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Post by joe on Oct 30, 2017 6:17:10 GMT -5
We play them 3 games from now. They beat FSU 35-3. We’ll have a QB with either limited or no experience and a new coaching staff. What’s the play here?
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Post by hcpride on Oct 30, 2017 6:48:32 GMT -5
They seem to be hitting their stride right now (Louisville, UVA, Florida State)
In a way, as another poster noted on another thread, BC is in a no-win situation when playing us. They lose, it is an absolute 'fire the coach' disaster. They win against a weak PL team, so what? Hoping it is not one of those cases where they believe have to beat us by a whopping margin for it to appear more like a decent win for them.
I'd feel better if it was their first game of the season. Seems like wacky stuff happens in first games.
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Post by hc87 on Oct 30, 2017 8:04:41 GMT -5
We play them 3 games from now. They beat FSU 35-3. We’ll have a QB with either limited or no experience and a new coaching staff. What’s the play here?
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Post by ncaam on Oct 30, 2017 8:07:49 GMT -5
We play them 3 games from now. They beat FSU 35-3. We’ll have a QB with either limited or no experience and a new coaching staff. What’s the play here?$$$$$
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Post by jkh67 on Oct 30, 2017 8:21:52 GMT -5
I go back to the time when the HC-BC game was more often than not the biggest tilt of the New England season. A time when we were reasonably competitive with them most years. So, playing the Eagles again has real appeal to me. In theory. The problem is that we will be fielding a relatively young and inexperienced team with a brand spanking new QB. We'll be psyched, no doubt. But if BC is in the mood to make a statement about HC's place in the football universe, we will likely suffer a major league drubbing. The score will only be close if they're looking past the game and the hype it will doubtless generate and see HC as nothing more than something unpleasant adhering to the bottom of their cleats.
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Post by ncaam on Oct 30, 2017 8:27:47 GMT -5
I go back to the time when the HC-BC game was more often than not the biggest tilt of the New England season. A time when we were reasonably competitive with them most years. So, playing the Eagles again has real appeal to me. In theory. The problem is that we will be fielding a relatively young and inexperienced team with a brand spanking new QB. We'll be psyched, no doubt. But if BC is in the mood to make a statement about HC's place in the football universe, we will likely suffer a major league drubbing. The score will only be close if they're looking past the game and the hype it will doubtless generate and see HC as nothing more than something unpleasant adhering to the bottom of their cleats. $$$$
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Post by Sons of Vaval on Oct 30, 2017 8:30:39 GMT -5
I watched most of the BC v. FSU game on Friday. The Eagles are much, much better than they've been in past years. Their defense is legit, and their young QB is mobile and can throw.
Tailgate will be fun in Chestnut Hill, at the very least!
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Post by hcpride on Oct 30, 2017 8:50:30 GMT -5
Any chance the game will sell out?
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Post by inhocsigno on Oct 30, 2017 8:50:58 GMT -5
Easy - the play is to go out, play hard and try to win, regardless of the outcome. Losing to BC will not hurt the program, even if the score is 50-0. Playing well is a bonus. For all you guys always crying about losing NE players - this is a very important game. Those guys that want to play in NE but don't get one of X scholarships from BC may be more inclined to choose HC because BC is on the schedule and they don't have to leave home to go play in another region.
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Post by 6sader7 on Oct 30, 2017 12:49:46 GMT -5
I think this game will be a lot closer than most people here think it will be. (10-14 points)
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Post by hcgrad94 on Oct 30, 2017 13:04:55 GMT -5
Agreed. Lots of folks thought we would get hurt vs UConn. Silly and uninformed. Yes BC is better than they have been, and better than we are, but it was that way in the 80s when we stopped playing them. In many ways, the size and speed difference is less today than it was then.
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Post by hcpride on Oct 30, 2017 13:24:33 GMT -5
Agreed. Lots of folks thought we would get hurt vs UConn. Silly and uninformed. Yes BC is better than they have been, and better than we are, but it was that way in the 80s when we stopped playing them. In many ways, the size and speed difference is less today than it was then. There was a time when we had players that matched up (Pete Muldoon actually turned down BC as I recall) physically but that really diminished by 1986 and the last game was tough to watch. Early 80's BC was a national power and we were a 1-AA power.
We'll be at a huge disadvantage (that is why we cancelled the series in the first place) in 2018 given the usual PL v ACC differences and I think a couple of folks pointed out they may be a stronger ACC team next year and we may be a weaker PL team.
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Post by sader1970 on Oct 30, 2017 14:11:33 GMT -5
Not necessarily a brand new QB for HC. Isn’t Geoff Wade a junior and he played most of last season after PP’s injury
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Post by rgs318 on Oct 30, 2017 14:17:26 GMT -5
Well, "brand new" from this season (except for a few plays two weeks ago).
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Post by joutsHC77 on Oct 30, 2017 14:41:24 GMT -5
Critical that NP gets the coach and staff who will get the performance we expect and to keep the good recruiting going.
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Post by fellas85 on Oct 30, 2017 14:46:33 GMT -5
If we all believe or should I say, hope, that the HC football program will become relevant again, this game and games against other FBS schools is an absolute necessity. Especially for recruiting purposes. There are negatives to these games, no doubt (injuries being just one). Long term, however, the renewal of the BC rivalry, is a very good thing. I was shocked this year when I read that the UCONN game was our first FBS opponent in 15 years. From a recruiting standpoint, the FCS has become very competitive. This will help our cause. And while we're at it, let's get some away games that are not in the Northeast
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Post by 6sader7 on Oct 30, 2017 14:51:18 GMT -5
If we all believe or should I say, hope, that the HC football program will become relevant again, this game and games against other FBS schools is an absolute necessity. Especially for recruiting purposes. There are negatives to these games, no doubt (injuries being just one). Long term, however, the renewal of the BC rivalry, is a very good thing. I was shocked this year when I read that the UCONN game was our first FBS opponent in 15 years. From a recruiting standpoint, the FCS has become very competitive. This will help our cause. And while we're at it, let's get some away games that are not in the NortheastNavy kills 2 birds with 1 stone here. Lot of football talent out of Maryland. I think Wake Forest and Duke could also be teams to target in the future.
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Post by unhfan on Oct 30, 2017 15:09:14 GMT -5
The goal of Holy Cross should be to stay healthy and try to keep it close. With the roughly 20+ more scholarships FBS schools have the Cross like all FCS schools are the underdogs. Take the cash, stay healthy, move on. Don’t get stuck in the past before the FBS/FCS split. This BC team is getting better and will be heavy favorites no matter who you hire as a new coach.
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Post by 6sader7 on Oct 30, 2017 15:11:43 GMT -5
This game actually really helps the HC team I believe in terms of providing them with something really concrete to work towards all off season.
This game will (obviously) circled...It's a great motivator to work hard all off-season and it also serves as a spark of excitement going into a season after a disappointing year.
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Post by joe on Oct 30, 2017 16:08:51 GMT -5
This has morphed a bit into a discussion about the rationale for HC playing BCS schools. Let’s get back on point.
Other than being “fired up,” what strategy can a team with either a relatively inexperienced or possibly new QB, a new coach, new staff, which lost many key players to graduation, and wasn’t very good anyway, do to prepare for a team like BC who just steamrolled another FBS school, FSU to boot. I’m talking strategy, football theory.
BC IS NOT UCONN.
Will limited tape and the element of surprise work in our favor? How will Adazzio scout us, by drone? What else can we do to pull this off? Or at least not have this be a Howard situation where the game is called after the third quarter.
Our plan was to be a PL and possibly an FCS power by now with a coach in his 15th year. So we are going into this more disadvantaged than we thought several years ago when, to my great joy, and that of many others, it was announced that this series would be resuming.
I don’t care how much money we get, there is nothing to be gained from an ass whooping. Losing is fine sometimes, but I’m afraid this game will get out of control. BC is going to try to destroy and embarrass us, and send the world a message that we don’t belong on the same field as them. More so now, than 1986.
Just calling this thing as it is. My purple glasses are long gone.
Discuss.
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Post by worcester on Oct 30, 2017 16:21:25 GMT -5
I would think a great motivator would to be competitive in the PL never mind BC
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Post by inhocsigno on Oct 30, 2017 16:32:14 GMT -5
The game is good. PERIOD.
Yes, they are going to have a more talented overall team and much more depth. Yes, they will be 21-28+ point fav. The key to not getting killed will be team fundamentals, i.e. not missing tackles, everyone staying on assignment, and reducing mistakes (not giving up big plays, reduce penalties, and no turnovers).
Having a new QB does not bother me, unless we don't have one on the roster that can make plays. We just don't know that yet. No disrespect to Wade, but I would not be surprised if he is not the starter next year. A QB that can make plays with his legs will be the difference between being competitive and getting beat. They are going to be able to score on us, so we need to be able to lengthen drives. A mobile QB will be key.
If we play a perfect game, and they make mistakes (turnovers, etc.), we have a change to be competitive. I am not saying we will win, but it would not be an embarrassment. In either event, the game is good for nothing else than the fact that it will show up in the box scores under the ACC lines.
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Post by hcpride on Oct 30, 2017 16:34:37 GMT -5
If we had a running game (and I have no reason to think next year we will have much of one) or at least a scrambling QB (and I have no reason to think we will have one) we could maybe burn some time at least. Maybe we have a secret speedster buried on our depth chart - or an incoming recruit - that outclasses BC's defenders BC does seem to have some key contributors from their FSU blowout returning so my hope that their entire squad graduates is for naught: " Freshman running back AJ Dillon rushed for 149 yards and scored one touchdown while senior linebacker Ty Schwab had 12 tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss as the Eagles (5-4, 3-3 ACC) defeated the Seminoles (2-5, 2-4 ACC), 35-3, at Alumni Stadium. Redshirt freshman wide receiver Kobay White finished the game with two receptions for 46 yards and one touchdown and junior tight end Tommy Sweeney had two catches for 19 yards and one touchdown in the first half to give the Eagles a commanding lead that they would hold throughout the remainder of the game. I'm out of ideas.
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Post by rgs318 on Oct 30, 2017 16:49:38 GMT -5
Well luckily, as fans, we don't need to come up with ideas. That is up to the new coach and his staff. Not trying to be cute, but I just don't think that anything we say (or guess) here will have any effect on next season. No need to worry about coming up with ideas. Now if that were said by our new coach, I would be terrified.
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Post by hc87 on Oct 30, 2017 17:08:14 GMT -5
It is what it is...unfortunate that we'll be a team in transition in a lot of ways but just having the game on the schedule is a big net positive. I doubt BC would "roll it up" purposefully on us....more than likely, they'll get a decent lead and just grind it out/get their younger kids some time etc. It will be something like 38-14. Now 2020......
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