ESPN College Football

The Eagles will play their spring game at 1 p.m. on Saturday. Montel Harris, the ACC's leading returning rusher, and his backup, Andre Williams, are likely to be held out for "safety reasons," according to a school spokesman. The Eagles have been using backups in their scrimmages. Here are three main plot lines to watch:

• How the offense looks under first-year coordinator Kevin Rogers. Rogers has a reputation for developing quarterbacks, and Chase Rettig should be better in his second season as a full-time starter -- if he and his teammates grasp the new playbook quickly. Rettig threw for 1,238 yards, six touchdowns and nine interceptions as a true freshman last season.
• The secondary. The Eagles suffered key losses with the graduation of DeLeon Gause and Wes Davis, but true freshman (spring enrollee) Al Louis-Jean has turned heads in spring drills. Senior corner Donnie Fletcher will compete for All-ACC first-team honors this season, and Jim Noel cemented his position with an outstanding sophomore season. Sophomore C.J. Jones is expected to compete for a starting role as well.
• Eagles in the trenches. For the first time in years, the Eagles will have a different look on the offensive line, as only two starters returned from last year's team. Defensively, only one starter returned in Kaleb Ramsey, who started nine games last year at defensive tackle. The good news is that BC has plenty of defensive linemen who have had significant playing time.

Boston College leading rusher Montel Harris, also the ACC's leading rusher at 127.5 yards per game, could miss three to six weeks after surgery to repair a torn lateral meniscus in his left knee. Harris will definitely miss the regular-season finale at Syracuse and possibly a bowl game.

A school spokesman said the team medical staff has said that three to six weeks is the usual recovery time, but it depends on the individual. It's possible Harris can return in time to play in a bowl game, which would most likely be the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl.

Until then, BC will turn to true freshman Andre Williams. The staff has confidence in Williams -- he ran for 108 yards on 12 carries in the win over Virginia. But Syracuse's defense is better than UVA's, and the problem is not Williams, it's a lack of depth or experience behind him. Fullback James McCluskey could also help, but if there was one player this team couldn't afford to lose, it was Harris. The good news for the Eagles is that BC became bowl-eligible last week.

Boston College fullback James McCluskey's best memory of playing Notre Dame is from 2008, when he broke his left fibula on the last play of the game with a minute left and had to be helped off the field by trainers.

Yes, that was his best memory. After all, BC won, 17-0.

As McCluskey said, the storied “Holy War” rivalry is “not just another game.”

“Even though I broke my leg, we won,” he said, “and I was happy to be a part of that.”

It doesn’t matter that Notre Dame is 1-3, or Boston College will be breaking in a new starting quarterback and coming off its first shutout at home in over a decade. Beating the Irish carries a lot of weight in Chestnut Hill -- so much so that McCluskey would rather break his leg and win than stay healthy and lose.

“Yeah,” he said, “I would.”

Boston College and Notre Dame are the only two Catholic universities to play football in the FBS. The Irish lead the series 10-9, but the Eagles have won six of the past seven games. Boston College is coming off a 19-0 loss to Virginia Tech, but there’s no time to sulk, as Notre Dame appears on the brink of turning things around under first-year coach Brian Kelly, who was born in Everett, Mass., and raised in Chelsea, Mass. Notre Dame is looking for its first win in Alumni Stadium since 1998.

“Every Sunday after practice we always tell each other once we walk off the field today, on Sunday, we say that game’s over with, let’s move on,” McCluskey said. “We can’t afford to waste any days at practice looking at it like, ‘Damn, I wish we’d won last week.’ We know how prepared we have to be, how important it is to get good days of practice in. For what we want to do, what our team goals are, it’s just as important as an ACC game even though it doesn’t have an effect on our chances to go to the ACC championship.”

It does have an effect on bragging rights. Boston College’s defense was able to force Virginia Tech to kick four field goals instead of scoring touchdowns, but will face one of the better passing offenses in the country on Saturday. No other Notre Dame quarterback has passed for more yards through his first four career starts than Dayne Crist, who has 1,155. The Irish are averaging 315.5 passing yards per game, but have lost three in a row to Michigan, Michigan State and No. 16 Stanford -- hardly a string of cupcakes.

“Despite their 1-3 record they’re a very good football team,” said coach Frank Spaziani. “They’re big, strong and fast and extremely well-coached. They have all the pieces to the puzzle, they just ran into a little bit of a buzz saw early on in a new regime. We’re looking for a very good football team to come in here, a very hungry team.”

Boston College safety Wes Davis, a native of San Diego, said he has embraced the rivalry and can sense how much it means to the fans and the students on campus.

“The students are a little more interested,” he said. “I think you’ll see some more butts in the seats before game time. This is my fifth year here. I know how it’s going to be, how excited people are for it. There’s definitely a different atmosphere, but from a team perspective it’s status quo.

“It would be ridiculous for us to say we’re preparing any different for Notre Dame than we did for Virginia Tech,” he said. “That would be asinine. I don’t think Notre Dame is doing that either. As a whole we respect how much our fans enjoy this atmosphere and the game. It means a lot to the folks here.”

It also means a lot to the players -- just ask McCluskey.

Defensive end Alex Albright, offensive tackle Anthony Castonzo, free safety Wes Davis and fullback James McCluskey -- all seniors -- have been elected captains in a team vote.

Castonzo, regarded as one of the top left tackles in the country this season, was an All-ACC preseason pick and is a Rhodes Scholarship nominee. Albright made 32 tackles last season and his eight tackles for a loss ranked second on the team. Davis started all 13 games at free safety last season and led the team with three interceptions. McCluskey appeared in eight games last year after recovering from a torn Achilles’ tendon in the spring.

Boston College running back Montel Harris might have been the most dependable player in the ACC last fall, not to mention the most durable.

Harris finished the season with 308 carries. Only three other players in the country -- Navy quarterback Ricky Dobbs, Stanford running back Toby Gerhart, and Pitt running back Dion Lewis -- had more. Not even former Georgia Tech B-back Jonathan Dwyer surpassed the 300-carry mark last fall in the Jackets' run-based spread option offense. Those four players were the only ones in the FBS to eclipse 300 carries in 2009.

BC coach Frank Spaziani is hoping Harris doesn't have to do it again, but he said he's still "not very comfortable" with the depth and experience behind Harris.

"We don't have a proven back behind him," Spaziani said. "We think we have some prospects and potential back there, but potential means you haven't done it yet. We feel a little bit better than we did in the spring, but we've got a long ways to go there."

Harris started all 13 games last year and finished with 1,457 rushing yards. His 308 carries were the second-most in a season at BC. Should anything happen to Harris, the Eagles would turn to Rolandan Finch, who was out the second half of the season with mono, and fullback James McCluskey, who suffered a torn Achilles last spring and played in eight games last year.

Bottom line: If the Eagles are going to contend for the Atlantic Division again, they can't afford to lose Harris to injury or anything else.

"His durability was one of the more impressive things about him," Spaziani said. "We certainly don't want to make it a steady diet of handing him the ball 50 times a game -- unless of course we need to."

It certainly wouldn't be the first time.

Here are the guys who are down n' out for Week 12 ...

BOSTON COLLEGE

OUT FOR SEASON

LB Mark Herzlich (illness)

FOR NORTH CAROLINA GAME

RB Rolandan Finch (illness) - DOUBTFUL

DE Alex Albright (ankle) – QUESTIONABLE

DT Kaleb Ramsey (ankle) – QUESTIONABLE

FB James McCluskey (leg) – QUESTIONABLE

OT Mike Goodman Jr. (illness) – PROBABLE

CB Isaac Johnson (illness) – PROBABLE

DE Jim Ramella (ankle) – PROBABLE

LB Dan Williams (back) – PROBABLE

FS Wes Davis (leg) – PROBABLE

RB Montel Harris (back) – PROBABLE

CLEMSON

Probable

DaQuan Bowers, DE, knee

Thomas Austin, OG, ankle

DUKE

WR Austin Kelly (upper body) -- Probable

LB Abraham Kromah (leg) -- Probable

QB Thaddeus Lewis (leg) -- Probable

LB Vincent Rey (leg) -- Probable

K Will Snyderwine (leg) -- Probable

RB Re'quan Boyette (leg) -- OUT

DT Vince Oghobaase (leg) -- OUT

WR Johnny Williams (knee) -- OUT

RB Kyle Griswould (leg) -- OUT FOR SEASON

OG Mitchell Lederman (foot) -- OUT FOR SEASON

QB Sean Rengree (knee) -- OUT FOR SEASON

WR Tyree Watkins (leg) -- OUT FOR SEASON

S Anthony Young-Wiseman (knee) -- OUT FOR SEASON

FLORIDA STATE

Out

76 OT Garrett Faircloth (hip)

70 OT Antwane Greenlee (knee)

51 LB Aaron Gresham (knee)

44 LB Maurice Harris (neck; out for the season)

62 OG Rodney Hudson (knee)

97 DT Demonte McAllister (knee)

94 DT Justin Mincey (knee)

81 TE Caz Piurowski (knee; out for the season)

7 QB Christian Ponder (shoulder; out for the season)

74 OT John Prior (knee)

27 CB Xavier Rhodes (thumb)

11 LB Vince Williams (back)

Questionable

9 WR Richard Goodman (groin)

MIAMI

Probable

DB Ray-Ray Armstrong – Lower Extremity

QB Jacory Harris – Upper Extremity

Questionable

LB Sean Spence – Lower Extremity

DB Vaughn Telemaque – Upper Extremity

Out

RB Lee Chambers – Lower Extremity

WR Thearon Collier – Lower Extremity

FB Patrick Hill – Lower Extremity

DB Sam Shields – Lower Extremity

Surgery and Out for the Season

DL Dyron Dye – Lower Extremity

DL Marcus Forston – Lower Extremity

LB Jordan Futch – Lower Extremity

TE Richard Gordon – Upper Extremity

LB Shayon Green – Lower Extremity

DE Gavin Hardin – Upper Extremity

DB Ryan Hill – Upper Extremity

DB JoJo Nicolas – Upper Extremity

DE Adewale Ojomo – Jaw

NORTH CAROLINA

Out

Joshua Adams WR Shoulder

AJ Blue RB/QB Knee

Curtis Campbell DB Wrist

David Collins OL Foot

Shaun Draughn TB Shoulder

Carl Gaskins OT Knee

Matt Merletti S Knee

Trevor Stuart DS Knee

Ryan Taylor TE Knee

Jamal Womble TB Wrist

Questionable

Devon Ramsay FB Ankle

Gene Robinson DB Back

NC STATE

OUT FOR SEASON

Mario Carter, TE - knee

Ryan Cheek, LB - hip

Denzelle Good, OL – shoulder

T.J. Graham, WR – stress fracture/leg

Steven Howard, WR - knee

Nate Irving, LB - leg

Colby Jackson, FB – knee

R.J. Mattes, OG - knee

Everett Proctor, QB – shoulder

Jeff Rieskamp, DE – sports hernia

Rashard Smith, CB - knee

Javon Walker, S – knee

James Washington, HB - knee

VIRGINIA

Questionable

Vic Hall (hip)

Probable

Kris Burd (shoulder)

Darren Childs (neck)

Matt Conrath (ankle)

Colter Phillips (leg)

Jameel Sewell (shoulder)

VIRGINIA TECH

Out for Season

Darren Evans (ACL)

Probable

Beau Warren (knee)

Posted by ESPN.com’s Heather Dinich

Boston College running back Montel Harris is a walking advertisement for BC football. He was recruited by Ball State and Duke until BC swept in a week before signing day and lured him away from his commitment to the Blue Devils. Now, Harris is the No. 2 leading rusher in the ACC with 99.2 yards per game, he had a record-setting day against NC State, and his role has just become even more important now that backup Josh Haden has decided to transfer. Haden, though, was also one of Harris’ best friends and roommates, along with backup quarterback Justin Tuggle, who also decided to transfer, so the decision hit him hard while it also left the Eagles thin at running back.

	Getty Images
	Montel Harris is the No. 2 leading rusher in the ACC with 99.2 yards per game.

Haden was the team's second-leading rusher. Now, freshman Rolandan Finch is listed as the No. 2 running back heading into Saturday's game against Central Michigan, but the Boston Globe reported Finch has been out all week with a virus. That leaves Jeff Smith, who has minus-1 yard rushing on six carries this year, and fullback James McCluskey, who has 15 yards on four carries.

In light of the recent news this week in Chestnut Hill, here’s a bonus edition Q&A for you, with the regular one coming tomorrow.

What do you think needs to happen in order for you to become more consistent?

Montel Harris: For us to execute as an offense. If all of us do our jobs one-on-one, we should be able to be successful in the pass and run game.

Where do you think you’ve made the most progress this year?

MH: I would say just being more comfortable than last year. If you’ve been there one time, you look at smaller things and smaller details. I think that’s helped me.

Do you feel more pressure now because there’s nobody behind you with much experience?

MH: A little bit. Every time you go out there, you don’t want to think about getting hurt, but now if you get hurt, who’s going to fill your shoes? You have to be more cognizant. I feel like it’s going to make me work harder since I’m the only running back that really has any experience.

Is it difficult to not play scared, though?

MH: Not for me. The more you think about something, the more it might happen. I’m just going to play like I always play on Saturdays, and if I get hurt, then I guess it was meant to happen. I’m really not worried about it.

How tough was it for you to hear the news, and how soon did you find out about it?

MH: It was real tough, even when Josh used to mention it sometimes. I used to always try and talk him out of it and tell him to think about it. When I found out it was official, it was pretty bad. I really didn’t know it was going to be official until my uncle saw it on ESPN. I was pretty down that whole day, even at practice. I can only be happy for Josh and Tuggs and wish them the best wherever they go.

Did they give you any indication as to why? I’m assuming with Josh it was playing time, but you’d think it has to be more than that.

MH: Actually it was more off the field things that were going on with Josh. He made the best decision for himself.

Second part coming up shortly ...

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

BOSTON COLLEGE

OUT FOR SEASON

LB Mark Herzlich (illness)

FOR NC STATE GAME

WR Ifeanyi Momah (knee) – OUT

TE Jordon McMichael (hip) – DOUBTFUL

LB Will Thompson (shoulder) – DOUBTFUL

FB James McCluskey (Achilles) – QUESTIONABLE

FS Okechukwu Okoroha (leg) – PROBABLE

DT Austin Giles (back) – PROBABLE

CB Roderick Rollins (Leg) – PROBABLE

DE Alex Albright (ankle) – PROBABLE

DT Damik Scafe (neck/shoulder) – PROBABLE

CLEMSON

I don't have an injury report, but I do have the following lineup changes:

After practice Thursday coach Dabo Swinney announced that Dalton Freeman would start at center. Scotty Cooper will miss the game while still recovering from a concussion suffered at Maryland. Daniel Andrews will move up to second-team strongside linebacker behind Kevin Alexander.

GEORGIA TECH

Out

Kevin Cone, r-Jr., WR (ankle)

Robert Hall, r-Jr., DE (knee)

Questionable

Anthony Egbuniwe, Jr., DE (illness)

Cooper Taylor, So., S (undisclosed)

Out For Season

Kyle Jackson, r-So., LB (foot)

MARYLAND

Out for season:

Tyler Bowen (foot)

Nolan Carroll (leg)

Out:

Travis Baltz (ankle)

Masengo Kabongo (leg)

Da’Rel Scott (wrist)

Questionable:

Bruce Campbell (leg)

Demetrius Hartsfield (hand)

MIAMI

Probable

RB Lee Chambers – Lower Extremity

RB Graig Cooper – Lower Extremity

Doubtful

OL Joel Figueroa – Lower Extremity

Out

FB Patrick Hill – Lower Extremity

DL Josh Holmes – Lower Extremity

WR Aldarius Johnson – Upper Extremity

DL Eric Moncur – Lower Extremity

DB JoJo Nicolas – Upper Extremity

DB Randy Phillips – Upper Extremity

Surgery and Out for the Season

DL Dyron Dye – Lower Extremity

DL Marcus Forston – Lower Extremity

LB Jordan Futch – Lower Extremity

TE Richard Gordon – Upper Extremity

LB Shayon Green – Lower Extremity

DE Gavin Hardin – Upper Extremity

DB Ryan Hill – Upper Extremity

DE Adewale Ojomo – Jaw

NC STATE

OUT FOR SEASON

Mario Carter, TE - knee

Ryan Cheek, LB - hip

Denzelle Good, OL - shoulder

Nate Irving, LB - leg

Colby Jackson, FB - knee

Everett Proctor, QB - shoulder

Javon Walker, S - knee

OUT

Jeff Rieskamp, DE – hip

Jesse Riley, DB - knee

VIRGINIA

Out

Javaris Brown (ankle)

Doubtful

Mikell Simpson (neck)

Questionable

none

Probable

Landon Bradley (knee)

BJ Cabbell (ankle)

Patch Duda (flu)

Mike Parker (knee)

Zane Parr (ankle)

Brandon Woods (foot)

VIRGINIA TECH

Out for Season

Darren Evans (ACL)

Probable

Marcus Davis (ankle)

Mark Muncey (knee)

Sergio Render (pec strain)

Eddie Whitley (ankle)

Ryan Williams (illness)

Out

Brandon Dillard (ankle)

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

If you don't see it, that's because I didn't get it ...

BOSTON COLLEGE

OUT FOR SEASON

LB Mark Herzlich (illness)

FOR VIRGINIA TECH GAME

WR Ifeanyi Momah (knee) – OUT

TE Jordon McMichael (hip) – OUT

FS Okechukwu Okoroha (leg) – OUT

LB Will Thompson (shoulder) – DOUBTFUL

DT Austin Giles (back) – DOUBTFUL

FB James McCluskey (Achilles) – QUESTIONABLE

CB Roderick Rollins (Leg) – PROBABLE

DE Alex Albright (ankle) – PROBABLE

DUKE

RB Jay Hollingsworth (ankle) -- Probable

OT Jarrod Holt (concussion) -- Probable

RB Kyle Griswould (leg) -- OUT

CB Randez James (hand) -- OUT

LB Abraham Kromah (leg) -- OUT

WR Tyree Watkins (leg) -- OUT

S Anthony Young-Wiseman (knee) -- OUT FOR SEASON

FLORIDA STATE

OUT

FB Daniel Gard (knee)

OT Antwane Greenlee (knee)

LB Aaron Gresham (knee)

OT John Prior (knee)

LB Vince Williams (back)

QUESTIONABLE

DT Justin Mincey (knee)

CB Patrick Robinson (ankle)

PROBABLE

ROV Korey Mangum (shoulder)

GEORGIA TECH

Out

Robert Hall, r-Jr., DE (knee)

Doubtful

Cooper Taylor, So., S (undisclosed)

Questionable

Dominique Reese, Jr., S (shoulder)

Marcus Wright, So., RB (shoulder

Out For Season

Kyle Jackson, r-So., LB (foot)

MARYLAND

Out for season:

Tyler Bowen (foot)

Nolan Carroll (leg)

Out:

Travis Baltz (ankle)

Mike Barbour (leg)

Louis Berman (leg)

Bruce Campbell (leg)

Danny Edwards (concussion)

Da’Rel Scott (wrist)

Joe Vellano (foot)

MIAMI

Probable

DL Olivier Vernon – Lower Extremity

Questionable

RB Graig Cooper - Lower Extremity

LS/TE Jake Byrne - Illness

Doubtful

DT Marcus Forston – Lower Extremity

DL Steven Wesley – Lower Extremity

Out

DL Dyron Dye - Leg

TE Richard Gordon – Upper Extremity

FB Patrick Hill – Lower Extremity

DB Ryan Hill – Upper Extremity

DB JoJo Nicolas – Upper Extremity

DE Adewale Ojomo – Jaw

DB Randy Phillips – Upper Extremity

Surgery and Out for Season

DE Gavin Hardin – Upper Extremity

LB Shayon Green – Lower Extremity

NORTH CAROLINA

Out (Season)

Carl Gaskins OT Knee

Matt Merletti S Knee

Trevor Stuart DS Knee

Out (Game)

Lowell Dyer C Shoulder

Doubtful

Zack Pianalto TE Foot

Ryan Taylor TE Knee

Questionable

Josh Adams WR Shoulder

Kyle Jolly OT Ankle

Mike Paulus QB Shoulder

Devon Ramsay FB Knee

Probable

Jonathan Cooper OG Ankle

Anthony Elzy FB Shoulder

Linwan Euwell LB Ankle

NC STATE

OUT FOR SEASON

Mario Carter, TE - knee

Ryan Cheek, LB - hip

Denzelle Good, OL - shoulder

Nate Irving, LB - leg

Colby Jackson, FB - knee

Everett Proctor, QB - shoulder

OUT

Jeff Rieskamp, DE - hip

Javon Walker, S - knee

QUESTIONABLE

Rashard Smith, CB - ankle

VIRGINIA TECH

Out for Season

Darren Evans (ACL)

Probable

Nekos Brown (illness)

Blake DeChristopher (ankle)

John Graves (ankle)

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

Here are this week's injury reports from the schools that sent them out by midnight on Thursday:

BOSTON COLLEGE

WR Ifeanyi Momah (knee) – OUT

LB Will Thompson (shoulder) – DOUBTFUL

FB James McCluskey (Achilles) – DOUBTFUL

CB Roderick Rollins (Leg) – DOUBTFUL

TE Jordon McMichael (Leg) –PROBABLE

CLEMSON

Questionable

Chris Hairston, OT, knee

Probable

Miguel Chavis, DT, ankle

DUKE

RB Re'quan Boyette (leg) -- Probable

RB Jay Hollingsworth (ankle) -- Probable

OG Mitchell Lederman (leg) -- Probable

DT Vince Oghobaase (leg) -- Probable

OT Jarrod Holt (concussion) -- Questionable

RB Desmond Scott (leg) -- Questionable

RB Kyle Griswould (leg) -- OUT

CB Randez James (hand) -- OUT

WR Tyree Watkins (leg) -- OUT

FLORIDA STATE

OUT

FB Daniel Gard (knee)

OT Antwane Greenlee (knee)

LB Aaron Gresham (knee)

OT John Prior (knee)

LB Vince Williams (back)

QUESTIONABLE

DT Justin Mincey (knee)

PROBABLE

DT Moses McCray (elbow)

DT Jacobbi McDaniel (knee)

GEORGIA TECH

Out

Robert Hall, r-Jr., DE (knee)

Kyle Jackson, r-So., LB (foot)

Doubtful

Cooper Taylor, So., S (undisclosed)

Questionable

Dominique Reese, Jr., S (undisclosed)

Probable

Jaybo Shaw, So., QB (broken collarbone)

MARYLAND

Out for season:

Tyler Bowen (foot)

Nolan Carroll (leg)

Out:

Travis Baltz (ankle)

Louis Berman (leg)

Caleb Porzel (leg)

Joe Vellano (foot)

MIAMI

Probable

RB Lee Chambers – Lower Extremity

DT Marcus Forston – Lower Extremity

WR Aldarius Johnson - Lower Extremity

Doubtful

TE Richard Gordon – Upper Extremity

Out

FB Pat Hill – Lower Extremity

DL Dyron Dye - Lower Extremity

DB JoJo Nicolas – Upper Extremity

DB Randy Phillips – Upper Extremity

DE Adewale Ojomo – Jaw

Surgery and Out for Season

DE Gavin Hardin – Upper Extremity

LB Shayon Green – Lower Extremity

NC STATE

OUT FOR SEASON

Mario Carter, TE - knee

Denzelle Good, OL - shoulder

Nate Irving, LB - leg

Colby Jackson, FB - knee

Everett Proctor, QB - shoulder

OUT

Jeff Rieskamp, DE - hip

Rashard Smith, CB - ankle

Javon Walker, S - knee

NORTH CAROLINA

Out (Season)

Carl Gaskins OL Knee

Matt Merletti DB Knee

Trevor Stuart DS Knee

Out (Game)

Lowell Dyer C Shoulder

Zack Pianalto TE Foot

Ryan Taylor TE Knee

Doubtful

Linwan Euwall LB Ankle

Questionable

Joshua Adams WR Shoulder

Jonathan Cooper OG Ankle

Anthony Elzy FB Shoulder

VIRGINIA TECH

Out for Season

Darren Evans (ACL)

Probable

Blake DeChristopher (ankle)

Davon Morgan (shoulder)

Dyrell Roberts (hamstring)

Demetrius Taylor (calf)

Posted by ESPN.com’s Heather Dinich

Unlike in previous seasons, Boston College senior safety Marcellus Bowman understood why outsiders might doubt the Eagles this year.

The best defensive player in the ACC, linebacker Mark Herzlich, had been diagnosed with cancer. Their top two defensive tackles had graduated to the NFL. Their best remaining linebacker and leader, Mike McLaughlin, suffered an Achilles injury that would keep him out for almost all of September. Fullback James McCluskey is still out with an Achilles injury. They were playing for their fourth different head coach in as many seasons, and welcomed in a new offensive coordinator.

	AP Photo/Mary Ann Chastain
	BC coach Frank Spaziani is finding ways to win.

And none of the quarterbacks on the roster had ever thrown a collegiate pass.

“Going through it, I mentioned to a couple of my teammates, ‘If I’d seen this happen to another team, I’d think, geez, it’s going to be a down, rebuilding year for them,’ too,” said Bowman.

But this didn’t happen to another team. It happened to Boston College. And by looking at the Eagles’ 3-1 record, you’d never know it. Boston College heads into Saturday’s home game against Atlantic Division opponent Florida State with less speed and athleticism, but it didn’t matter in last year’s 27-17 road win over the Noles, and odds are it won’t matter on Saturday.

Over the past four seasons, Boston College has proven that it doesn’t seem to matter who the coach is -- or the quarterback for that matter -- the Eagles continuously find a way to prove their doubters wrong. They did it with Tom O’Brien and Matt Ryan, they did it with Jeff Jagodzinski and Chris Crane, and now they’re doing it again with first-year coach Frank Spaziani and a 25-year-old quarterback who came out of left field. (Or, more specifically, off the pitchers’ mound.)

“We have confidence in ourselves,” said senior wide receiver Rich Gunnell, who, like his team is too often overlooked, despite the fact he entered this year as the ACC’s active leader in career receptions and receiving yards. “We know every year coming in that we’re the underdogs, we’re under the radar. No one really pays attention to us, but we work hard week in and week out and win games.

“When we win games it always seems to be a surprise, but it’s not a surprise to us, because we work so hard during the summer, during the offseason and during the winter. So when it comes time to game time, we’re prepared.”

It’s still too early to determine how good the Eagles can be, and Spaziani is quick to point out they haven’t proven anything yet -- not with wins against pushover teams like Northeastern and Kent State. The 27-24 overtime win over Wake Forest this past Saturday, though, opened some eyes.

“I’ve found out that we have a little bit more emotion in us than we have shown in the past,” Spaziani said. “I found out there is a little bit more leadership there than we have seen. We knew it was there but we finally have seen it.

“We expect to win every week,” he said, “and that’s how we play.”

It’s a blue collar, go-to-work mentality that’s trademark of BC football. The Eagles play smart and tough, and more often than not find a way to win with what they’ve got -- even if it isn’t necessarily the better talent that particular Saturday. It’s not like the staff isn’t recruiting solid football players, they just tend to find the guys who genuinely love the game, work hard, and want to be in Chestnut Hill.

“We have a certain type of niche school here,” Spaziani said. “We’re not anybody else. We are who we are, therefore we have to profile the type of people who fit in and obviously want to be here because of what we have to offer. Institutional motivation is a tremendous thing to have. Those are the type of people we’re looking for.”

People like Bowman, a first-year starter who is playing extremely well this year and on the verge of a breakout season.

“They purposely recruit mature players,” Bowman said. “By doing that, mature players generally get the big picture. They understand what expectations are going to be when they come to Boston College, but they also know our tradition as far as being successful. We get doubts and things like that on a yearly basis. It’s nothing new. We handle it like mature athletes.”

No other type of person or athlete could’ve handled it. They rallied together this summer, after Herzlich was diagnosed with cancer, and injuries were a severe blow to an already undermanned defense.

“We just made sure all the younger guys stepped up,” Gunnell said. “As senior leaders we have to bring them along so they understand what it takes to win games.”

It’s a lesson that continues to be passed on to each class at Boston College.

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

Here are the injury reports for Saturday's games. Virginia has a bye week:

BOSTON COLLEGE

FB James McCluskey (Achilles) – OUT

WR Ifeanyi Momah (knee) – OUT

LB Will Thompson (shoulder) – DOUBTFUL

LB Mike McLaughlin (Achilles) – PROBABLE

DT Damik Scafe (Neck/Shoulder) – PROBABLE

CLEMSON

Questionable

Chris Hairston, OT, knee

DUKE

WR Conner Vernon (ankle) -- Probable

WR Johnny Williams (ankle) -- Probable

RB Jay Hollingsworth (ankle) -- Doubtful

DT Vince Oghobaase (leg) -- Doubtful

RB Re'quan Boyette (leg) -- OUT

RB Kyle Griswould (leg) -- OUT

CB Randez James (hand) -- OUT

OG Mitchell Lederman (leg) -- OUT

S Anthony Young-Wiseman (knee) -- OUT FOR SEASON

FLORIDA STATE

Out: FB Danny Gard (knee), OT Antwane Greenlee (knee), LB Aaron Gresham (knee), DT Justin Mincey (knee), OT John Prior (knee), LB Vince Williams (back).

Doubtful: DT Moses McCray (elbow)

Questionable: DT Demonte McAllister (knee)

GEORGIA TECH

Out

Robert Hall, r-Jr., DE (knee)

Kyle Jackson, r-So., LB (foot)

Doubtful

Cooper Taylor, So., S (undisclosed)

Questionable

Jonathan Dwyer, So, RB (shoulder)

Dominique Reese, Jr., Wolf (undisclosed)

Jaybo Shaw, So., QB (broken collarbone)

Probable

Tyler Melton, So., WR (knee)

MARYLAND

Out for season:

Nolan Carroll (leg)

Out:

Louis Berman (leg)

Caleb Porzel (leg)

Joe Vellano (foot)

Probable:

Bruce Campbell (foot)

Jamari McCollough (foot)

MIAMI

Questionable

WR Aldarius Johnson - Lower Extremity

Doubtful

RB Lee Chambers – Lower Extremity

DL Dyron Dye - Lower Extremity

OL Corey White - Lower Extremity

Out

DT Marcus Forston – Lower Extremity

TE Richard Gordon – Upper Extremity

DE Adewale Ojomo – Jaw

DL Andrew Smith – Upper Extremity

Surgery and Out for Season

DE Gavin Hardin – Upper Extremity

LB Shayon Green – Lower Extremity

NC STATE

OUT FOR SEASON

Mario Carter, TE - knee

Denzelle Good, OL - shoulder

Nate Irving, LB - leg

Colby Jackson, FB - knee

Everett Proctor, QB - shoulder

OUT

Ryan Cheek, OL - hip

Jeff Rieskamp, DE - hip

Rashard Smith, CB - ankle

Owen Spencer, WR - concussion

Javon Walker, S - knee

NORTH CAROLINA

Out (Season)

Carl Gaskins OL Knee

Matt Merletti S Knee

Out (Game)

Lowell Dyer C Shoulder

Zack Pianalto TE Foot

Ryan Taylor TE Knee

Doubtful

Linwan Euwall LB Ankle

LeCount Fantroy CB Thigh

Questionable

Joshua Adams WR Shoulder

Jonathan Cooper OL Ankle

VIRGINIA TECH

Collin Carroll (ankle) - probable

John Graves (ankle) - probable

Stephan Virgil (knee) - probable

Eddie Whitley (pectoral) - probable

Jason Worilds (back spasms) - probable

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

The weekly injury reports have all come in (some come in much later than others, which is why I wait until Friday mornings to do this). If you don't see 'em, they weren't sent. Maryland will miss Bruce Campbell again, Duke has a handful of key players who could miss the game at Kansas, including Vince Oghobaasse, Virginia is likely to be without Vic Hall, and Boston College will be without defensive tackle Damik Scafe. Not good news for any of those teams. It looks like UNC might -- might -- get Jonathan Cooper back on the offensive line. That would be a huge help.

Here are the full reports:

BOSTON COLLEGE

FB James McCluskey (Achilles) – OUT

LB Will Thompson (shoulder) – DOUBTFUL

WR Ifeanyi Momah (knee) – DOUBTFUL

LB Mike McLaughlin (Achilles) – DOUBTFUL

DT Damik Scafe (Neck/Shoulder) – DOUBTFUL

CLEMSON

Out for the Season

J.K. Jay, OT, back

Probable

Michael Palmer, TE, hip

DUKE

RB Re'quan Boyette (ankle) -- Probable

TE Danny Parker (ankle) -- Probable

RB Jay Hollingsworth (ankle) -- Questionable

DT Vince Oghobaase (leg) -- Questionable

WR Conner Vernon (ankle) -- Doubtful

RB Kyle Griswould (leg) -- OUT

CB Randez James (hand) -- OUT

S Anthony Young-Wiseman (knee) -- OUT FOR SEASON

FLORIDA STATE

OUT

OT Antwane Greenlee (knee)

LB Aaron Gresham (knee)

DT Demonte McAllister (knee)

DT Justin Mincey (knee)

OT John Prior (knee)

LB Vince Williams (back)

QUESTIONABLE

RV Korey Mangum (shoulder)

MARYLAND

Out for season:

Nolan Carroll (leg)

Out:

Louis Berman (leg)

Bruce Campbell (foot)

Jamari McCollough (foot)

Caleb Porzel (leg)

Joe Vellano (foot)

Probable:

Tony Logan (shoulder)

NORTH CAROLINA

Out (Season)

Carl Gaskins OL Knee

Matt Merletti S Knee

Out (Game)

Lowell Dyer C Shoulder

Dwight Jones WR Knee

Zack Pianalto TE Foot

Ryan Taylor TE Knee

Doubtful

Linwan Euwell LB Ankle

LeCount Fantroy CB Thigh

Questionable

Jonathan Cooper OG Ankle

Devon Ramsay RB Thigh

NC STATE

OUT FOR SEASON

Mario Carter, TE - knee

Denzelle Good, OL - shoulder

Nate Irving, LB - leg

Colby Jackson, FB - knee

Everett Proctor, QB - shoulder

OUT

Jamelle Eugene, HB - knee

Clem Johnson, S - thigh

Jeff Rieskamp, DE - hip

Jay Smith, WR - flu

Jake Vermiglio, OT - lower leg

Javon Walker, DB - knee

Julian Williams, OG/OT - flu

Johnson will be replaced by either Brandan Bishop or Justin Byers; Williams will be replaced by Andrew Wallace.

VIRGINIA

Out

Bobby Smith (knee)

Doubtful

Vic Hall (hip)

Questionable

Mikell Simpson (leg)

Probable

Denzel Burrell (hip)

BJ Cabbell (ankle)

Nate Collins (knee)

Matt Conrath (spine)

Chris Cook (hip)

John-Kevin Dolce (foot)

Ausar Walcott (knee)

VIRGINIA TECH

Greg Boone (SC joint sprain) - probable

Stephan Virgil (knee) - questionable

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

There are some notable names that will/could be missing this weekend, including Bobby Rome, Lowell Dyer, Greg Boone, Stephan Virgil, Bruce Campbell, Jameel Sewell, Jamelle Eugene, Vic Hall and Jake Vermiglio. Here are the full reports that came in throughout the league from each school's sports information department:

BOSTON COLLEGE

• LB Will Thompson (shoulder) -- OUT
• LB Mike McLaughlin (Achilles) -- OUT
• FB James McCluskey (Achilles) -- OUT
• WR Ifeanyi Momah (knee) -- OUT
• DT Kaleb Ramsey (ankle) -- PROBABLE

DUKE

• RB Kyle Griswould (leg) -- OUT
• CB Randez James (hand) -- OUT
• S Anthony Young--Wiseman (knee) -- OUT FOR SEASON

FLORIDA STATE

OUT

• OT Antwane Greenlee (knee)
• DT Justin Mincey (knee)
• OT John Prior (knee)
• LB Vince Williams (back)

MARYLAND

Out

• Louis Berman (leg)
• Bruce Campbell (foot)
• Jamari McCollough (foot)
• Caleb Porzel (leg)
• Joe Vellano (foot)

Questionable:

• Tony Logan (shoulder)

NC STATE

OUT FOR SEASON

• Mario Carter, TE -- knee
• Denzelle Good, OL -- shoulder
• Nate Irving, LB -- leg
• Colby Jackson, FB -- knee
• Everett Proctor, QB -- shoulder

OUT

• Donald Bowens, WR – knee
• Ryan Cheek, LB -- hip
• Wayne Crawford, C -- foot
• Jamelle Eugene, HB -- knee
• DeAndre Morgan, CB – ankle
• Jeff Rieskamp, DE -- hip
• Jake Vermiglio, OT – lower leg
• Javon Walker, S -- knee

Depth chart changes due to injuries: Julian Williams will move into Vermiglio's spot at tackle and Andy Barbee will start at guard. Henry Lawson will be the backup at center. James Washington will be the second-team halfback.

UNC

Out (Season)

• Carl Gaskins OL -- Knee
• Matt Merletti S -- Knee

Out (Game)

• Dwight Jones WR -- Knee
• Ryan Taylor TE -- Knee

Questionable

• Jonathan Cooper OG -- Ankle
• Lowell Dyer C -- Shoulder
• Jordan Nix DT -- Illness
• Bobby Rome FB -- Illness
• Terry Shankle DB -- Illness

VIRGINIA

Out

• Mike Parker (hand)
• Bobby Smith (knee)

Doubtful

• Vic Hall (hip)
• Dontrelle Inman (hand)
• Lamar Milstead (ankle)
• Bill Schautz (knee)

Probable

• Nate Collins (shoulder)
• Patch Duda (shoulder)
• Nick Jenkins (leg)
• Jameel Sewell (wrist)
• Matt Snyder (shoulder)
• Joe Torchia (shoulder)

VIRGINIA TECH

• Greg Boone (SC joint sprain) -- doubtful
• Stephan Virgil (knee) -- doubtful

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

Here are the injury reports that came in from around the ACC this week:

BOSTON COLLEGE

LB Will Thompson (shoulder) - OUT

LB Mike McLaughlin (Achilles) - OUT

FB James McCluskey (Achilles) - OUT

WR Ifeanyi Momah (knee) - OUT

DT Kaleb Ramsey (ankle) - DOUBTFUL

OT Rich Lapham (neck) - DOUBTFUL

FB Alexander DiSanzo (shoulder) - QUESTIONABLE

QB Dave Shinskie (rib) - PROBABLE

CLEMSON

Out for the Season

J.K. Jay, OT, back

Doubtful

Daniel Andrews, LB, hamstring

Probable

Xavier Dye, WR, hamstring

Dalton Freeman, C, hamstring

DUKE

DT Kinney Rucker (foot) -- probable

RB Kyle Griswould (leg) -- OUT

CB Randez James (hand) -- OUT

S Anthony Young-Wiseman (knee) -- OUT FOR SEASON

NORTH CAROLINA

Sophomore wide receiver Dwight Jones will have arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Friday at UNC Hospitals and will not be available for Saturday's game vs. The Citadel. Jones began experiencing knee pain earlier in the week and did not practice on Wednesday. A determination of his recovery time will be made after the surgery Friday afternoon.

Out (Season)

Gaskins, Carl OL Knee

Merletti, Matt S Knee

Out (Game)

Jones, Dwight WR Knee

Taylor, Ryan TE Knee

VIRGINIA TECH

Bruce Taylor (ankle) - out