steve Addazio’s offensive system.
What looks peculiar is this:
"Toughest Games: Sept. 5 vs. Pittsburgh, Sept. 13 vs. USC, Oct. 18 vs. Clemson, Nov. 1 at Virginia Tech and Nov. 22 at Florida State."
Pittsburgh does not really belong in the same group as those teams but the rest of the piece is not that far off from reality. Good job.
• Arizona adds commitment, Utah loses a transfer: Pac-12 roundup (The Oregonian, Aaron Kasinitz)
Only a brief blurb here, but defensive back Sammy Morrison committed to Arizona this past week. He held an offer from Boston College.
Boston College Hockey
• UNH hockey will open 2014 at Union (WMUR)
Another little blurb, but filling in the blanks on the upcoming hockey schedule, Boston College hockey will play a home-and-home with New Hampshire on December 5 and 6.