Last night, Eagles fans were treated to an ACC Championship Game between two teams that are now light year's ahead of Boston College football. The Clemson Tigers throttled the Virginia Tech Hokies 38-10 to capture the program's first ACC title since 1991.
Sophomore quarterback Tahj Boyd -- who was recruited by BC under Jagodzinski -- threw three TD passes and rushed for a fourth as the 20th ranked Tigers upset the Hokies and won the program's first ACC Championship Game.
Clemson becomes the third Atlantic Division team to capture an ACC football championship in the last seven seasons, joining Florida State (2005) and Wake Forest (2006). Watching last night's game, you couldn't help but reflect on how far Boston College has fallen in the three seasons since the program made back-to-back ACC Championship Game appearances.
As Myerberg pointed out this week, if the Eagles were a step ahead of the rest of the division in 2007 and 2008, it's clear BC is now at least one step behind. So long as Clemson retains the services of offensive coordinator Chad Morris, the Tigers aren't going anywhere in the Atlantic Division race. If it wasn't abundantly clear last night, Clemson's rise from 6-7 a year ago to ACC champion is Exhibit A as to how valuable a hot shot offensive coordinator can be for a program. Compare Clemson's pick up of Morris to BC's offensive coordinator situation the last three seasons. BC will enter next season on its third (or fourth) offensive coordinator in the last three seasons, after having been subjected to two years of Gary Tranquill, two games of Kevin Rogers and the rest with tight end coach / interim OC Dave Brock.
Further, the Tigers' offensive weapons are mostly underclassmen. Running back Andre Ellington (20 rushes for 125 yards and a TD last night) and tight end Dwayne Allen (2 catches, 2 touchdowns) are juniors. QB Tajh Boyd (20-of-29, 240 yards, 3 TDs) just a sophomore and wide receiver Sammy Watkins just a freshman. Facing the Tigers' offense under Morris is more than a scary proposition for the Eagles in the short-term.
Florida State should also be a worry. Despite setbacks against Wake Forest, Virginia and Clemson this year, you have to figure Jimbo Fisher and the Seminoles will continue to improve. Wake Forest continues to do more with less under Jim Grobe and N.C. State has the potential to disrupt the balance of power in the Atlantic with a new coach. Which leaves us with Maryland, where coach Randy Edsall has temporarily turned his "dream job"
into a nightmare, and Boston College.
One can't help but wonder what the plan is here for Boston College. Are we supposed to accept watching this program sit idle while the rest of the Atlantic Division passes the Eagles by in terms of recruiting, facilities, coaching, wins, conference titles and fan support? (I'm willing to bet all Clemson fans were seated last night prior to kickoff).
What, exactly, is the plan that leads GDF to believe the future is "very, very bright"
for this program?
Next season is "put up or shut up"
time. No more lame excuses. Our A.D. can antagonize the fan base all he wants, but if next season doesn't come with an increased win total and a challenge to both Clemson and Florida State for the division title, then the school absolutely must clean house with the football program. And this statement goes well beyond the current coaching staff.
Last night was proof positive that you can go from sub .500 to ACC champ faster than you can say "Chad Morris." But BC simply is not going to get there so long as the A.D. keeps our underachieving coaching staff around just because they are his boys.
