Boston College Athletics
Jagodzinski Discusses 2008 Season With ACC Media
July 21, 2008 | Football
July 21, 2008
GREENSBORO, Ga. - Second-year head coach Jeff Jagodzinski took part in the 2008 ACC Football Kickoff on Monday along with the other 11 conference coaches. Members of the media talked to Jagodzinski at the Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation, near Greensboro, Ga.
Jagodzinski was photographed with the other coaches on the Reynolds Plantation property before taking questions from over 200 media members in attendance on Monday.
The preseason ballot was released prior to the coaches' interviews and Boston College was picked to finish fourth in the Atlantic Division by the media. Clemson, who was picked to win the ACC Championship game, received 59 first-place votes. Wake Forest was voted second with five top nods and Florida State was third. Maryland and NC State were picked fifth and sixth, respectively.
Virginia Tech was picked first in the Coastal Division with 58 first-place votes. The rest of the standings in order were North Carolina, Miami, Georgia Tech, Virginia, and Duke. Every team except the Blue Devils received at least one first-place vote.
Jagodzinski took questions on how his first season went as a head coach at the collegiate level and how his second season is taking shape.
"I didn't know what to expect my first year," he said. "I was fortunate to have great guys around me. That was helpful. I learned to delegate and let them do their thing. The hardest thing for me was to delegate and let them take care of it. About a quarter of the way into the season was when I finally got comfortable with it."
Just like seniors Ron Brace and Ryan Purvis were drilled with questions regarding Matt Ryan on Sunday, so was Jagodzinski. "Every guy at some point is going to be a starter," he said. "It is Chris Crane's turn. When you are a backup, you never have the chance to lead a team or run a practice. He is asserting himself now. It is his team."
"You don't replace Matt Ryan," he continued. "Chris' time has come. No one is irreplaceable. After Matt Hasselbeck, Tim came along. After Joe Montana, Steve Young wasn't so bad. At some point, you're going to be a starter and it is Chris' time."
Jagodzinski on adjusting to being a collegiate head coach:
"The biggest adjustment is starting from square one. In the pros, the players already have a good base. When you have freshmen from high school you forget you have to take them from square one."
On the biggest question mark entering the season:
"It is our offense. Our defense will be very strong. The addition of BJ (Raji) and Brian (Toal) is big. We were very good against the run last year and we will be again this year."
On Steve Logan developing Chris Crane:
"Logan is one of the best quarterback coaches in the country. Just look at his track record (including Jeff Blake and David Garrard). There is a reason for that. He will take what Chris has got. Chris is bigger, stronger, and a little faster. We can get him out on the edge more because he can run."
On the running back situation:
"Josh (Haden) is our starter. Jack Bicknell, Sr. came by and after practice one day and told me I had Troy Stradford. Josh reminded him of Troy. He will catch a bunch of passes, too. Jeff Smith will be back as well; he is finally cleared to play. He will bring speed that we have really missed."
On Jeff Smith:
"Jeff will be our kick returner. I'm going to get the ball in his hands as much as I can. You want the ball in your playmaker's hands. He will be in the backfield and he will catch passes. He went out for track for two weeks and ran a 10.5 100m and he is excited to play."
