The Confidential

Defending Boston College

The recent records speak for themselves.  The Boston College Eagles have been terrible lately.  But ACC fans should not necessarily conclude that Boston College is not carrying its weight.  In fact, Boston College has more than carried its weight since joining the ACC 10 years ago.

First, the ugly.  The last few seasons for Boston College have been terrible.  Charles Barkley-esque “turrible.”  Just look at these recent records:

• 2012-2013 Basketball: 16-17
• 2012 Football: 2-10
• 2011-2012 Basketball: 9-22
• 2011 Football: 4-8

You do not need a calculator to understand that the Eagles have been awful.

But let’s not get carried away with Boston College’s recent woes.  Did you know:

• Boston College has a winning record in football every year from 1999 to 2010?
• From 2001 to 2007, Boston College’s basketball team finished in first place in the ACC and Big East three times, and never finished below 5th place in either conference?
• That, as we recently noted, Boston College had the fifth best record of all ACC teams this past decade.
• That, as we also recently noted, Boston College had the sixth best football record of all ACC teams this past decade.
• Therefore, overall, Boston College has been the 5th best program in the ACC since joining, trailing only Florida State, Virginia Tech, Miami, and North Carolina in revenue sports performance.
• Boston College has appeared in more ACC football championship games (2), than Miami, NC State, UNC, Virginia, Duke, Wake Forest, and Maryland combined (1).

So, while Boston College has fallen on hard times, just think of where they were before this recent sports drought?  In addition to opening up the Boston market to the ACC, the Eagles have more than held their own in the ACC.  And all of this while on an extreme geographic island without traditional rivals (like Syracuse and Pitt).