The Top 5 Worst Boston College Sports Moments of 2014

2014 Top 5 Worst Boston College Sports Moments — #1

Boston College football collapses in Pinstripe Bowl against Penn State; December 27

We had to wait all year to get our worst moment, but here it is. In this case, the dream became a nightmare.

The Pinstripe Bowl was the one the fans wanted, and despite the protestations of a minority, the Boston College Eagles were well enough represented at Yankee Stadium. Penn Staters swallowed up most of the non-allotment tickets, but it was not an embarrassing showing by the fans.

Unfortunately, the game turned out that way on the field.

The atmosphere and ebb and flow of the game really were remarkable, and that’s why it is difficult to make this the number one worst moment, but what should have been a joyous ending to a better-than-expected season turned into the most brutal, hard-to-swallow loss of the year.

The Eagles played a tough defensive game in the first half, though not without some shakiness here and there. Manny Asprilla got torched for a 72-yard touchdown pass, but the offense got it right back and the game re-tied at 7-7.

So it would remain for the rest of the first half, though Tyler Murphy missed on at least one pass that would have been a sure touchdown.

Things began to look up for the Eagles, who took a 21-7 lead on two third-quarter touchdowns. Penn State was moving the football much more effectively than their offensive season statistics would make us believe they should, but a few fumbles here and there and Boston College was in position to lock it down on defense and preserve a hard-fought win.

Immediately after the Eagles went ahead by 14, the Nittany Lions rocketed down field and scored a touchdown to make it 21-14 as time expired in the third. They were aided by a BC facemask penalty after a 32-yard pass play, moving them inside the red zone.

The Eagles went nowhere on their next drive, thanks largely to a holding call. They did nothing on the drive after that, either, but Penn State tied the game with 6:48 to play after getting good field position.

Boston College Eagles

Boston College would tack on a field goal with 2:10 left, but the Eagles left way too much time for the Nittany Lions as a result of poor clock management. Penn State tied the game and sent it to overtime.

Then, the crowning achievement of suck: in a season where Boston College was the worst team in the nation in regards to missing extra points, Mike Knoll shanked a PAT after the go-ahead touchdown in overtime. Predictably, the defense folded and Penn State won, 31-30.

Fairly or not, Knoll’s kick will be the only thing this game is remembered for, but the defense played a horrible game and Addazio’s coaching staff got their lunches handed to them by James Franklin and company.

The atmosphere may have been great, but the joy turned to bitterness following an embarrassing collapse. It might take this fanbase a little while to get over that one.