External Coaching Candidates? and the Big Finish

Brian: DeFilippo said Wednesday BC will consider internal and "at least two" external candidates to replace Jagodzinski.

You are Gene DeFilippo for a day. Lots of external candidates' names have been dropped recently:

• Florida Defensive Coordinator Charlie Strong ...
• Florida Offensive Coordinator Steve Addazio ...
• Connecticut Head Coach Randy Edsall ...
• Richmond Head Coach Mike London ...
• Oklahoma Co-Offensive Coordinator & Receivers Coach Jay Norvell ...
• Penn State Defensive Coordinator Tom Bradley ...
• Cincinnati Head Coach Brian Kelly (dissed)

Say you only get to interview two external candidates. Who you interviewing? Who is returning your calls?

Jeff: First of all, who wouldn't return my phone calls? BC is the only job out there now since every else has filled their vacancies. Sure Brian Kelly just told some reporters in Cincinnatti that he is not interested but he is just playing the game. If BC calls, he'll listen.

If I am king for the day though, I'm calling Charlie Strong to make a big splash hire and Mike London from Richmond to get who might be the next hot coach in Division I-A once he does land a job somewhere.

Brian: Boston College is in a pretty tenuous position and doesn't want to be perceived as meddling with current head coaches still under contract. Because, you know, we just fired a coach because he didn't want to honor the remaining years on his contract. We can't have it both ways in fear of getting slammed by the national media. If the school calls, will every candidate listen? Maybe. But answering the phone has to be a turnoff for some candidates given what Jagodzinski just went through.

For better or worse, this now all appears to be a moot point, as Blaudschun seems to suggest that Spaziani's "interim" head coach title will be lifted in the next few days.


Big Finish

Jeff: Here is the official announcement from the school regarding Herzlich's return for his senior season. "Herzlich for Butkus" shirts next year?

Brian: Absolutely. Given that the other award finalists - Curry, Laurinaitis, Maualuga and Cushing - are all coming out, Herzlich should be on next year's preseason short list for the award.


Brian: Oday Aboushi, the 6'6" offensive tackle from Brooklyn (NY) Xaverian, who last year decommitted from Boston College, has just given a solid verbal commitment to Virginia. Your thoughts?

Jeff: BC had a good recruiting class last year by our standards. Very good. If recruiting turns out to be as unexciting as it might be, that's ok. We'll bounce back next year.


Jeff: "What BC needs in football is the equivalent of [BC hockey coach] Jerry York," one source close to the program said. "And Frank Spaziani would be that guy." Your thoughts?

Brian: As committed as Jerry York, absolutely. Will he enjoy the same amount of success as Jerry York? Highly doubtful.


Brian: Mark Herzlich's NFL evaluation had him going in the second round while others had him as a late first rounder. Had Herzlich jumped, which one would it have been?

Jeff: I think he would've fallen to the second round because so many Juniors have declared for the NFL draft this year. He is going to be a decent NFL player, but I don't see him as a can't miss first rounder right now.


Jeff: The hockey team gets back into Hockey East play with a televised game at Vermont tonight. Are you going to be able to watch and what can we expect to see from the Eagles during this second half of the season?

Brian: I won't be able to watch the game (as it's on NESN), but fetch over at the College Hockey blog predicts a weekend split. Sounds about right.

Here's what I expect from the Eagles the second half of the sesason. Call it my 2009 Eagles hockey wish list, if you will:

1. Brock Bradford = Hobey Baker Award winner (agree with this blogger that Bradford is one of the top three front-runners)
2. Hockey East tournament championship (that other Boston school can have the Beanpot; we'll win the one that counts)
3. Frozen Four berth (and two tickets to the finals in Washington D.C.)


Brian: Last one, men's hoops faces Miami (FL) at home this weekend. Do the Eagles rebound from their 82-70 loss to Harvard?

Jeff: Absolutely! Remember how many times we lost to inferior opponents the week before and the week after the Notre Dame game in football? Same thing happens in basketball and we'll be fine.