Syracuse Football: Initial game analysis for Boston College game

Paul A. Esden Sr. provides the initial game analysis for the regular season finale between the Syracuse football squad and Boston College.

The final game of the 2018 Syracuse Orange Campaign is against the Boston College Eagles. This is a schedule tradition as we have played the Eagles on the Saturday following Thanksgiving as long as I have been following the Orange.

In the past I have delved into questionable mascots (Tar Heel, Demon Deacon, Cardinal) but this time let’s understand how the Eagle became the mascot of BC:

"“The nickname “Eagles” goes back to 1920 when Rev. Edward McLaughlin, unhappy at seeing a newspaper cartoon which represented Boston College as a cat after a track victory, wrote to the college newspaper The Heights: It is important that we adopt a mascot to preside at our pow-wows and triumphant feats…. And why not the Eagle, symbolic of majesty, power, and freedom? Its natural habitat is the high places. Surely the Heights is made to order for such a selection. Proud would the B.C. man feel to see the B.C. Eagle snatching the trophy of victory from old opponents, their tattered banner clutched in his talons as he flies aloft.”"

As a true fan of the game I have several college teams that I follow and enjoy watching. Boston College is one of them.

I grew up in central Massachusetts during a special era in college football; the Doug Flutie era. He was a wizard, ‘too short’ at 5’8” to be offered a scholarship, he was good enough to slay Miami during the Hail Flutie game or the Miracle in Miami (if you have not seen it cue up You Tube it will leave you with chills) and go on to win the Heisman trophy.  It was an awesome time to be a fan.  But I digress….

We enter this game with our Orange ranked in the top 25 of the USA Today, AP and College Football Playoff and the most wins (for a season) that we have had in recent history (since 2012). We dropped a few spots since the Bronx massacre but all is not lost we have another last opportunity for redemption.

Quick peek at out Bowl options. After our loss against the Irish, the Fiesta and Peach Bowls are unlikely. The most likely option is the Camping World Bowl. This writer predicts with a win this is where the Orange land.

Multiple representatives from the bowl were in the Bronx and they select the first ACC team after the playoff teams have been selected. I know that the Pinstripe bowl makes sense geographically but outside of last week the Orange is the New Fast is an attractive team and one of the sexiest picks out there.

Now on to the game, let’s get to work by looking this year’s numbers to date:

• Total Offense: SU (26th) vs Boston College (60th)
• Rushing: SU (32nd) vs Boston College (45th)
• Passing: SU (43rd) vs Boston College (85th)
• Total Defense: SU (97th) vs Boston College (62nd)
• Rushing: SU (72nd) vs Boston College (46th)
• Passing: SU (108th) vs Boston College (79th)

Key insights for Syracuse:

• The biggest key for an Orange victory is who will line up behind center. I know there are advocates out there for the Tommy DeVito era to start but I offer multiple examples this year of where the redshirt freshman is not ready to take the reins. He came in last week in the first quarter and did not manage to lead the Orange to any points on the board outside of a meaningless field goal with 10 seconds left in the game. This score happened with Notre Dame’s bench being emptied with two players noted on the field: Rudy and the water boy lining up on the defensive line. This is not meant to disparage Tommy but to highlight the magic that infuses the entire team when Eric takes the field. There is no update as I write this article other than Dino Babers hoping that Eric can play. It Is not clear if this is coach-speak to cloud the Eagles plan for Saturday or a real hope that our QB can start the last regular season game of his collegiate career.
• Other key to victory is for our defense to rebound. All year this has been a bend but don’t break squad. Statistically they held their own last week, despite what the scoreboard will tell you. They were put into too many bad situations from turnovers and the ineffective offense.

Keys insight for Boston College:

• Here it is…stop AJ Dillon. The Orange do that they will win the game. Period. The sophomore’s statistics are down from last year, when he was named ACC rookie of the year, due to a left ankle injury suffered in the second half of the Temple game. However in nine games played he has racked up 1100 yards of offense and 11 touchdowns. He is not much of a receiving threat (averaging less than one catch per game) so Cuse will need to pin their ears back, man up on the line and stop the run.

So now after I have looked at the numbers, some key insights and now is the time for the prediction. This game will hinge on who the starting QB is for the Orange.

Either one is capable of bringing home the ninth win of the season and whether it is Saturday or in April this will one day be Tommy’s team.

I flash back to last week as my son and I sat in Yankee stadium. After the band had played and the teams were coming out of the tunnel, I was hoping for a Eric Dungey trotting out on the field wearing a cape and leading the Orange to one of the greatest comeback wins in the history of college football. As we all know that did not happen.

I do not know how serious Eric’s injury is and I do not want him to be placed in harm’s way. But as a Syracuse fan and football lover, I would like him to have at least one more day in the sun doing what he does as good as anyone that has ever suited up for the Orange as QB. My game prediction is 27-17 the Orange get their ninth win and get their bowling shoes on! Remember to be loud, be proud, BE ORANGE.