You Stay Classy, BC

As you may have heard, BC head coach Jeff Jagodzinski is on the Jets list of coaches they'd like to speak to about their vacant head coaching position. You may have also heard that Jags is going to be canned if he goes through with the interview, as per BC's AD, according to sources.

If this is true, it's kind of ridiculous and really bad for BC football. In recent years, when Purdue football has continued the downward trend of mediocrity and I, on one or two occasions, got so mad I uttered something about firing Coach Tiller, Boilerdowd often calmed me by pointing out that the University just can't do that. You can't bring on a guy who does a good job and then, before he can leave on his own terms, boot him out. And the reason you can't do that is because of how other coaches will look at the job. If you're an up-and-coming coach who has a couple of decent options, and one of the programs has a history of firing coaches for interviewing for jobs in the offseason, well, that's not exactly an appealing place to be.

What is Jags supposed to do? Be BC head coach for life? Or until BC fires him or forces him to "resign"? I'm all for guys honoring contracts but I don't have a huge problem with coaches jumping to new jobs because there's nowhere that says the school has to honor the contract (yes, I realize you get paid but you know what I mean).

And now, assuming this threat is true, no matter what happens, the damage is done. Whether Jagodzinski winds up as the head coach of the Jets, stays at BC, or gets canned -- the word is out that BC is willing to threaten their head coaches in this manner. Not a good thing for your program.

Now That Was Fun!

With the remote in hand, I switched back and forth from Fox, to NBC, to ESPN. It was a great night of TV...one made for fat guys like me.

30 Rock and The Office were funny as usual...and The Red Sox showed that they can do it with pitching too...But my favorite part of the night was the drama displayed in Blacksburg, VA.

The entire contest...or at least the majority of it was dampered by rain. At times, the rain was pretty hard to. It kept BC's high-powered offense from moving the ball with their normal efficiency. With about 55:00 played, Coach Jags, Matt Ryan & Co. decided it was time to unleash the hounds. First, Matt Ryan led the Eagles down the field on a 92-yd. drive. The problems he had earlier with VaTech's pressure was aided by the fact that Virginia Tech dropped their linebackers into coverage on many plays. This gave Ryan all of the time he needed to methodically march his offense to a score.

Ironically, Virginia Tech was not able to secure the game with special teams, and they allowed BC to recover an onside kick on around the 35. VaTech's defense was tired now...they applied pressure, but Ryan looked like the big kid on the playground keeping the D-Ends at an arms length as he bought time again and again en route to the game-winning score. Many in the stadium thought the game was over about :15 before the game-winner, but a hold brought the play back and helped set up a 3rd and 20. Ryan had a chance to run the ball and set up a game-tying field goal, but instead he avoided the blitz right then rolled left and threw a dagger off of his left foot to his running back, Callender, who had broken off his route and found a soft spot in the Hokies' Prevent zone. While winning, the Eagles broke the three-week losing streak of AP #2 teams...a jinx that looked like it would stay alive for at least one more week.

Ryan ran off the field, knocked coach Jags on his can...and was so jacked about the moment that he threw up on the sidelines...on national TV. This is part of the reason I love college football so much. The dude had used it all.

Right after the game was over, I couldn't help but dream about the same scenario with Purdue's number 12...Coming off a 9-3 (10-3 after the big bowl win) campaign, Painter is given some rope and develops a bit more in the off-season and leads the Boilers to a huge national-spotlight win versus another top-10 opponent and keeps Purdue's national title hopes alive...ahhhhhhhh. Granted, that talk is as delusional as an IU fan who thinks Sampson isn't a cheater or a domer who really believes Weis is still a genius...But much like those fans, I'm enjoying my fantasy for the time being.

Boston College is still my favorite Catholic college football team...by a lot! Keep it going Superfans!!! Ryan for Heisman! You the man, Jags!

Boiled Sports Weekly Real Genius: Jeff Jagodzinski

If you can out-think, out-wit, out-prepare and beat a genius, what must you be? I don't really know. But you are at the very least considered the Boiled Sports Weekly Real Genius when you accomplish such a feat.

Congratulations, Coach Jeff Jagodzinski! You have earned this honor.

Much like Shelly Long left Cheers in the height of the program, your predecessor, Tom O'Brien left the city of Boston in a similar position. No one understands why in either case. That said, you've had to overcome a lot to get to where you are. While everyone at Cheers "knows your name", no one seems to know yours. But you found a way to beat a coach that ESPN and others have made sure everyone knows.

95% of the Catholics in your city root for Notre Dame because they're Catholic, yet they act like your school is run by hedonistic Protestants. We both know the truth to be much different. While UND bends academic rules for their players, you lead a bunch of young men who have to attend class and get grades in real classes...That didn't stop you from laying the wood to the "Fightin" Irish.

You also have to overcome the fact that no one has any clue what you look like...that doesn't matter to you, you simply keep doing your job.

While UND's Claussen-led offense was stymied by your defense, the real star quarterback on the field, Matt Ryan answered as the Irish. Later, UND's back-up, Sharpley valiantly led the Irish to a 2-TD loss. It was like watching a prize fight between two heavy weights...except your team was like Mike Tyson's mouth and UND was Evander Holyfield's ear. Tasty.

As Notre Dame marches toward a record-breaking season, you graciously helped out as Coach Weis seeks an 8-plus loss campaign. I'm sure you learned a lot from the guy across the field last Saturday. Granted, you've never coached in the NFL like some other geniuses have (you actually have), and ESPN wouldn't ever call you one, but in our book, Jags, you are a Real Genius.