All Eyes on Ireland

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – With preseason camp coming to a close and the first game of the 2016 campaign less than a week away, the Eagles have their sights locked in on Georgia Tech.

This season opener will be slightly different than past seasons, however. For the first time since head coach Steve Addazio took over the team, the Eagles will be facing an ACC opponent. Along with that, the game will be providing a unique element, Ireland.

Since the 2016 Aer Lingus College Football Classic at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland, was announced, some of the Eagles were not hesitant to express their excitement for heading overseas.

"I am very excited to be going to Ireland. I have actually never been outside the country before so this will be my first international trip and Ireland is a great place to be," said senior defensive back John Johnson.

Graduate quarterback Patrick Towles also expressed his excitement about the trip to the Emerald Isle, "It's a once in a lifetime experience, a lot of people don't get to do that. So it is an unbelievable opportunity to come to a wonderful college like this and we get to do these kinds of things. I'm excited and I'm not going to take it for granted."

Unlike most game weeks, the team will be flying out Tuesday night rather than preparing for the game at The Heights. The Eagles will be practicing within the shores of Éire the remainder of the week. With practice being held in a neutral site, junior Connor Strachan acknowledged that the Eagles will have to adjust to a different prep week than they are used to.

"It's different, but similar to a bowl game where you're just practicing somewhere else, you stay locked in mentally and focused on the game. Obviously we'll have a bit of a transition period when you're flying somewhere. You just start thinking about the game and with a big ACC game coming up, you're not really concerned with where you are or what's going on. You're really focused on what you're doing for the game."

The last time the Eagles faced off against the Yellow Jackets in 2012, the game did not go their way as the Rambling Wreck took control on both sides of the ball, cruising to a 37-17 win. Now four years later, Boston College is mentally locked in to not only start the season with a win, but to start 1-0 in the ACC.

While the thought of visiting a new country is something that the players look forward to, the Eagles fully understand the reasoning behind the trip.

"I am excited but this is still a business trip and I'm not thinking about much outside of the game right now" said junior defensive lineman Harold Landry

Towles added, "We are still on a mission, it's not a vacation but we will enjoy it for what it is worth. So we plan on going in and just playing good football."

There has been an incredible build up to the game Eagles fans will not want to miss it. Superfans and college football fans alike can expect a great match-up of last year's No.1 defense against Tech's unique wishbone style of offense. Those stateside will have to set alarms as the game kicks off at 7:30 a.m. EST and will air on ESPN2.

Written by Dan Lumb
Athletic Communications

Players Mentioned

John Johnson

Harold Landry

Connor Strachan

Patrick Towles

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