[UPDATED] DEFINITIVE SUPERFAN SHIRT SLOGANS, RANKED

With the first orientation in the books, it's official: we know the Superfan Slogan for the Class of 2020 (PS, that hurt to type)

Fire in our hearts. Greatness in our sight. (2020)

As always, it is time to turn back to the rankings to slot our new slogan into the lineup - this marking the 19th slogan for those counting at home. As an important point, the first slogan with a class designation was handed out in 1999 to the class of 2003 (Go Eagles!) - Whatever it Takes was the original bookstore handout, not a class designee.

This one...didn't sit too well. Alas.

Further as always, these rankings are not up for discussion.

1. Fly Like an Eagle (2006)
2. Eagles on the Warpath (2004) 
3. Go Eagles (2003)
4. Soaring to Glory (2008)
5. Take it to the Heights (2007)
6. Ever Rising to New Heights (2018)
7. Carry the Torch. Light the Way. (2017)
8. Whatever It Takes (N/A)
9. Always Believe in BC (2005)
10. Many Hearts, One Tradition (2016)
11. Together We Are More (2019)
12. Eagles Take Action (2010)
13. Building Character, Becoming Champions (2015)
14. Talons of Fury...Get Ready (2009)
15. On the Hunt for Excellence (2012) 
16. Fire in our hearts. Greatness in our sight. (2020)
17. Ignite the Heights With Spirit and Truth (2014)
18. For Here All Are One (2011)
19. Honoring the Legacy, Pursuing Greatness, the Sesquicentennial Class of 2013 (2013)

THE PRODUCERS THEORY

You've read the Globe piece; if you're here, I'm assuming we've all read the Globe piece. I don't even have to link to it.

There have been follow-ups, there have been additional stories or stats or the whatnot. Here are the fundamental truths.

• BC going to the ACC was the best decision for the school, and even as bad as things are right now, the ACC would probably still make that move. VT regionally made sense, Miami was a brand - but BC was the first domino in putting revenue ahead of logic. Sorry Syracuse and UConn, but there is a reason BC was courted.
• Subpoint - An abysmal Rutgers program going to the Big Ten amid a dying Big East; the market mattered too much whether or not the product was worth it. Again, suck it UConn.
• BC started strong in its first few years, and it's easy to applaud TOB, Skinner or Jags (pick your favorite), but the fact is that luck played a big part. 
• BC's Matt Ryan TOB/Jag years involved so many golden horseshoe moments that BC has regularly lost in the last three or four seasons (The Kiwi-UVA game; Wake in the rain; VT; Clemson) - think of any missed field goal/last drive losses BC had in football since 2012. Cry into your Busch Light - there's at least 7 or 8 wins, including a bowl game, in that ballpark.
• Skinner had some rough late years but had as many successes as failures in his recruits, keeping them from a tourney victory since 2007 (RJax never got the chance because the committee is annoying)
• The conference bounced back - FSU came back, most notably - and Duke/UNC are now joined by Cuse, ND and Louisville in hoops. Where did people think wins would come from?

And now the big one, from my eyes:

The Administration realized that it could make as much (more?) money losing than being competitive. 

They are pulling a Producers. The safe choices - and no matter how much I personally like some of them as people - aren't aggressive enough to indicate momentum. The "Plan" for the new facilities? Long off and far from funded. The cut of the conference revenue sharing from bowls and TV is the same whether or not you post a W. It's not a scam, it's a reality.

The only solution is a new direction and that isn't going to happen because of some spilled ink. We find out more in the days, weeks, months. I'll go on the record with an early 8-4 prediction for football - they will be better, but luck has to bounce back, too. Until then, it's just a long winter as it's springtime for just about everyone else.

SUPERFAN SLOGAN UPDATE, V18

Look at all the baby Eagles! #BC2019 #FYE #Orientation

A photo posted by Anna Colonna (@annacolanna) on Jun 9, 2015 at 1:03pm PDT

With the first orientation in the books, it's official: we know the Superfan Slogan for the Class of 2019

TOGETHER 
WE ARE MORE 

As always, it is time to turn back to the rankings to slot our new slogan into the lineup - this marking the 18th slogan for those counting at home. As an important point, the first slogan with a class designation was handed out in 1999 to the class of 2003 (Go Eagles!) - Whatever it Takes was the original bookstore handout, not a class designee.

We are still a few years away from a second generation of Superfans. Updates as necessary.

Further as always, these rankings are not up for discussion.

1. Fly Like an Eagle (2006)
2. Eagles on the Warpath (2004) 
3. Go Eagles (2003)
4. Soaring to Glory (2008)
5. Take it to the Heights (2007)
6. Ever Rising to New Heights (2018)
7. Carry the Torch. Light the Way. (2017)
8. Whatever It Takes (N/A)
9. Always Believe in BC (2005)
10. Many Hearts, One Tradition (2016)
11. Together We Are More (2019)
12. Eagles Take Action (2010)
13. Building Character, Becoming Champions (2015)
14. Talons of Fury...Get Ready (2009)
15. On the Hunt for Excellence (2012) 
16. Ignite the Heights With Spirit and Truth (2014)
17. For Here All Are One (2011)
18. Honoring the Legacy, Pursuing Greatness, the Sesquicentennial Class of 2013 (2013)

No, they aren't getting better, I'm just getting nicer in old age. I do like the line up with the 2007 slogan, though.

SUPERFAN SLOGAN UPDATE, V17

With the first orientation in the books, it's official: we know the Superfan Slogan for the Class of 2018

Ever Rising to New Heights

As always, it is time to turn back to the rankings to slot our new slogan into the lineup - this marking the 17th slogan for those counting at home. As an important point, the first slogan with a class designation was handed out in 1999 to the class of 2003 (Go Eagles!) - Whatever it Takes was the original bookstore handout, not a class designee.

By the nature of the math, we are, at the earliest, five to seven years away from Superfan generation two  (a 2003 grad is still quite a few years from unloading an 18-year-old from his nest to the Heights').

Further as always, these rankings are not up for discussion.

1. Fly Like an Eagle (2006)
2. Eagles on the Warpath (2004) 
3. Go Eagles (2003)
4. Soaring to Glory (2008)
5. Take it to the Heights (2007)
6. Ever Rising to New Heights (2018)
7. Carry the Torch. Light the Way. (2017)
8. Whatever It Takes (N/A)
9. Always Believe in BC (2005)
10. Many Hearts, One Tradition (2016)
11. Eagles Take Action (2010)
12. Building Character, Becoming Champions (2015)
13. Talons of Fury...Get Ready (2009)
14. On the Hunt for Excellence (2012) 
15. Ignite the Heights With Spirit and Truth (2014)
16. For Here All Are One (2011)
17. Honoring the Legacy, Pursuing Greatness, the Sesquicentennial Class of 2013 (2013)

No, they aren't getting better, I'm just getting nicer in old age. I do like the line up with the 2007 slogan, though.

BATES IS ONE OF US

It's only been 18 months or so, but I've started to give Brad Bates a lot of leash. Maybe it's because he doesn't spend his time buried away in offices an luxury boxes. His predecessor did a lot of good for BC, let's not completely wipe that all under the rug, but much of it was around handshakes for big wigs. 

My favorite moment to date was this weekend - at the Race to Educate 5k (a benefit for St. Columbkille down in Brighton), the host was looking for Bates to be an official starter and say some words. He walks up, lets the guy know he's running with the crowd so he can't and to let someone else do it.

He's no slouch either - clocked in just around 25 minutes.

Look up during that event, too, and you'll see lots of other faces from the department. Student-Athletes lined the course as traffic drivers and water stations; several more ran; Jim Christian was on the sidelines looming over the start. This was a department effort to support something far from campus and it was definitely appreciated.

BC's relationship with St. Columbkille is an important one that doesn't get a lot of attention. Make sure to read up on that, too.

SIX DEGREES OF RUSSELL WILSON

Remember this:

• If TOB never lost to Miami in 2006 with Matt Ryan...
• ...he never would have finally met his match to GDF and bolted for NC State...
• ...where he never would have tagged Mike Glennon as "the best quarterback he's ever had"...
• ...which may never have put a chip on Russell Wilson's shoulder to stay in football and transfer to Wisconsin...
• ...which provided him with just enough of an explosive year that a team was willing to take a flyer on him to play football.

Tom O'Brien breeds Super Bowl Quaterbacks...kind of.

MURPHY'S LAW

It's easy to like the Murphy transfer because of the QB situation. I'm much more optimistic about what it means for the years beyond in Darius Wade et al's careers.

Next year was looking bleak, with about a 6-win ceiling based on the schedule really no matter what happens. A few more pieces in the offense helps, sure, make that target possible. More importantly, though, Murphy sets us up for the future.

It's a combination of a more balanced quarterback option with a style-back, and an Offensive Line needing to learn a little bit more mobility than just "make room for Williams". This move will help Wade, Willis, Outlow and more in the years to come because it will transition us a year early.

Bornder? With a grand total of 8 pass attempts and 24 rushes in three seasons, the guy who's completion percentage goes up by 12.5 % if you factor in ones caught by other teams, well, we hardly even knew 'em.

NEWEST FIREABLE OFFENSE: INABILITY TO DRAW EAGLE

Who do you want? Guy who can't draw mascot or GUY WHO WAS THE MASCOT?

[via.]

THE FIRST SCOOP OF DIRT ON THE BCS

In case you are wondering, having a clear #1 and #2 play each other for a title, plus four other name-brand games (except UCF, but whatever) is actually exactly what we should have (and smaller schools had their chances and missed them, looking at you NIU and Fresno).

This year is also the perfect example of how getting the next two in for a playoff will be next to impossible. I count three or four teams who could lay claim to those last two spots, and any of them could beat Auburn or Florida State in any given game. Oh yeah, but no more polls and math and computers, you're putting it up to a committee to decide who they'll be. That's limited access.

To paraphrase a former president, you're getting what you wanted, but you won't have the BCS to kick around anymore.

RECKLESS SCHEDULING 2014: v 1.0

While we're waiting for our bowl destination (Shreveport or Dallas seem to be the most likely), let's get our hands dirty around the 2014 schedule since the news of a 7th home game with Colorado State was announced Friday.

Non-Conference Home Games:
USC (9/13), Colorado State (9/27*), Maine (TBD)
*This fills the Parent's Weekend slot, which is fantastic given it's a way to sell tickets and, due to lack of TV interest, will likely be a 1 or 2 p.m. game.

Non-Conference "Away" Game:
@UMass (at Gillette)

ACC Home Games:
Clemson, Pitt, Syracuse, Louisville**
**Likely - this assumes they jump right into the Maryland slot

ACC Away Games
Florida State, Wake Forest, NC State, Virginia Tech

Other Considerations
-Games begin in August and there are five Saturdays in November, so that means two bye weeks.
-BC will again get at least one Friday game, likely at home

Here's the template, based on what is known:

8/30 - @UMass
9/6 - ___
9/13 - USC
9/20 - ___
9/27 - Colorado State
10/4 - ___
10/11 - ___
10/18 - ___
10/25 - ___
11/1 - ___
11/8 - ___
11/15 - ___
11/22 - ___
11/29 - ___

First assumptions
-I'll all but guarantee that BC-Syracuse is going to be Thanksgiving, and I anticipate that being a permanent fixture moving forward. This could also be a flex Friday game, which I think would be better for non-area alums given the holiday, as opposed to the mid-fall Friday.
-Pitt is likely to play in Boston in November; between the full roster of OOC games Pitt has booked in September and that the ACC may try to keep cold weather from being a factor for as few teams as possible, it lines up
-I could see BC pushing for a bye week on the 6th, between the UMass and USC games; that will be about the latest BC started at home in recent memory, but I think the alternative (adding Maine and then taking a bye week or a road trip south and not getting a bye until October) will be less favorable for the team and the administration
-When in Boston, BC/Clemson has often been around late October, except for 2012 when it was the last week of September. Since that weekend is booked, let's stick with that late October logic.
-BC/Florida State will again be early in the schedule (they won't be getting BC as their ACC final the week before Florida, trust me). BC won't want it right after USC, but it won't get much later than mid-October

8/30 - @UMass
9/6 - BYE
9/13 - USC
9/20 - ___
9/27 - Colorado State
10/4 - @Florida State
10/11 - ___
10/18 - ___
10/25 - Clemson
11/1 - ___
11/8 - ___
11/15 - Pittsburgh
11/22 - ___
11/28 or 11/29 - Syracuse 

Bigger Leaps
-BC and Maryland seem to have always lined up in November, but I don't know if that will happen with Louisville - travel really was probably a factor (putting closer, northern teams when travel was potentially rough). We also have a conundrum - BC needs a home ACC game in September, otherwise they don't have one until the end of October. Louisville is booked on the 20th, so let's flip the Bye
-Who's excited for a late season FCS game? That just be how it works out, like it did with New Mexico State this year (yeah, I know, NMSU is FBS, but you see my point). Let's try this all on for size:

8/30 - @UMass
9/6 - Louisville
9/13 - USC
9/20 - BYE
9/27 - Colorado State
10/4 - @Florida State
10/11 - @Wake
10/18 - BYE
10/25 - Clemson
11/1 - @Virginia Tech
11/8 - Maine
11/15 - Pittsburgh
11/22 - @NC State
11/28 or 11/29 - Syracuse 

I'd like to remind you, this is almost completely conjecture. But a ton of fun. The worst part of this schedule has to be how it starts - after UMass, you have some pretty stiff competition. No matter the order, though, you look at that schedule as 6-6 with some of those road games. Bring on 2014.

LAST STUDENTS STANDING

We don't need to talk about the game. Given the fact that a three point loss to Toledo, at home, while letting up over 90 points is guaranteed to keep us out of the tournament, you can go ahead and ignore basketball for the season.

We do need to talk about the Student Flight, the negative repercussion of the Gold Pass system.

With three minutes to go in the first half:

With less than two minutes to go in the second half:

So, how do you fix the system to punish drop-ins? I mean, sure, I guess it's better than complete no shows...but all this traipsing through Conte just for Syracuse tickets?

GOLD SET ON THIS KID

Freshmen goalie? It takes a pretty solid set to walk in, without the starting job, and hold yourself to the standard of four trophy winning goalies. Thatcher Demko doesn't care...to the point that he's got a target painted clearly for his goal. The great story of this kid is over at the Heights.

CONGRESS PASSES SPAZ AS ENEMY #1

I love three things in this world.

College football.
Tailgating.
Being an alum of Boston College.

If the shut down costs me this Homecoming weekend, I will have a beautifully angering time rexamining my life's priorities.

PETA PUN COUNT

Like moths to a flame, this PETA-against-Eagle thing is just too much for reporters to handle in the pun department. That said, I would like to score the following posts based on their creativity or Boggle-skills on non-repeats.

Sam Gardner, Fox Sports
Buzz: PETA ruffled over BC eagle
Pun Count: 7
Biggest Crime: The literal spelling of "ill-eagle", like all of a sudden now he's aware of these horrible puns.

Galen Moore, Boston Business Journal
PETA vs. Boston College in flap over eagle mascot
Pun Count: 2
Biggest Crime: Small sample size, so we're going with the headline usage of "flap"

Metro Desk, Boston Globe
PETA in flap over BC’s eagle mascot
Pun Count: 4
Biggest Crime: Calling attendance at Alumni Stadium "Cruel and Unusual". Spaz is gone, guys.

Overall
"Flap" and "Ruffling" were used far too often, gang. Get it together.

[INSERT BC USC NEWS]

See y'all in Southern California!

(Pic via Romenesko)

WEEK OF WHISPERS

USC lost at home to Washington State, gaining less yards on offense total than Andre Williams put up against Wake Forest. 

We may have something awesome on our hands this weekend, friends. And even having a *chance* is a victory that I'm willing to take as the excitement builds for a cross-country aventure.

THAT'S WHY YOU ALWAYS TAKE THE POINTS

The BC-Wake game last night was the exact type of snoozer I like. Defensive, clock chugging and the offensive line making ball control the game. I missed not hating my team and, you know what, if you get 200 yards running mainly up the middle? Eat it, Addazio haters, it works.

But it worked for really one important reason: Jim Grobe over coached the end of the first half. BC was in a miraculous position because Wake wasted the opening kick-off when BC broke up the pitch and Amidon went house on a beautiful screen play. When the Deacons blocked the punt as the clock was getting narrower and narrower in the second quarter, it seemed that the lead may get cut and BC wouldn't be comfortable in the new half, momentum swinging with it.

...but then Grobe calls his last time out of the first after second down on the one yard line, with 17 seconds to go before halftime. Too much time to kick the field goal on third, it was pointed out that the Deacons were lining up to pass and make a play for the end zone twice in the next two plays. Tanner Price misses Jared Crump, BC stuffs Wake on fourth down and not only maintains the 10 point lead, but started on the ball in the second.

When it's a two score game and you don't get the ball, you go to keep it close. Any momentum chip could have been huge there but Grobe made an error that really solidified the direction of the game. It gave BC's defense additional confidence, and a unit that needed some came out with even more fire in the second half. How about this for a stat: Wake Forest total offense in the third quarter was 12 plays, 20 yards, 7 minutes and change on the clock, two punts. 

Let's keep praising the defense, but remember that Grobe's mistake will be bigger than we remember. He's no Lane Kiffin, either.

HEIGHTS PREVIEW: SHOWING UP FOR FOOTBALL AGAIN

Earlier this week in our Lows preview, we kind of gave a glimpse of where we think things would net out. The question isn't just the wins and losses in the Lows preview, it's about the future of what happens in the worst case scenario. Maybe that chalks this entire season up to Moral Losses and Victories, but that's actually ok given that emotion is better than apathy.

Fact is, for the final record in the Heights Preview before you, we're still looking at the games the same way. There are the wins, the potential, the surprises and the yes-if-I've-been-drinking-heavily:

Those four potential wins, could each of them end up in the positive? Absolutely. I have no doubt that the seniors on offense could win one of those games on their own, and other role players stepping up in various ways are why I consider those four games lean-wins.

Could we compound on that and beat VT and UNC and go 9-3? If every bounce goes our way, it isn't ridiculous. Yes, we'd need a lot of luck multiple times over to make it happen. But, if we can win in Chapel Hill, I don't think this coach is the anti-motivator that we're used to that would put us at risk in College Park or Raleigh. Could we knock off VT at home late in the season? We know that they are at injury risk, and if the team puts it together with momentum, maybe, just maybe, the season ends and all of those Ws go the right way. We're bowling, and because we're BC, we won't be bowling in style - but, heck son, you got a present and it isn't coal.

But here's the real top of the Heights for the 2013 BC football season: the overall joy of BC football returning and surpassing anything we've grown used to. Yes, file this in "it doesn't matter" and click close on the tab and walk away and say we're not blogging about sports. 

If you're still with me, let's talk about that other stuff and why it matters for the success of the season. Crazy jerseys are going to probably happen, because Under Armour still has a business. Live Eagles are bad ass and induce capital letters in writing about them. The legacy of the school now joining into the Eagle Walk is effin' brilliant. Hospitality tents may take business away from Cleveland Circle bars while putting more people on campus to have that last beer before they wander in to see said Eagle. Homecoming is an actual coming home for alumni (holy crap, what a concept). 

This is the stuff Bates asked us if we wanted, and it couldn't matter more. Just like the gamble of Addazio, his recruits, and more, these ideas need to work or else we're really in trouble. If they are embraced, it will mean the ultimate Moral Victory - that Saturdays at Chestnut Hill are special.

Yeah, wins will, too. Sure. No one wants to celebrate a loss, as the wise Van Wilder said. But the best case scenario this year isn't just 9-3. It's 9-3 and a list of people who want season tickets for the 2014 season...which just so happens to be the single greatest home schedule that I think BC could ask for that doesn't include Notre Dame (reminder, in 2014, BC will be hosting USC, old Big East rivals Pitt and Syracuse, Clemson, likely 2013 BCS team Louisville, local 1AA URI and has a nearby tilt at Gilette with UMass).

If these gameday improvements work to get people enjoying campus...

If we generally have a good time rooting for this team again because they are showing they care...

If bloggers like us aren't existential about empty bleachers as the NC State game ends...

Those things will signal success, because only then will we know that we've achieved an amazing turnaround that will never be reflected in the fact that we'll double or triple our win total from last year. 

UNI WATCH SENDS US BACK TO THE BIG EAST

Just the screen shot for you here before the post gets updated.

I thought there were changes with the TV numbers, but looks like they are just about the same. Can't tell any sizing from the two pictures, but you can see the ACC patch in the new jersey .

Last year:

This year:

LOWS PREVIEW: WHAT IF IT DOESN'T GET BETTER

As we've done the last few years, we get ready to rock with two previews on the year - a Heights and a Lows preview. We're going to start with the latter because it's easier and then we get to have happy thoughts later in the week.

Outside of Chestnut Hill, this is probably the standard mindset, though. We weren't good last year. We gained some experience but still are very thin, especially when you go down the two deep. There are obvious changes in style coming, and when you think about defensive schemes, what we didn't do last year (get any pressure on any QB whatsoever) wasn't just coaching.

Thinking about the schedule, here's how it breaks down, in my mind:

Things do start easy, at least until the west coast gets involved. Even in worst case scenarios, this team isn't likely to lose to Villanova, but I could see the short turnaround (even early in the year after a light opponent) tripping up the team. That's why I keep WF in the Potential category and not in a likely scenario.

There are some predictions that involve the USC game as a win in the ultimate scenario. I just don't see how. Teams that can score worry me, especially if it's over the top and we can't get pressure on a QB. I don't think that Nova or Wake will offer a real test to see if our DLine has improved enough to get that pressure on. September ends with a beat down by Florida State, we're either 2-2 or 1-3, and October looks grim. Yes, Army comes back, but we know that the one win won't help much as we think about UNC, Clemson and an early November game with VT.

When the schedule opens back up to less challenging opponents for the last four weeks of the season, it just may take all four wins - three road games to boot - to make a bowl. In the worst case scenario, we win in Las Cruces and maybe make things close in Syracuse or Maryland. 3-9 is the bottom, and the only thing we can hang our hat on is that we did one win better than the year before and Addazio is facing a huge depth gap with the departure of the seniors from key offense positions.

Then I'm really depressed because we're talking about a still not-so-promising 2014. Which shouldn't be a year that exists anyway, let alone one I have to worry about again when it comes to BC Football.