All football teams change from year to year. Few have changed as dramatically over the past four years as Boston College.
Tom O'Brien, who coached the Eagles to eight straight bowls before departing for N.C. State, is no longer the coach at BC. Neither, for that matter, is Jeff Jagodzinski, who coached the Eagles to back-to-back Atlantic Division titles before being fired for applying for an NFL job he didn't get.
Matt Ryan, the third player selected in the 2008 NFL Draft, is no longer playing quarterback for the Eagles. Neither, for that matter, is Dominique Davis, the redshirt freshman reserve who led BC to last season's improbable comeback victory at Wake Forest before being ruled academically ineligible at season's end.
Defensive tackles B.J. Raji and Ron Brace, seniors last season, are no longer playing for BC. Neither, for that matter, is linebacker Mark Herzlich, last year's ACC defensive player of the year who learned in the offseason that he has cancer.
The BC team that Wake Forest will play in Boston on Saturday is a shell of its former, yet quite recent, self. At least it appeared to be in last week's 25-7 debacle at Clemson, where it managed 54 yards and four first downs.
Frank Spaziani, the Eagles' defensive coordinator the past 10 years, was promoted to head coach after Jagodzinski defied Athletics Director Gene DeFilippo. Spaziani was asked Sunday if having three coaches in four years has had any affect on the program.
"Oh absolutely," he said. "(I've seen it) in continuity, as far as expectations, as far as how you're coached and what is expected of you daily.
"We as coaches are always trying to implement a system and get everybody on the same page. (If) you've got three school teachers in the same year, it's a little bit different, right?"
BC still appears to be formidable on defense, based on its ability to hold Clemson to 253 yards and no touchdowns on offense. Seven starters are back from last year's defense, and although Spaziani has turned the role of defensive coordinator over to Bill McGovern, he's obviously still involved in the game plan.
The offense, on the other hand, is a work in progress, and will remain so at least until the line jells and new coordinator Gary Tranquill finds someone capable of playing quarterback. Justin Tuggle, a redshirt freshman and the son of former NFL linebacker Jessie Tuggle, has yet to prove he's up to his new challenge in the first three games.
Against Clemson, Tuggle completed four passes and threw three interceptions. His four passes gained 23 yards for BC. His three interceptions resulted in 22 yards of returns for Clemson. Through three games, Tuggle has completed 13 of 37 passes for 229 yards and four touchdowns.
Spaziani left open the possibility that a new quarterback will start against Wake Forest. The most obvious replacements are Dave Shinskie, a 25-year-old freshman who has completed 17 of 27 passes for 185 yards, Mike Marscovetra, a freshman who has completed three of four passes for 21 yards and Codi Boek, a transfer who has completed two of four passes for 18 yards.
"The quarterback situation is certainly problematic," Spaziani said. "We have to address it in the long term and try to do what's best for the football team.
"This one isn't easy."
The Eagles might get a lift this week from the return Mike McLaughlin, a senior linebacker who was second last season in tackles. McLaughlin tore an Achilles tendon in the spring and missed the first three games but said Saturday that he plans to return to practice this week.
Spaziani said he will be welcomed.
"If he's totally healthy, which we think he is, and his mind is right, he goes right with the first group and he does what he does," Spaziani said.
dcollins@wsjournal.com
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