BRISTOL, Conn. -- Steve Addazio made the rounds at ESPN headquarters on Tuesday, putting in a full day’s worth of interviews in his second go-round in what’s come to be known as the ESPN “Car Wash.”
One of six ACC coaches on campus during the day, Addazio arrived at 9:30 a.m. and didn’t wrap up his final obligation for the work day until almost 3 p.m. In between interviews with ESPN.com reporters and filming spots for “College Football Live” and "SportsCenter," the new BC boss grabbed a bite with a few Eagles alums in a green room near the studios.
The lunch menu, of course, was Italian.
Throughout the day, Addazio addressed everything from facilities updates at the Heights to his take on paying college athletes for playing, what kind of systems he wants to run on the field, and his philosophy on recruiting.
Eight months into his stint in Chestnut Hill there have already been some superficial changes, such as renovations to the team’s locker room and Addazio’s offices.
“I think it’s really important. It’s all great for our players and it’s great for recruiting,” Addazio said of the touch-ups. “The next topics are probably an indoor [practice facility] and a possible weight-room expansion.”
Of course, there are plenty of other goals as well.
Addazio has made it very clear he wants to establish a balanced offense with a power run game, ideally run by a dual-threat quarterback, and an “attack-style” defense. But the coach admits it may take time to stock the roster with the ideal players to carry out those systems.
Until then, he and coordinators Ryan Day (offense) and Don Brown (defense) will play to their roster’s strengths and try to mitigate its weaknesses -- perhaps the biggest of which is a lack of depth at key positions like running back and wide receiver.
But asked in the green room how he’ll manage the issues of depth during camp and into the season, Addazio had a ready answer.
“I’m not gonna manage it, I’m gonna go,” he said. “You can sit there and say, ‘OK, well, take it easy.’ [But] you can get hurt doing anything. So you can back off from a physical standpoint, but then you’re not gonna create the philosophy of your team.
“I’m in this for the long haul, so I need to get who we’re gonna be, to set the demeanor of who we’re gonna be, right from the beginning. And just hope that we stay as healthy as we can.
“Now, I’m not gonna be reckless about it. But I can’t say, ‘Oh, let’s back off.’ Because we won’t be very tough.”
And if there’s one thing Addazio is sure his team will be, it’s tough.
Which is good, because the early going won’t be easy. The Eagles were picked to finish last in the ACC at the conference’s media day, and Addazio acknowledges that coming off of consecutive four- and two-win seasons, that’s where they should be picked.
“I mean, listen, we’re going into this year, we’re gonna win as many games as we can win,” he said just before being whisked off to makeup prior to his TV spots. “But we also have to get our program in place for the future. That’s really important.”
Though camp doesn’t start for another few days, that important work is clearly already underway.
Jack McCluskey is an editor for ESPN.com and a frequent contributor to ESPNBoston.com. Follow him on Twitter @jack_mccluskey.
One of six ACC coaches on campus during the day, Addazio arrived at 9:30 a.m. and didn’t wrap up his final obligation for the work day until almost 3 p.m. In between interviews with ESPN.com reporters and filming spots for “College Football Live” and "SportsCenter," the new BC boss grabbed a bite with a few Eagles alums in a green room near the studios.
The lunch menu, of course, was Italian.
Throughout the day, Addazio addressed everything from facilities updates at the Heights to his take on paying college athletes for playing, what kind of systems he wants to run on the field, and his philosophy on recruiting.
Eight months into his stint in Chestnut Hill there have already been some superficial changes, such as renovations to the team’s locker room and Addazio’s offices.
“I think it’s really important. It’s all great for our players and it’s great for recruiting,” Addazio said of the touch-ups. “The next topics are probably an indoor [practice facility] and a possible weight-room expansion.”
Of course, there are plenty of other goals as well.
Addazio has made it very clear he wants to establish a balanced offense with a power run game, ideally run by a dual-threat quarterback, and an “attack-style” defense. But the coach admits it may take time to stock the roster with the ideal players to carry out those systems.
Until then, he and coordinators Ryan Day (offense) and Don Brown (defense) will play to their roster’s strengths and try to mitigate its weaknesses -- perhaps the biggest of which is a lack of depth at key positions like running back and wide receiver.
But asked in the green room how he’ll manage the issues of depth during camp and into the season, Addazio had a ready answer.
“I’m not gonna manage it, I’m gonna go,” he said. “You can sit there and say, ‘OK, well, take it easy.’ [But] you can get hurt doing anything. So you can back off from a physical standpoint, but then you’re not gonna create the philosophy of your team.
“I’m in this for the long haul, so I need to get who we’re gonna be, to set the demeanor of who we’re gonna be, right from the beginning. And just hope that we stay as healthy as we can.
“Now, I’m not gonna be reckless about it. But I can’t say, ‘Oh, let’s back off.’ Because we won’t be very tough.”
And if there’s one thing Addazio is sure his team will be, it’s tough.
Which is good, because the early going won’t be easy. The Eagles were picked to finish last in the ACC at the conference’s media day, and Addazio acknowledges that coming off of consecutive four- and two-win seasons, that’s where they should be picked.
“I mean, listen, we’re going into this year, we’re gonna win as many games as we can win,” he said just before being whisked off to makeup prior to his TV spots. “But we also have to get our program in place for the future. That’s really important.”
Though camp doesn’t start for another few days, that important work is clearly already underway.
Jack McCluskey is an editor for ESPN.com and a frequent contributor to ESPNBoston.com. Follow him on Twitter @jack_mccluskey.
BC's Addazio hits airwaves again
July, 29, 2013
Jul 29
8:53
PM ET
By Jack McCluskey | ESPNBoston.com
When Brad Bates hired Steve Addazio to replace Frank Spaziani after a disastrous 2-10 season in 2012, the athletic director knew the difference would be stark. Bates even warned those in attendance at the coach’s introductory news conference to “buckle up.”
The new coach -- who uses the word “energy” as often as some preteens use the word “like” -- was about to take them for a (verbal) ride.
In the months since that initial news conference, Addazio has hit the recruiting trail with abandon, appeared in print, on local and national TV and radio and on various forms of social media promoting the Eagles (often with the now ubiquitous hashtag “#BeADude” front and center) and even done some on-field work during the spring session.
In a week, that on-field work will begin again as the Eagles hit the practice fields to prepare for the 2013 season. The first session is Aug. 5.
But before he can get back to that, Addazio has one more chance to pump the tires of what was a tired program in recent seasons. The BC front man will be in Bristol, Conn., for his second run through the gauntlet known as an ESPN “Car Wash.”
Part of a string of 50 college football coaches (from the ACC, the Big Ten, the Pac-12 and the SEC) making the rounds of shows (from “SportsCenter” to “College Football Live” to “ESPN First Take” on TV, and from “SVP & Russillo” to “The Herd with Colin Cowherd” on radio) and chatting with fans on ESPN.com (Addazio is scheduled to take your questions Tuesday at 11 a.m. ET) before camps start in August, this trip will mean that BC’s new coach has as many trips to the ESPN studios in one summer as the team had wins last season.
Buckle up, indeed.
The new coach -- who uses the word “energy” as often as some preteens use the word “like” -- was about to take them for a (verbal) ride.
In the months since that initial news conference, Addazio has hit the recruiting trail with abandon, appeared in print, on local and national TV and radio and on various forms of social media promoting the Eagles (often with the now ubiquitous hashtag “#BeADude” front and center) and even done some on-field work during the spring session.
In a week, that on-field work will begin again as the Eagles hit the practice fields to prepare for the 2013 season. The first session is Aug. 5.
But before he can get back to that, Addazio has one more chance to pump the tires of what was a tired program in recent seasons. The BC front man will be in Bristol, Conn., for his second run through the gauntlet known as an ESPN “Car Wash.”
Part of a string of 50 college football coaches (from the ACC, the Big Ten, the Pac-12 and the SEC) making the rounds of shows (from “SportsCenter” to “College Football Live” to “ESPN First Take” on TV, and from “SVP & Russillo” to “The Herd with Colin Cowherd” on radio) and chatting with fans on ESPN.com (Addazio is scheduled to take your questions Tuesday at 11 a.m. ET) before camps start in August, this trip will mean that BC’s new coach has as many trips to the ESPN studios in one summer as the team had wins last season.
Buckle up, indeed.
BC LB Pierre-Louis on preseason All-ACC
July, 25, 2013
Jul 25
12:03
AM ET
By Jack McCluskey, Special to ESPNBoston.com
Call it progress, with a caveat.
The ACC announced its 2013 Preseason All-ACC team on Wednesday, and unlike in 2012 the Eagles had a representative on the team. Kevin Pierre-Louis was the third linebacker selected by the media in attendance at ACC media days earlier this week in Greensboro, N.C., adding another preseason plaudit to his docket.
The 6-foot-1, 215-pound Norwalk, Conn., native finished 2012 third in the ACC in tackles per game (9.4). He had 85 tackles in just nine games, and enters his senior season with 252 career tackles, including 145 solo tackles and 14 tackles for a loss.
Pierre-Louis was previously included on the Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list.
Steele Divitto, named to the Butkus Award watch list, finished fourth in the linebacker voting. Place-kicker Nate Freese, named to the Lou Groza watch list, was tied for fourth at his position.
The full results can be found here.
So what's the caveat, you ask? There's one Boston College player conspicuously missing.
Alex Amidon not only didn't make the team, he didn't even make the top four in the voting.
How is that possible?
Only one ACC player had more receiving yards than Amidon (1,210) in 2012, and that player, Clemson's DeAndre Hopkins (1,405), now plays his football on Sundays after being drafted by the Houston Texans. Only five ACC players had more touchdowns than Amidon (7), and none of those players ranked ahead of him on the list for 2013.
Few would argue with the selection of Clemson's Sammy Watkins to the preseason All-ACC team, based on both production (57 catches for 708 yards and three TDs in 2012) and potential (playing for the team projected to be tops in the ACC, catching balls from the ACC Preseason Player of the Year in QB Tajh Boyd).
Watkins received the most votes (57) and was joined on the preseason All-ACC team by Wake Forest's Michael Campanaro (20), followed in the voting by Maryland's Stefon Diggs (19) and Florida State's Rashad Greene (10).
Amidon arguably had a better season than either Campanaro, Diggs or Greene. He had more yards and touchdowns than all three, and more catches than either Diggs or Greene (and Campanaro had just one more, 79 to 78, albeit in two fewer games).
Does that mean Campanaro, Diggs and Greene weren't worthy of the votes they got? Of course not. They are all talented players who will likely produce big numbers again this season.
What it does mean is Amidon, a Biletnikoff Award watch list member for 2013, could be excused for showing up to BC's camp on Aug. 5 with a little extra chip on his shoulder.
Jack McCluskey is an editor for ESPN.com and a frequent contributor to ESPNBoston.com. Follow him on Twitter @jack_mccluskey.
The ACC announced its 2013 Preseason All-ACC team on Wednesday, and unlike in 2012 the Eagles had a representative on the team. Kevin Pierre-Louis was the third linebacker selected by the media in attendance at ACC media days earlier this week in Greensboro, N.C., adding another preseason plaudit to his docket.
The 6-foot-1, 215-pound Norwalk, Conn., native finished 2012 third in the ACC in tackles per game (9.4). He had 85 tackles in just nine games, and enters his senior season with 252 career tackles, including 145 solo tackles and 14 tackles for a loss.
Pierre-Louis was previously included on the Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list.
Steele Divitto, named to the Butkus Award watch list, finished fourth in the linebacker voting. Place-kicker Nate Freese, named to the Lou Groza watch list, was tied for fourth at his position.
The full results can be found here.
So what's the caveat, you ask? There's one Boston College player conspicuously missing.
Alex Amidon not only didn't make the team, he didn't even make the top four in the voting.
How is that possible?
Only one ACC player had more receiving yards than Amidon (1,210) in 2012, and that player, Clemson's DeAndre Hopkins (1,405), now plays his football on Sundays after being drafted by the Houston Texans. Only five ACC players had more touchdowns than Amidon (7), and none of those players ranked ahead of him on the list for 2013.
Few would argue with the selection of Clemson's Sammy Watkins to the preseason All-ACC team, based on both production (57 catches for 708 yards and three TDs in 2012) and potential (playing for the team projected to be tops in the ACC, catching balls from the ACC Preseason Player of the Year in QB Tajh Boyd).
Watkins received the most votes (57) and was joined on the preseason All-ACC team by Wake Forest's Michael Campanaro (20), followed in the voting by Maryland's Stefon Diggs (19) and Florida State's Rashad Greene (10).
Amidon arguably had a better season than either Campanaro, Diggs or Greene. He had more yards and touchdowns than all three, and more catches than either Diggs or Greene (and Campanaro had just one more, 79 to 78, albeit in two fewer games).
Does that mean Campanaro, Diggs and Greene weren't worthy of the votes they got? Of course not. They are all talented players who will likely produce big numbers again this season.
What it does mean is Amidon, a Biletnikoff Award watch list member for 2013, could be excused for showing up to BC's camp on Aug. 5 with a little extra chip on his shoulder.
Jack McCluskey is an editor for ESPN.com and a frequent contributor to ESPNBoston.com. Follow him on Twitter @jack_mccluskey.
UMass picked to finish last in MAC
July, 23, 2013
Jul 23
8:53
PM ET
By Jack McCluskey | ESPNBoston.com
Coming off a 1-11 debut season at the Football Bowl Subdivision level in 2012, perhaps it’s no surprise that UMass again has been picked to finish at the bottom of the Mid-American Conference in 2013.
The Minutemen received just 29 points in the voting by media members in attendance at MAC media day in Detroit on Tuesday, finishing seventh and last in the East Division and tying Eastern Michigan (sixth and last in the West Division) for fewest total points.
Ohio, with 15 first-place votes and 164 points, was chosen to win the East, while Northern Illinois, with 16 first-place votes and 138 points, was chosen to win the West. Northern Illinois, which returns 16 starters from the team that went to the Discover Orange Bowl after a 12-2 season that included an 8-0 conference mark, received 14 of 25 votes to win the MAC title game.
Toledo and Ohio were tied for second with three votes each to win the MAC title game.
UMass coach Charley Molnar knows his team still will be young and inexperienced in 2013, but he believes the Minutemen in Year 2 are “light years” ahead of where they were in Year 1. The only team that UMass beat in Year 1, Akron, also finished the season with a 1-11 record.
The Zips, coincidentally, were picked to finish sixth in the East, one spot ahead of the Minutemen.
The full results of the voting, with first-place votes in parentheses, are as follows:
East Division
1. Ohio (15) 164
2. Bowling Green (8) 154
3. Kent State (1) 119
4. Buffalo (1) 101
5. Miami 78
6. Akron 53
7. UMass 29
West Division
1. Northern Illinois (16) 138
2. Toledo (5) 122
3. Ball State (3) 108
4. Central Michigan (1) 67
5. Western Michigan 61
6. Eastern Michigan 29
The Minutemen received just 29 points in the voting by media members in attendance at MAC media day in Detroit on Tuesday, finishing seventh and last in the East Division and tying Eastern Michigan (sixth and last in the West Division) for fewest total points.
Ohio, with 15 first-place votes and 164 points, was chosen to win the East, while Northern Illinois, with 16 first-place votes and 138 points, was chosen to win the West. Northern Illinois, which returns 16 starters from the team that went to the Discover Orange Bowl after a 12-2 season that included an 8-0 conference mark, received 14 of 25 votes to win the MAC title game.
Toledo and Ohio were tied for second with three votes each to win the MAC title game.
UMass coach Charley Molnar knows his team still will be young and inexperienced in 2013, but he believes the Minutemen in Year 2 are “light years” ahead of where they were in Year 1. The only team that UMass beat in Year 1, Akron, also finished the season with a 1-11 record.
The Zips, coincidentally, were picked to finish sixth in the East, one spot ahead of the Minutemen.
The full results of the voting, with first-place votes in parentheses, are as follows:
East Division
1. Ohio (15) 164
2. Bowling Green (8) 154
3. Kent State (1) 119
4. Buffalo (1) 101
5. Miami 78
6. Akron 53
7. UMass 29
West Division
1. Northern Illinois (16) 138
2. Toledo (5) 122
3. Ball State (3) 108
4. Central Michigan (1) 67
5. Western Michigan 61
6. Eastern Michigan 29
Boston College finished 2012 at the bottom of the ACC standings, and it is predicted to finish there again in 2013.
BC (2-10 overall, 1-7 in ACC play in 2012) was picked to finish seventh in the Atlantic Division by the media members in attendance at the conference’s 2013 Football Kickoff event in Greensboro, N.C., which wrapped up Monday.
Picked immediately ahead of the Eagles? Both ACC newcomer Syracuse and soon-to-be Big Ten member Maryland, which was the only FBS team BC beat in 2012.
The poll revealed Clemson as the prohibitive favorite to win both the Atlantic and the ACC overall, receiving 102 of 120 votes to finish first in the division and 95 votes to win the ACC title game. Miami was picked to win the Coastal Division, with 65 first-place votes.
Clemson QB Tajh Boyd was voted ACC preseason player of the year, receiving 105 of 120 votes to win in a landslide over Miami running back Duke Johnson (four votes) and Virginia Tech QB Logan Thomas and Clemson WR Sammy Watkins (three votes each).
No Eagles received votes in the POY voting.
The complete voting -- the ballots for which, according to CBSSports.com, at first failed to account for the ACC’s recent expansion -- was as follows:
ACC championship
1. Clemson (95)
2. Florida State (15)
T3. Georgia Tech (3)
T3. Miami (3)
T3. North Carolina (3)
6. Virginia Tech (1)
Atlantic Division
1. Clemson (102) 815
2. Florida State (18) 731
3. NC State 490
4. Wake Forest 392
5. Maryland 373
6. Syracuse 320
7. Boston College 211
Coastal Division
1. Miami (65) 736
2. Virginia Tech (27) 654
3. North Carolina (22) 649
4. Georgia Tech (6) 522
5. Pitt 313
6. Virginia 230
7. Duke 228
BC (2-10 overall, 1-7 in ACC play in 2012) was picked to finish seventh in the Atlantic Division by the media members in attendance at the conference’s 2013 Football Kickoff event in Greensboro, N.C., which wrapped up Monday.
Picked immediately ahead of the Eagles? Both ACC newcomer Syracuse and soon-to-be Big Ten member Maryland, which was the only FBS team BC beat in 2012.
The poll revealed Clemson as the prohibitive favorite to win both the Atlantic and the ACC overall, receiving 102 of 120 votes to finish first in the division and 95 votes to win the ACC title game. Miami was picked to win the Coastal Division, with 65 first-place votes.
Clemson QB Tajh Boyd was voted ACC preseason player of the year, receiving 105 of 120 votes to win in a landslide over Miami running back Duke Johnson (four votes) and Virginia Tech QB Logan Thomas and Clemson WR Sammy Watkins (three votes each).
No Eagles received votes in the POY voting.
The complete voting -- the ballots for which, according to CBSSports.com, at first failed to account for the ACC’s recent expansion -- was as follows:
ACC championship
1. Clemson (95)
2. Florida State (15)
T3. Georgia Tech (3)
T3. Miami (3)
T3. North Carolina (3)
6. Virginia Tech (1)
Atlantic Division
1. Clemson (102) 815
2. Florida State (18) 731
3. NC State 490
4. Wake Forest 392
5. Maryland 373
6. Syracuse 320
7. Boston College 211
Coastal Division
1. Miami (65) 736
2. Virginia Tech (27) 654
3. North Carolina (22) 649
4. Georgia Tech (6) 522
5. Pitt 313
6. Virginia 230
7. Duke 228
Big gains expected from Williams
July, 18, 2013
Jul 18
2:57
PM ET
By Jack McCluskey | ESPNBoston.com
New Eagles coach Steve Addazio wants to establish a power running game at Boston College in 2013, but it’s fair to question whether or not he has the pieces at running back to cobble together that puzzle immediately.
When it comes to RBs with experience, there’s Andre Williams … and that’s about it.
Tahj Kimble has shown glimpses of big-play talent, but hasn’t demonstrated the ability to stay on the field consistently. He’s currently rehabbing after knee surgery.
David Dudeck burst onto the scene after Rolandan Finch lost favor (and has since left school) and Kimble was injured, but he’s got 41 career carries and wasn’t even a full-time running back at the start of last season.
So if the Eagles are to play the kind of physical, power game that Addazio favors, it’ll be up to 6-foot, 227-pound Williams to carry the load.
The senior from Schnecksville, Pa., showed in spring work that he is capable of being a top back, and on Thursday was one of four ACC backs named to the Doak Walker Award watch list.
The Doak Walker Award, given each year to the nation’s top running back, is presented by the PwC SMU Athletic Forum. Semifinalists will be announced on Nov. 14, with the winner announced on Dec. 12 on the Home Depot College Football Awards show on ESPN.
Williams’ inclusion on the list may be due more to potential and opportunity than past performance. Coming into 2013, he has 349 career carries for 1,577 yards and 10 touchdowns.
For comparison’s sake, Montee Ball won the Doak Walker Award in 2012 after carrying the ball 356 times for 1,830 yards and 22 TDs for Wisconsin.
Williams had 130 carries for 584 yards and four TDs in nine games in BC’s 2-10 season. (Nearly one-third of those yards came in one game, with 196 yards -- including a 99-yard TD run -- rushing against Army).
If he can stay healthy and if the restructured offensive line can open enough holes, Williams will likely surpass those numbers in 2013. That’s not really a question.
The question Eagles fans are likely asking heading into Addazio’s first season is this: Can Williams’ legs carry BC to success?
Jack McCluskey is an editor for ESPN.com and a frequent contributor to ESPNBoston.com. Follow him on Twitter @jack_mccluskey.
When it comes to RBs with experience, there’s Andre Williams … and that’s about it.
Tahj Kimble has shown glimpses of big-play talent, but hasn’t demonstrated the ability to stay on the field consistently. He’s currently rehabbing after knee surgery.
David Dudeck burst onto the scene after Rolandan Finch lost favor (and has since left school) and Kimble was injured, but he’s got 41 career carries and wasn’t even a full-time running back at the start of last season.
So if the Eagles are to play the kind of physical, power game that Addazio favors, it’ll be up to 6-foot, 227-pound Williams to carry the load.
The senior from Schnecksville, Pa., showed in spring work that he is capable of being a top back, and on Thursday was one of four ACC backs named to the Doak Walker Award watch list.
The Doak Walker Award, given each year to the nation’s top running back, is presented by the PwC SMU Athletic Forum. Semifinalists will be announced on Nov. 14, with the winner announced on Dec. 12 on the Home Depot College Football Awards show on ESPN.
Williams’ inclusion on the list may be due more to potential and opportunity than past performance. Coming into 2013, he has 349 career carries for 1,577 yards and 10 touchdowns.
For comparison’s sake, Montee Ball won the Doak Walker Award in 2012 after carrying the ball 356 times for 1,830 yards and 22 TDs for Wisconsin.
Williams had 130 carries for 584 yards and four TDs in nine games in BC’s 2-10 season. (Nearly one-third of those yards came in one game, with 196 yards -- including a 99-yard TD run -- rushing against Army).
If he can stay healthy and if the restructured offensive line can open enough holes, Williams will likely surpass those numbers in 2013. That’s not really a question.
The question Eagles fans are likely asking heading into Addazio’s first season is this: Can Williams’ legs carry BC to success?
Jack McCluskey is an editor for ESPN.com and a frequent contributor to ESPNBoston.com. Follow him on Twitter @jack_mccluskey.
Amidon on Biletnikoff Award watch list
July, 16, 2013
Jul 16
4:34
PM ET
By Jack McCluskey | ESPNBoston.com
Being a receiver at a school known for producing offensive linemen means that in order to truly stand out, something spectacular has to happen.
Alex Amidon regularly made the spectacular happen in 2012, setting school records for receptions (78) and yards (1,210), and ranking among the nation's best in receptions and yards per game.
But the humble Greenfield, Mass., native still flies somewhat under the radar entering the 2013 season. Though he was an All-ACC first-team performer as a junior during BC's 2-10 season, he won't represent the team at the ACC's Football Kickoff event next week (QB Chase Rettig and LB Steele Divitto have that honor) and until Tuesday he hadn't garnered much notice in the build-up to Steve Addazio's first season as head coach in Chestnut Hill.
That changed, at least a little, Tuesday when the Tallahassee Quarterback Club announced the initial watch list for the Biletnikoff Award, given to the nation's top receiver each season.
Amidon's name is on it.
This marks two years in a row Amidon will be on the list, as he was added to the watch list in September last season. USC's Marqise Lee (118 receptions, 1,741 yards and 14 TDs) won the award in 2012, and is on the list again for 2013.
Amidon is one of 10 ACC wideouts on the initial list, which will be winnowed to 10 finalists by Nov. 18.
A 6-foot, 186-pounder, Amidon had just 36 catches for 558 yards and three TDs in his career prior to 2012. He more than doubled each of those totals in 2012, finishing with 78 catches for 1,210 yards and seven touchdowns.
BC's season begins Saturday, Aug. 31, against Villanova. And while Addazio and new offensive coordinator Ryan Day have said they want to establish a power running game, chances are that Amidon will find a way to make himself known once again this fall.
Alex Amidon regularly made the spectacular happen in 2012, setting school records for receptions (78) and yards (1,210), and ranking among the nation's best in receptions and yards per game.
[+] Enlarge
Anthony Nesmith/Cal Sport Media BC receiver Alex Amidon was an All-ACC first-team performer last season as a junior.
That changed, at least a little, Tuesday when the Tallahassee Quarterback Club announced the initial watch list for the Biletnikoff Award, given to the nation's top receiver each season.
Amidon's name is on it.
This marks two years in a row Amidon will be on the list, as he was added to the watch list in September last season. USC's Marqise Lee (118 receptions, 1,741 yards and 14 TDs) won the award in 2012, and is on the list again for 2013.
Amidon is one of 10 ACC wideouts on the initial list, which will be winnowed to 10 finalists by Nov. 18.
A 6-foot, 186-pounder, Amidon had just 36 catches for 558 yards and three TDs in his career prior to 2012. He more than doubled each of those totals in 2012, finishing with 78 catches for 1,210 yards and seven touchdowns.
BC's season begins Saturday, Aug. 31, against Villanova. And while Addazio and new offensive coordinator Ryan Day have said they want to establish a power running game, chances are that Amidon will find a way to make himself known once again this fall.
BC's Divitto named to Butkus watch list
July, 15, 2013
Jul 15
4:50
PM ET
By Jack McCluskey | ESPNBoston.com
When Luke Kuechly left the Eagles for the NFL after his junior season, he exited as perhaps the most decorated linebacker in Boston College history.
The three-time All-American finished three seasons in Chestnut Hill with a BC- and ACC-record 532 tackles, then won the Lombardi Award, the Lott IMPACT Trophy, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and the Butkus Award before getting drafted ninth overall by Carolina. Then, Kuechly piled up enough tackles to win the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award.
Kuechly obviously left some big shoes to fill, but the Eagles haven't exactly been hurting for talent at linebacker without him.
Last week, Kevin Pierre-Louis was named to the Nagurski watch list. The speedy outside linebacker finished fourth on the team in tackles in 2012.
On Monday, the linebacker who finished second on the team in tackles with 92 (behind Nick Clancy's 145), Steele Divitto, was named to his second watch list as he was included on the initial Butkus Award list. (He was previously included on the Lott trophy list.)
The 6-foot-3, 238-pounder may be in line for a big season, with new defensive coordinator Don Brown and new head coach Steve Addazio preaching an attacking defense in 2013. Then there's also the fact the Eagles don't exactly have an overabundance of proven talent on the defensive line.
BC may never produce another Kuechly, who is a unique talent. But if the past is prologue, there will be bunches of tackles to be spread around among BC's linebackers this season.
If the watch list love is any indication, it appears the Eagles have players talented enough to take advantage of those opportunities.
The three-time All-American finished three seasons in Chestnut Hill with a BC- and ACC-record 532 tackles, then won the Lombardi Award, the Lott IMPACT Trophy, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and the Butkus Award before getting drafted ninth overall by Carolina. Then, Kuechly piled up enough tackles to win the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award.
Kuechly obviously left some big shoes to fill, but the Eagles haven't exactly been hurting for talent at linebacker without him.
Last week, Kevin Pierre-Louis was named to the Nagurski watch list. The speedy outside linebacker finished fourth on the team in tackles in 2012.
On Monday, the linebacker who finished second on the team in tackles with 92 (behind Nick Clancy's 145), Steele Divitto, was named to his second watch list as he was included on the initial Butkus Award list. (He was previously included on the Lott trophy list.)
The 6-foot-3, 238-pounder may be in line for a big season, with new defensive coordinator Don Brown and new head coach Steve Addazio preaching an attacking defense in 2013. Then there's also the fact the Eagles don't exactly have an overabundance of proven talent on the defensive line.
BC may never produce another Kuechly, who is a unique talent. But if the past is prologue, there will be bunches of tackles to be spread around among BC's linebackers this season.
If the watch list love is any indication, it appears the Eagles have players talented enough to take advantage of those opportunities.
UMass' Dima, BC's Pierre-Louis on watch lists
July, 11, 2013
Jul 11
4:43
PM ET
By Jack McCluskey | ESPNBoston.com
Another day, another pair of players from local teams landing on preseason award watch lists.
On Wednesday, it was specialists Nate Freese (Boston College place-kicker) on the Lou Groza watch list and Colter Johnson (Massachusetts punter) on the Ray Guy watch list. On Thursday, it was two guys from opposite sides of the line of scrimmage in the news, as UMass offensive tackle Anthony Dima was included on the Outland Trophy watch list and BC linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis was included on the Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list.
The Nagurski award goes to the national defensive player of the year, while the Outland award goes to the nation’s top interior lineman.
Dima, a 6-foot-7, 302-pound fifth-year senior, is a two-year starter at UMass after transferring from Hofstra. He’s one of three MAC linemen on the Outland list (along with Kent State defensive tackle Roosevelt Nix and Toledo center Zac Kerin).
Pierre-Louis, a 6-foot-1, 215-pound senior, is on the Nagurski watch list for the second straight season. In 2011, the award went to BC’s Luke Kuechly.
Despite playing in just nine games in 2012, Pierre-Louis ranked fourth on the Eagles with 85 tackles. The speedy outside linebacker has 252 career tackles, with 145 of those the solo variety and 14 for a loss.
The BC ‘backer is one of 12 ACC players on the Nagurski list (for a complete list of the ACC’s representatives, go here ).
Jack McCluskey is an editor for ESPN.com and a frequent contributor to ESPNBoston.com. Follow him on Twitter @jack_mccluskey.
On Wednesday, it was specialists Nate Freese (Boston College place-kicker) on the Lou Groza watch list and Colter Johnson (Massachusetts punter) on the Ray Guy watch list. On Thursday, it was two guys from opposite sides of the line of scrimmage in the news, as UMass offensive tackle Anthony Dima was included on the Outland Trophy watch list and BC linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis was included on the Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list.
The Nagurski award goes to the national defensive player of the year, while the Outland award goes to the nation’s top interior lineman.
Dima, a 6-foot-7, 302-pound fifth-year senior, is a two-year starter at UMass after transferring from Hofstra. He’s one of three MAC linemen on the Outland list (along with Kent State defensive tackle Roosevelt Nix and Toledo center Zac Kerin).
Pierre-Louis, a 6-foot-1, 215-pound senior, is on the Nagurski watch list for the second straight season. In 2011, the award went to BC’s Luke Kuechly.
Despite playing in just nine games in 2012, Pierre-Louis ranked fourth on the Eagles with 85 tackles. The speedy outside linebacker has 252 career tackles, with 145 of those the solo variety and 14 for a loss.
The BC ‘backer is one of 12 ACC players on the Nagurski list (for a complete list of the ACC’s representatives, go here ).
Jack McCluskey is an editor for ESPN.com and a frequent contributor to ESPNBoston.com. Follow him on Twitter @jack_mccluskey.
BC's Freese, UMass' Johnson on watch lists
July, 10, 2013
Jul 10
8:07
PM ET
By Jack McCluskey | ESPNBoston.com
Though both Boston College and UMass struggled in 2012, it wasn’t all bad for the Eagles and Minutemen. Amidst the wreckage were some standout performances, ones capable of giving hope to beleaguered fan bases.
Two of those performances got a couple of specialists some recognition on Wednesday, as Nate Freese and Colter Johnson were named to the watch lists for the Lou Groza and Ray Guy awards, respectively.
Freese, a rising senior for BC, was one of the most accurate field goal kickers in the country, finishing 18-for-20 on field goals (.900). He enters 2013 tied for third nationally in field goals per game, at 1.4.
Johnson, a rising senior for UMass, led the MAC in punting average at 43.6 yards per kick. The 6-foot-4, 200-pounder had 66 punts for 2,880 yards as the Minutemen went 1-11 in their debut season in the FBS.
Freese is one of 30 kickers, including four from the ACC, on the Groza award watch list; Johnson is one of 25 punters on the Guy award watch list.
And while their production in 2012 got them this far, it’s a safe bet that both would trade some of their individual opportunities for more team wins in 2013.
Two of those performances got a couple of specialists some recognition on Wednesday, as Nate Freese and Colter Johnson were named to the watch lists for the Lou Groza and Ray Guy awards, respectively.
Freese, a rising senior for BC, was one of the most accurate field goal kickers in the country, finishing 18-for-20 on field goals (.900). He enters 2013 tied for third nationally in field goals per game, at 1.4.
Johnson, a rising senior for UMass, led the MAC in punting average at 43.6 yards per kick. The 6-foot-4, 200-pounder had 66 punts for 2,880 yards as the Minutemen went 1-11 in their debut season in the FBS.
Freese is one of 30 kickers, including four from the ACC, on the Groza award watch list; Johnson is one of 25 punters on the Guy award watch list.
And while their production in 2012 got them this far, it’s a safe bet that both would trade some of their individual opportunities for more team wins in 2013.
Amaker thrilled to have Webster back
July, 2, 2013
Jul 2
9:23
PM ET
By Jack McCluskey | ESPNBoston.com
After reaching the highest heights in Harvard basketball’s long history in 2012-13, winning a third straight Ivy League title and the school’s first NCAA tournament game, Tommy Amaker lost just one player to graduation.
That means the rest of the best team in Crimson annals will be back, and as if that wasn’t enough Brandyn Curry and Kyle Casey -- would-be senior cocaptains who left school prior to the 2012-13 season because they were implicated in a widespread academic cheating scandal -- will be back to bolster the core of Wesley Saunders, Laurent Rivard and Siyani Chambers in 2013-14.
But, wait, there’s more.
That one player the Crimson lost to graduation? He’s coming back too.
After the Crimson were knocked out of the NCAAs by Arizona, Yanni Hufnagel, viewed as a top recruiter, left for Vanderbilt, and Brian Adams left for Marist. On Tuesday, Amaker announced the promotion of assistant Brian DeStefano to associate head coach and the hiring of Adam Cohen and Christian Webster as assistants.
Webster, you may recall, was a senior cocaptain in 2012-13.
“We’re really excited about those guys getting opportunities to move on and move up,” Amaker said of Hufnagel and Adams, speaking by phone from the Harvard offices. “Brian obviously coming from a volunteer position here, getting a full-time paid position [at Marist]. And for Yanni, it’s a tremendous opportunity to go to Vanderbilt and the SEC.”
The moves are a clear step up the coaching ladder for both Hufnagel and Adams, and a sign that other programs value what the Crimson have accomplished.
“Selfishly you’d like to think that that’s a strong factor,” Amaker said of the program’s success leading to the turnover in the coaching staff. “At least we hope so.”
But ultimately, Amaker said, it’s about timing and finding the right opportunity at the right time for the individual.
“They’re very deserving of the opportunities,” he said. “We’ll miss them but we’re also excited about the new additions.”
Cohen, a 2008 Arizona grad who worked as a student manager under former coach Lute Olson, spent the 2012-13 season working for Ben Braun with the Rice Owls after three seasons with the USC Trojans. He started as video coordinator and ended as the director of basketball operations for USC.
“His bio speaks for itself,” Amaker said. “His background and his ability is widely known. I really respect him as a person. He’s been at a number of different places, worked for some outstanding people and to have the opportunity to bring him on board was a tremendous coup for us.”
DeStefano, who like Amaker is a Duke grad and cut his teeth under Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski, is entering his seventh season with the Crimson.
Webster will join the Crimson staff in a volunteer role, just as Adams before him did. Adams came to Harvard with five years of experience working for the Boston Celtics, where he was video coordinator.
All Webster has on his résumé is the success he and his teammates had in Amaker’s system. In his four seasons with the Crimson, the Washington, D.C., native was part of four 20-plus win teams, three Ivy League titles, four postseason appearances -- including NCAA tournament berths as both a junior and a senior -- and Harvard’s first NCAA tourney win, helping upset No. 3 seed New Mexico 68-62.
Asked if it will be difficult for Webster to successfully transition from player and teammate to coach and mentor just two months after graduation, Amaker said it may be.
But it’s possible, and he should know.
“He was sensitive to that,” Amaker said. “I did it, and I told him it wasn’t straight out -- I was a year between -- but it was still [coaching] players that you played with.”
Amaker joined Krzyzewski’s staff at Duke as a graduate assistant in 1988, just a year after graduating and being selected in the NBA draft by Seattle. (The SuperSonics cut Amaker shortly after drafting him, and he decided to get into coaching.)
“I’m sure it will have its moments when it will be strange when he’s trying to coach and teach and still have relationships with guys,” Amaker said. “But he’s very much respected within our program and I think that’s the key for it to work. For the players to recognize and respect him.
“If he didn’t have that, maybe it wouldn’t work. If he didn’t have that, maybe I wouldn’t want him to be a coach.”
But Amaker believes Webster, who finished his playing career as the program’s winningest player at 90-30 overall and 45-11 in the Ivy League, has what it takes to make it work.
“Being one of the more respected players that we’ve had in the program since I’ve been here, I’m thrilled that he wanted to pursue this and try this,” he said. “I’m excited as heck and thrilled and honored to continue to have Christian be a part of this.”
In fact, the head coach said he’s already planning to use Webster as a recruiting tool.
“If we’re going to talk about what we’ve done and who we are, all I have to do is point to him,” Amaker said. “I’m sure that families and parents will run to have their kids here at Harvard if they can turn out like Christian Webster.”
Jack McCluskey is an editor for ESPN.com and a frequent contributor to ESPNBoston.com. Follow him on Twitter @jack_mccluskey.
That means the rest of the best team in Crimson annals will be back, and as if that wasn’t enough Brandyn Curry and Kyle Casey -- would-be senior cocaptains who left school prior to the 2012-13 season because they were implicated in a widespread academic cheating scandal -- will be back to bolster the core of Wesley Saunders, Laurent Rivard and Siyani Chambers in 2013-14.
But, wait, there’s more.
That one player the Crimson lost to graduation? He’s coming back too.
[+] Enlarge
Steve Dykes/USA TODAY SportsChristian Webster, the lone graduating senior among Harvard's rotation players from last season, will be back as an assistant coach.
Webster, you may recall, was a senior cocaptain in 2012-13.
“We’re really excited about those guys getting opportunities to move on and move up,” Amaker said of Hufnagel and Adams, speaking by phone from the Harvard offices. “Brian obviously coming from a volunteer position here, getting a full-time paid position [at Marist]. And for Yanni, it’s a tremendous opportunity to go to Vanderbilt and the SEC.”
The moves are a clear step up the coaching ladder for both Hufnagel and Adams, and a sign that other programs value what the Crimson have accomplished.
“Selfishly you’d like to think that that’s a strong factor,” Amaker said of the program’s success leading to the turnover in the coaching staff. “At least we hope so.”
But ultimately, Amaker said, it’s about timing and finding the right opportunity at the right time for the individual.
“They’re very deserving of the opportunities,” he said. “We’ll miss them but we’re also excited about the new additions.”
Cohen, a 2008 Arizona grad who worked as a student manager under former coach Lute Olson, spent the 2012-13 season working for Ben Braun with the Rice Owls after three seasons with the USC Trojans. He started as video coordinator and ended as the director of basketball operations for USC.
“His bio speaks for itself,” Amaker said. “His background and his ability is widely known. I really respect him as a person. He’s been at a number of different places, worked for some outstanding people and to have the opportunity to bring him on board was a tremendous coup for us.”
DeStefano, who like Amaker is a Duke grad and cut his teeth under Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski, is entering his seventh season with the Crimson.
Webster will join the Crimson staff in a volunteer role, just as Adams before him did. Adams came to Harvard with five years of experience working for the Boston Celtics, where he was video coordinator.
All Webster has on his résumé is the success he and his teammates had in Amaker’s system. In his four seasons with the Crimson, the Washington, D.C., native was part of four 20-plus win teams, three Ivy League titles, four postseason appearances -- including NCAA tournament berths as both a junior and a senior -- and Harvard’s first NCAA tourney win, helping upset No. 3 seed New Mexico 68-62.
Asked if it will be difficult for Webster to successfully transition from player and teammate to coach and mentor just two months after graduation, Amaker said it may be.
But it’s possible, and he should know.
“He was sensitive to that,” Amaker said. “I did it, and I told him it wasn’t straight out -- I was a year between -- but it was still [coaching] players that you played with.”
Amaker joined Krzyzewski’s staff at Duke as a graduate assistant in 1988, just a year after graduating and being selected in the NBA draft by Seattle. (The SuperSonics cut Amaker shortly after drafting him, and he decided to get into coaching.)
“I’m sure it will have its moments when it will be strange when he’s trying to coach and teach and still have relationships with guys,” Amaker said. “But he’s very much respected within our program and I think that’s the key for it to work. For the players to recognize and respect him.
“If he didn’t have that, maybe it wouldn’t work. If he didn’t have that, maybe I wouldn’t want him to be a coach.”
But Amaker believes Webster, who finished his playing career as the program’s winningest player at 90-30 overall and 45-11 in the Ivy League, has what it takes to make it work.
“Being one of the more respected players that we’ve had in the program since I’ve been here, I’m thrilled that he wanted to pursue this and try this,” he said. “I’m excited as heck and thrilled and honored to continue to have Christian be a part of this.”
In fact, the head coach said he’s already planning to use Webster as a recruiting tool.
“If we’re going to talk about what we’ve done and who we are, all I have to do is point to him,” Amaker said. “I’m sure that families and parents will run to have their kids here at Harvard if they can turn out like Christian Webster.”
Jack McCluskey is an editor for ESPN.com and a frequent contributor to ESPNBoston.com. Follow him on Twitter @jack_mccluskey.
Harvard basketball coach Tommy Amaker announced on Tuesday he has assembled his coaching staff for the 2013-14 season, promoting assistant Brian DeStefano to associate head coach and hiring Adam Cohen and Christian Webster as assistant coaches.
Webster was a senior co-captain on the 2012-13 Harvard team that won both a third straight Ivy League title and the first NCAA tournament game in Crimson history. When he graduated in May, Webster was the winningest player in team history with a 90-30 overall record and a 45-11 record in Ivy League play.
The moves were made necessary by the departures of assistants Yanni Hufnagel and Brian Adams after the Crimson were knocked out of the NCAA tournament by Arizona.
Hufnagel, regarded as a top recruiter, left for Vanderbilt, and Adams, who started in a volunteer position at Harvard, left for a full-time paid position at Marist.
Like Amaker, DeStefano is a Duke graduate who cut his basketball teeth under Mike Krzyzewski. He is entering his seventh season at Harvard.
Cohen comes to Harvard after one season at Rice, where he worked with perimeter players and contributed to recruiting efforts. Prior to Rice, Cohen spent three seasons at USC, working his way from video coordinator to director of basketball operations.
Jack McCluskey is an editor for ESPN.com and a frequent contributor to ESPNBoston.com. Follow him on Twitter @jack_mccluskey.
Webster was a senior co-captain on the 2012-13 Harvard team that won both a third straight Ivy League title and the first NCAA tournament game in Crimson history. When he graduated in May, Webster was the winningest player in team history with a 90-30 overall record and a 45-11 record in Ivy League play.
The moves were made necessary by the departures of assistants Yanni Hufnagel and Brian Adams after the Crimson were knocked out of the NCAA tournament by Arizona.
Hufnagel, regarded as a top recruiter, left for Vanderbilt, and Adams, who started in a volunteer position at Harvard, left for a full-time paid position at Marist.
Like Amaker, DeStefano is a Duke graduate who cut his basketball teeth under Mike Krzyzewski. He is entering his seventh season at Harvard.
Cohen comes to Harvard after one season at Rice, where he worked with perimeter players and contributed to recruiting efforts. Prior to Rice, Cohen spent three seasons at USC, working his way from video coordinator to director of basketball operations.
Jack McCluskey is an editor for ESPN.com and a frequent contributor to ESPNBoston.com. Follow him on Twitter @jack_mccluskey.
Addazio reveals BC's mantra: Be a dude
June, 19, 2013
Jun 19
7:36
PM ET
By Jack McCluskey, Special to ESPNBoston.com
Steve Addazio laughed.
Standing outside Fenway's State Street Pavilion after a breakfast event supporting the Positive Coaching Alliance, the new Boston College coach was fielding questions about his first few months on the job.
"I can't comment on recruiting this time of year other than to say we're really excited about where we are," he said, "and it just reinforces every day that Boston College is just a phenomenal place. And having the city of Boston and being a part of that is special.
"I mean who wouldn't want to go to school at BC and be a part of Boston? It's just a phenomenal place."
After three consecutive seasons of diminishing win totals (from seven to four to two), increasing loss totals (from six to eight to 10) and subpar recruiting, longtime coach Frank Spaziani was let go at the end of last season and Addazio was brought in to turn things around.
And all of a sudden the Eagles' 2014 recruiting class is ranked No. 25 in the country by ESPN's RecruitingNation. (The class ranks even higher elsewhere, checking in at No. 19 according to Rivals.com.)
Addazio and his staff have 16 commitments (most in the ACC) to date in the class, including two four-star recruits and nine three-star recruits. There's a highly regarded running back, a dual-threat quarterback and even a Flutie (Troy, son of Darren and nephew of Doug) in the class.
"The Eagles were an afterthought on the recruiting trail the past few years, even in their own region," RecruitingNation wrote in the class rankings. "But Steve Addazio has a lit a fire under the program, and he has not coached a single game."
Yet what might stand out most about the recent changes in Chestnut Hill, and what made Addazio laugh, is the mantra that's taken root with the current and future Eagles.
The message boils down to three words: Be a dude.
It started with defensive coordinator Don Brown.
"That's his saying all the time, be a dude," Addazio said. "And what being a dude is is being a baller. You know? Just being a real baller. Just being a dude.
"Be great. Be a baller. Be great at what you are. Just don't be average."
That message found a receptive audience in the Eagles' locker room.
"It just resonated with our team, you know what I mean?" Addazio said. "It just started kinda, 'Hey, be a dude, man. Be a dude.' And then we got going with recruiting and it kinda really caught on."
Just how it's caught on highlights another change in Chestnut Hill: The coaching staff has joined the 21st century.
Oh, sure, Spaziani had a Twitter account. He just didn't care to use it.
That won't be the case with Addazio and his staff.
"When I came in here, the No. 1 priority was recruit, recruit, recruit, recruit, recruit," he said. "So I'm gonna challenge myself. As the head coach, I've gotta drive recruiting. And so I had to challenge myself to get outside of my comfort zone, too. I've always recruited well and enjoyed recruiting, but this year I started taking on more with the whole Twitter thing and the Instagram and everything."
Now Eagles fans can follow the new head coach (@BCCoachAddazio), both coordinators (Brown, @fbcoachdbrown, and offensive coordinator Ryan Day, @ryandaytime) and a host of assistant coaches.
"I said, 'You know what, we're all gonna get outside of our comfort zone, we're just gonna press it as hard as we can and we're just going after this thing,'" Addazio said of the social media push. "And it's gotta start and I've gotta drive it. I'm really proud of our guys and our staff because we've really gotten after this thing and we've had a bunch of fun with it."
That fun seems to include seeing just how many ways they can include the new "#BeADude" mantra (or some version of it) in their social media messages:
One of the more prolific posters is running backs coach Al Washington, who often includes images in his tweets:
"We've got a good group of guys," Addazio said of his staff. "It's low ego, so you can challenge each other. That's what it's all about.
"We've got guys who wouldn't have known Instagram from I don't know what, but now we're getting Instagrams going and we're Twittering. It's hilarious, but it's great. It's a mindset. We've gotta have that mindset."
They've gotta be dudes.
Jack McCluskey is an editor for ESPN.com and a frequent contributor to ESPNBoston.com. Follow him on Twitter @jack_mccluskey.
Standing outside Fenway's State Street Pavilion after a breakfast event supporting the Positive Coaching Alliance, the new Boston College coach was fielding questions about his first few months on the job.
"I can't comment on recruiting this time of year other than to say we're really excited about where we are," he said, "and it just reinforces every day that Boston College is just a phenomenal place. And having the city of Boston and being a part of that is special.
"I mean who wouldn't want to go to school at BC and be a part of Boston? It's just a phenomenal place."
After three consecutive seasons of diminishing win totals (from seven to four to two), increasing loss totals (from six to eight to 10) and subpar recruiting, longtime coach Frank Spaziani was let go at the end of last season and Addazio was brought in to turn things around.
And all of a sudden the Eagles' 2014 recruiting class is ranked No. 25 in the country by ESPN's RecruitingNation. (The class ranks even higher elsewhere, checking in at No. 19 according to Rivals.com.)
Addazio and his staff have 16 commitments (most in the ACC) to date in the class, including two four-star recruits and nine three-star recruits. There's a highly regarded running back, a dual-threat quarterback and even a Flutie (Troy, son of Darren and nephew of Doug) in the class.
"The Eagles were an afterthought on the recruiting trail the past few years, even in their own region," RecruitingNation wrote in the class rankings. "But Steve Addazio has a lit a fire under the program, and he has not coached a single game."
Yet what might stand out most about the recent changes in Chestnut Hill, and what made Addazio laugh, is the mantra that's taken root with the current and future Eagles.
The message boils down to three words: Be a dude.
It started with defensive coordinator Don Brown.
"That's his saying all the time, be a dude," Addazio said. "And what being a dude is is being a baller. You know? Just being a real baller. Just being a dude.
"Be great. Be a baller. Be great at what you are. Just don't be average."
That message found a receptive audience in the Eagles' locker room.
"It just resonated with our team, you know what I mean?" Addazio said. "It just started kinda, 'Hey, be a dude, man. Be a dude.' And then we got going with recruiting and it kinda really caught on."
Just how it's caught on highlights another change in Chestnut Hill: The coaching staff has joined the 21st century.
Oh, sure, Spaziani had a Twitter account. He just didn't care to use it.
That won't be the case with Addazio and his staff.
"When I came in here, the No. 1 priority was recruit, recruit, recruit, recruit, recruit," he said. "So I'm gonna challenge myself. As the head coach, I've gotta drive recruiting. And so I had to challenge myself to get outside of my comfort zone, too. I've always recruited well and enjoyed recruiting, but this year I started taking on more with the whole Twitter thing and the Instagram and everything."
Now Eagles fans can follow the new head coach (@BCCoachAddazio), both coordinators (Brown, @fbcoachdbrown, and offensive coordinator Ryan Day, @ryandaytime) and a host of assistant coaches.
"I said, 'You know what, we're all gonna get outside of our comfort zone, we're just gonna press it as hard as we can and we're just going after this thing,'" Addazio said of the social media push. "And it's gotta start and I've gotta drive it. I'm really proud of our guys and our staff because we've really gotten after this thing and we've had a bunch of fun with it."
That fun seems to include seeing just how many ways they can include the new "#BeADude" mantra (or some version of it) in their social media messages:
Finishing out a great week of camps with a one-day camp here at the Heights! What a Great Day to Coach some Dudes!
— Don Brown (@FBCoachDBrown) June 15, 2013
One of the more prolific posters is running backs coach Al Washington, who often includes images in his tweets:
16th Student Athlete In Class Of 14' Has Decided To Become A #Dude Great Weekend For BC #Beadude #14dreamchasers pic.twitter.com/6aMR9U0ha0
— Al Washington (@BCCoachWash) June 17, 2013
"We've got a good group of guys," Addazio said of his staff. "It's low ego, so you can challenge each other. That's what it's all about.
"We've got guys who wouldn't have known Instagram from I don't know what, but now we're getting Instagrams going and we're Twittering. It's hilarious, but it's great. It's a mindset. We've gotta have that mindset."
They've gotta be dudes.
Jack McCluskey is an editor for ESPN.com and a frequent contributor to ESPNBoston.com. Follow him on Twitter @jack_mccluskey.
BOSTON -- In the cutthroat world of college football recruiting, any edge is worth exploiting. Especially when it’s an edge over a school with a similar profile, a school that just might be wooing the same type of player from the same geographic area.
At the second annual Coffee with the Coaches breakfast on Tuesday morning, Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly found something he can use against new Boston College coach Steve Addazio.
“I love to see kids that are three-sport athletes,” Addazio said, answering a question about specialization in youth sports. “When we recruit guys, I want to see three-sport athletes. I love when they’re three-sport athletes, and I think especially at a young age, I mean, come on -- go out and play sports, have fun.
“I played soccer all the way up, I didn’t play football until I got to high school and I had a great experience.”
That’s when Kelly cut in.
“I’m gonna use that in recruiting,” he joked, drawing a big laugh from the audience, “now that I know that you played soccer. I’m gonna have to take that with me.”
After the crowd’s laughter died down, all the chuckling Addazio could manage was, “Yeah.”
“Now he won’t say anything else,” event co-host and WEEI radio personality Michael Holley joked, drawing more laughs.
At least he wouldn’t say anything else to give the Eagles’ longtime rivals a possible leg up in recruiting -- joke or no joke.
Jack McCluskey is an editor for ESPN.com and a frequent contributor to ESPNBoston.com. Follow him on Twitter @jack_mccluskey.
At the second annual Coffee with the Coaches breakfast on Tuesday morning, Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly found something he can use against new Boston College coach Steve Addazio.
“I love to see kids that are three-sport athletes,” Addazio said, answering a question about specialization in youth sports. “When we recruit guys, I want to see three-sport athletes. I love when they’re three-sport athletes, and I think especially at a young age, I mean, come on -- go out and play sports, have fun.
“I played soccer all the way up, I didn’t play football until I got to high school and I had a great experience.”
That’s when Kelly cut in.
“I’m gonna use that in recruiting,” he joked, drawing a big laugh from the audience, “now that I know that you played soccer. I’m gonna have to take that with me.”
After the crowd’s laughter died down, all the chuckling Addazio could manage was, “Yeah.”
“Now he won’t say anything else,” event co-host and WEEI radio personality Michael Holley joked, drawing more laughs.
At least he wouldn’t say anything else to give the Eagles’ longtime rivals a possible leg up in recruiting -- joke or no joke.
Jack McCluskey is an editor for ESPN.com and a frequent contributor to ESPNBoston.com. Follow him on Twitter @jack_mccluskey.
Boston University announced Monday that it has signed men's basketball coach Joe Jones to an extension that will keep him on Commonwealth Avenue through the 2017-18 season.
“Coach Jones has demonstrated in numerous ways that he is the right man for Boston University as we transition into the Patriot League,” Boston University athletic director Mike Lynch said in a statement. “He is a true leader both on and off the court and has already proven to be a great teacher and recruiter of upstanding young men.
“In just two years, he has immersed himself in the BU culture and has made great progress in laying the foundation for future success.”
Jones, who came to BU via Boston College and Columbia, is 33-29 in his first two seasons in charge of the Terriers. After finishing 16-16 in his first season, BU went 17-13 in his second season in 2012-13.
“The opportunity to continue to serve Boston University is a tremendous honor,” Jones said in the statement. “Boston University is a very special place and that is no more evident than in the tremendous young men that we work with every day.”
In his first full recruiting class, Jones landed talented guards Maurice Watson Jr. (a four-star recruit and ESPN 100 member, according to ESPN RecruitingNation) and John Papale. Both made an impact in their freshman seasons, with Watson averaging 11.2 points and a team-high 5.4 assists per game and Papale leading the America East in 3-point shooting at 41.9 percent.
Going into Season 3, Jones has two more recruits signed on: 6-foot-5 shooting guard Cedric Hankerson (a three-star recruit, ranked No. 59 at his position by RecruitingNation) and 7-foot center Dylan Haines.
Those players will seek to join a rotation led by rising senior D.J. Irving (career-high averages of 14.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.4 steals in 2012-13) as the Terriers enter their new conference.
While BU did not disclose the terms of the agreement with Jones, the extension means he’s under contract to be the head of the program for the school's first five seasons in the Patriot League.
Jack McCluskey is an editor for ESPN.com and a frequent contributor to ESPNBoston.com. Follow him on Twitter @jack_mccluskey.
“Coach Jones has demonstrated in numerous ways that he is the right man for Boston University as we transition into the Patriot League,” Boston University athletic director Mike Lynch said in a statement. “He is a true leader both on and off the court and has already proven to be a great teacher and recruiter of upstanding young men.
“In just two years, he has immersed himself in the BU culture and has made great progress in laying the foundation for future success.”
Jones, who came to BU via Boston College and Columbia, is 33-29 in his first two seasons in charge of the Terriers. After finishing 16-16 in his first season, BU went 17-13 in his second season in 2012-13.
“The opportunity to continue to serve Boston University is a tremendous honor,” Jones said in the statement. “Boston University is a very special place and that is no more evident than in the tremendous young men that we work with every day.”
In his first full recruiting class, Jones landed talented guards Maurice Watson Jr. (a four-star recruit and ESPN 100 member, according to ESPN RecruitingNation) and John Papale. Both made an impact in their freshman seasons, with Watson averaging 11.2 points and a team-high 5.4 assists per game and Papale leading the America East in 3-point shooting at 41.9 percent.
Going into Season 3, Jones has two more recruits signed on: 6-foot-5 shooting guard Cedric Hankerson (a three-star recruit, ranked No. 59 at his position by RecruitingNation) and 7-foot center Dylan Haines.
Those players will seek to join a rotation led by rising senior D.J. Irving (career-high averages of 14.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.4 steals in 2012-13) as the Terriers enter their new conference.
While BU did not disclose the terms of the agreement with Jones, the extension means he’s under contract to be the head of the program for the school's first five seasons in the Patriot League.
Jack McCluskey is an editor for ESPN.com and a frequent contributor to ESPNBoston.com. Follow him on Twitter @jack_mccluskey.
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Jack McCluskey
Jack McCluskey is an editor for ESPN.com and covers college sports and more for ESPNBoston.com. Send any questions or comments for Jack here and follow him on Twitter (@jack_mccluskey).