Boston College Athletics
Win #8 Is Just the Next Step
December 18, 2014 | Football
For the second straight year, the Boston College football is headed to a bowl. Three years ago, that didn't necessarily seem possible.
Coming off a 2-10 season, Steve Addazio took the helm of the program in December 2012, instilled a new attitude, a new culture and a new dedication.
His system worked and the Eagles were bowl bound less than a year after Addazio was hired as head coach.
One year removed from its return to the postseason, Boston College has loftier goals.
"Last year, being able to get bowl eligibility was great," Addazio said earlier this week as the Eagles prepared for the New Era Pinstripe Bowl, which they'll play on December 27 against Penn State at Yankee Stadium. "Now, this year, we're going after that bowl win. It's a really important drive."
In 2013, BC went 7-5 in the regular season, earning a berth to the Independence Bowl - their first since the 2010 campaign - but the Eagles fell to Arizona, 42-19.
This year, Boston College also went 7-5 in the regular season, but three of those losses were by four points or fewer. As the Eagles approach next week's Pinstripe Bowl, last year's bowl loss and improving year-over-year are on the forefront of their minds and preparations.
"To win eight games this year is taking the next step for the program," senior linebacker Sean Duggan said. "I think everyone remembers that feeling of losing to Arizona. That feeling in that locker room, you never want to send seniors out with a loss, so winning this game would be a big step for this program and continuing in the upward direction."
Senior wide receiver Josh Bordner agrees. "That's all we've been talking about, is taking that next step. It felt like last year we were more satisfied with getting back to a bowl game. But this year, we're excited to be going to New York City and playing in the Pinstripe Bowl and we're looking forward to having an opportunity to win the game."
"Last year, we had a strong ride in the end and we didn't finish it off in the bowl game," sophomore running back Myles Willis added. "We have been practicing harder and such more attention to detail to get the eight win because it means a lot."
From his perspective, Addazio sees increased attention on the practice field this time around.
"Our practice are much more intense than they were a year ago at this time," Addazio said. "What does all that mean? I guess we'll see. But these kids are loving practicing and the grind of the preparation for this game, which I think tells you what you need to know. It's very important to me."
Andy Gallik, a senior caption who has started the Eagles' last 37 games at center since 2012, knows the bar is set as the team heads to New York - and everything between now and then can only better the football program.
"We're really proud on building on the foundation that the guys built last year. It took a lot of mental toughness with the culture changing that we had last year. There were a lot of guys who didn't stick around and didn't buy into what Coach Addazio wanted for this program. But those seniors last year made things right. We didn't finish off the season the way we wanted to. But going into the season this year, it's awesome that we're able to get back into a bowl. I think that now is the time to establish the tradition that they started last year and close it out with a bowl win so that the younger guys can go into next year with a brighter perspective and up the goals a little bit," Gallik said.
A potential win number 8 will do a lot for the Eagles' football program. It will continue the tradition started by the seniors in 2013 and amplified by the current crop of seniors this year. It will also keep momentum going in the same direction it's been since Addazio's arrival at The Heights two years ago.
But according to Addazio, two more important things will happen: "You're developing the culture of your team. Success breeds success."
