You are here: Home » Features

2010 Season Football Preview

By Robert Rossi, Managing Editor, on September 3, 2010 8:31 PM

By Robert Rossi, Assoc. Culture Editor -

This Saturday, the Boston College football team kicks off what has the potential to be its best season since the departure of Matt Ryan.   Last year, most experts projected the Eagles to finish near the bottom of the ACC, but the team finished second in the Atlantic Division, only losing out on a spot in the ACC championship game in the last weekend.  BC earned its eleventh straight bowl berth against national powerhouse University of Southern California.  The game marked an interesting contrast between two teams headed in opposite directions, BC on the way up, and USC on its way down.

The 2010 Eagles return without many significant losses on either side of the ball.  The two positions hit hardest by graduation were wide receiver (captain Rich Gunnell and starter Justin Jarvis) and the defensive line (starting defensive ends Austin Giles and Jim Ramella).  Other notable departures include center Matt Tenant, safety Marcellus Bowman, cornerback Roderick Rollins, linebacker Mike McLaughlin, and kicker Steve Aponavicius.

When discussing the returning players, the discussion has to start with 2008 ACC Defensive Player of the Year Mark Herzlich (Sr.).  Diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma in May 2009, Herzlich sat out the 2009 season.  Now cancer-free, Herzlich expects to start BC’s opener against Weber State.  Starting at middle linebacker next to Herzlich is 2009 ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year Luke Kuechly (So.).  After entering the starting lineup due to Herzlich’s absence, Kuechly finished second in the entire FBS in tackles.  The pairing of Kuechly and Herzlich makes BC’s linebacker unit one of the nation’s best.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Eagles return 2009 All-ACC first team left tackle Anthony Castonzo (Sr.) and All-ACC second team running back Montel Harris (Jr.).  Castonzo projects as one of the top offensive linemen selected in the 2011 NFL Draft, while Harris enters the year as BC’s most realistic Heisman hopeful since Matt Ryan in 2007.  Also returning is starting quarterback “Uncle” Dave Shinskie (So.) who in 2009 set BC freshman records for passing yards and touchdowns.  While Shinskie’s performance last season was up-and-down last year to say the least, it is important in evaluating his prospects for 2010 that he was out of football for seven years before last season.  Now with a full year under his belt and coming off a season with more touchdowns thrown than interceptions, Shinskie’s numbers can be expected to improve.  While four of BC’s starting linemen return, the loss of last year’s starting wideouts to graduation coupled with top returning receiver Colin Larmond’s (Jr.) season-ending injury may hurt Shinskie’s ability to improve.

While most experts do not project BC to win the ACC, picking them to make the championship is nowhere near the stretch they would suggest.  The core players from the team that finished second in the division are mostly back, and the addition of Herzlich certainly makes up for those who are not.  The same cannot be said for last year’s Atlantic winner, Clemson.  Florida State, as usual, is the division favorite despite coming off a lackluster season.  With an easier schedule than last year (the Eagles get Virginia Tech, Notre Dame, and Clemson at home this year instead of on the road like 2009), and the lack of any dominant team in the division, BC has no reason not to win the ACC Atlantic Division.  The Coastal Division champion will certainly have come through a tougher road to reach the ACC Championship game, but nobody should be surprised if the Eagles walk away with the ACC crown and their first BCS Bowl berth.

SCHEDULE (ACC games in BOLD)

All times after 9/11 TBD:

9/4     vs. Weber State    1:00 PM

9/11   vs. Kent State        3:30 PM

9/25   vs. Virginia Tech

10/2   vs. Notre Dame

10/9   @  North Carolina State

10/16 @ Florida State

10/23 vs. Maryland

10/30 vs. Clemson

11/6    @ Wake Forest

11/13  @ Duke

11/20  vs. Virginia

11/27  @ Syracuse