Boston College Athletics
Photo by: John Quackenbos
W2WF: Jay McGillis Spring Game
April 21, 2017 | Football, #ForBoston Files
It's the preview trailer for this fall's main attraction.
It's hard to imagine that the next time people see Boston College football, it'll be for real.
That's not to say that spring practice isn't real. But there's definitely a teaser feeling to it, something that only serves to whet appetites for games that fully count. It's a coming attraction, something of a movie trailer for the main event in the fall. It does an exceptional job of setting the transition from "last season" to "this season."
It crescendos with the annual spring game. On Saturday, the Eagles will divide their roster into two teams and compete in the annual Jay McGillis Memorial Spring Football Game. It'll be a real game, one contested under normal scoring without advanced mathematics. The players will enter Alumni Stadium knowing it'll be a chance to show a glimpse and preview into what might happen in September.
For BC, this year's spring is a jump-off spot for last year's springboard. The Eagles entered the offseason with momentum after defeating Maryland in the Quick Lane Bowl, but they kept that momentum going through their practices. Coming out of the spring, BC now transitions to the next phase as the team looks to take the next step in their progression as a program.
"These guys are playing a really good level of football right now," head coach Steve Addazio said. "We're so much further ahead than we've been in the past in terms of the complete game. I really want to come out (in the spring game), have some fun, and let them play with no drills. I kind of want to see some continuity right now, and then get the older guys out of there to let the younger guys scrimmage it up."
Here's some of what to watch for as BC takes the field on Saturday:
***
Weekly Storylines (John Madden Edition)
Coaches have to watch for what they don't want to see and listen to what they don't want to hear.
Having evaluated the roster throughout spring practice, the McGillis Spring Game is meant to be fun for the players. More than going through the motions and making the players sweat their performance, it's meant more for them to finally be able to just play football without drill work, a chance to put on pads and hit someone on the field … even if it's a teammate.
Despite suffering some injuries in camp, there have never been plans to cancel the spring game. This week, Addazio announced there wouldn't be any changes to the scoring that would be confusing for fans. This game will be a straight-up, regular, good ol' fashioned football game. That said, there are still decisions on how the rosters will be divided.
"How we go about it - whether we match 1-O and 2-D against 1-D and 2-O up, I don't know," Addazio said. "It's not that significant to me. I'd like to see some continuity with what we're doing right now, so I'll probably lean a little bit that way."
The decision-making process, therefore, centers on if the top units will be allowed to compete against one another. The coaches could make the decision to put the top defensive unit against the top offense, then switch it up to let the top defense face the second-team offense. Or they could switch it up and let the top offense face the second-team defense. Or they could just let them play.
There's a number of permutations, but in the end, what happens between the lines is probably more important to a final score as a result.
The only yardstick for success our society has is being a champion. No one remembers anything else.
Spring practice brought out the best in Darius Wade and Anthony Brown, both of whom are vying for the starting quarterback's job in September. Saturday probably won't quell the questions, but it'll serve as the first real opportunity to see them at the helm of the Eagles' offense.
"I love (the competition)," Addazio said. "When your team's right, you should have competition, so to have the quarterbacks (competing) is a really good, healthy thing. In today's world, if you can keep that going, it's a really good thing. It's different than the old days; it means you have two good players, and that's good."
Though Wade and Brown will garner most of the attention, there's a unique opportunity to see the rest of the Eagles compete. EJ Perry is a mid-year enrollee and one of the most prolific quarterbacks in Massachusetts high school history, while John Fadule also continues his development after being forced into the starter's role as a walk-on freshman.
"The young guys are doing good," Addazio said. "EJ Perry and John Fadule are working hard, and I'm pleased."
Nothing jazzes me up like football. I've acquired more passion of the years, not less. Not to love it wouldn't make sense.
After winning their first bowl game in nearly a decade, there's an excitement around the Eagles. But there remains an element of improvement to the infrastructure of the program. Following losses along the defensive line, BC is taking their current components and continuously building them up. That presents some options as they continue to work.
"I think we're really talented (on defense), but we don't have the same interior depth that we had," Addazio said. "So we need these younger guys like Tanner Karafa and Bryce Morais step up. They do some really good things, but there just isn't consistency. They're still young and immature but they have ability. They're getting coached at a very high level, and they're in there plugging and battling. We do have some flexibility there with the ends, and we can move them around too. Those are some really talented guys."
***
Meteorology 101
Saturday is increasingly looking like a good, overcast, spring day to get out to Alumni Stadium. Forecasts are calling for cloudy skies, but it'll likely be devoid of the rain and rawness hitting the Boston area on Friday. Temperatures will be in the 50s for a midday start, with a stiff breeze keeping it cold enough for a blanket. Overall, it's a good day, though I'm sure everyone wouldn't mind another 5-10 degrees and breaking sunshine.
***
Prediction Time
The spring game is meant to be fun for everyone, so it's best to look at life within the lines. It'll be great just to see football competition among players playing for fun, a relaxed last look after an intense practice schedule.
There are items to break down, such as the quarterback play. Watching the offensive line plow the road for the running game will always be of special interest, and, of course, the stoutness of the defense, which has been elite for the past two seasons.
But overall the recommendation is to come out and just enjoy a great day at Alumni Stadium. Football, for one day, is back, and that's cause enough to be excited.
That's not to say that spring practice isn't real. But there's definitely a teaser feeling to it, something that only serves to whet appetites for games that fully count. It's a coming attraction, something of a movie trailer for the main event in the fall. It does an exceptional job of setting the transition from "last season" to "this season."
It crescendos with the annual spring game. On Saturday, the Eagles will divide their roster into two teams and compete in the annual Jay McGillis Memorial Spring Football Game. It'll be a real game, one contested under normal scoring without advanced mathematics. The players will enter Alumni Stadium knowing it'll be a chance to show a glimpse and preview into what might happen in September.
For BC, this year's spring is a jump-off spot for last year's springboard. The Eagles entered the offseason with momentum after defeating Maryland in the Quick Lane Bowl, but they kept that momentum going through their practices. Coming out of the spring, BC now transitions to the next phase as the team looks to take the next step in their progression as a program.
"These guys are playing a really good level of football right now," head coach Steve Addazio said. "We're so much further ahead than we've been in the past in terms of the complete game. I really want to come out (in the spring game), have some fun, and let them play with no drills. I kind of want to see some continuity right now, and then get the older guys out of there to let the younger guys scrimmage it up."
Here's some of what to watch for as BC takes the field on Saturday:
***
Weekly Storylines (John Madden Edition)
Coaches have to watch for what they don't want to see and listen to what they don't want to hear.
Having evaluated the roster throughout spring practice, the McGillis Spring Game is meant to be fun for the players. More than going through the motions and making the players sweat their performance, it's meant more for them to finally be able to just play football without drill work, a chance to put on pads and hit someone on the field … even if it's a teammate.
Despite suffering some injuries in camp, there have never been plans to cancel the spring game. This week, Addazio announced there wouldn't be any changes to the scoring that would be confusing for fans. This game will be a straight-up, regular, good ol' fashioned football game. That said, there are still decisions on how the rosters will be divided.
"How we go about it - whether we match 1-O and 2-D against 1-D and 2-O up, I don't know," Addazio said. "It's not that significant to me. I'd like to see some continuity with what we're doing right now, so I'll probably lean a little bit that way."
The decision-making process, therefore, centers on if the top units will be allowed to compete against one another. The coaches could make the decision to put the top defensive unit against the top offense, then switch it up to let the top defense face the second-team offense. Or they could switch it up and let the top offense face the second-team defense. Or they could just let them play.
There's a number of permutations, but in the end, what happens between the lines is probably more important to a final score as a result.
The only yardstick for success our society has is being a champion. No one remembers anything else.
Spring practice brought out the best in Darius Wade and Anthony Brown, both of whom are vying for the starting quarterback's job in September. Saturday probably won't quell the questions, but it'll serve as the first real opportunity to see them at the helm of the Eagles' offense.
"I love (the competition)," Addazio said. "When your team's right, you should have competition, so to have the quarterbacks (competing) is a really good, healthy thing. In today's world, if you can keep that going, it's a really good thing. It's different than the old days; it means you have two good players, and that's good."
Though Wade and Brown will garner most of the attention, there's a unique opportunity to see the rest of the Eagles compete. EJ Perry is a mid-year enrollee and one of the most prolific quarterbacks in Massachusetts high school history, while John Fadule also continues his development after being forced into the starter's role as a walk-on freshman.
"The young guys are doing good," Addazio said. "EJ Perry and John Fadule are working hard, and I'm pleased."
Nothing jazzes me up like football. I've acquired more passion of the years, not less. Not to love it wouldn't make sense.
After winning their first bowl game in nearly a decade, there's an excitement around the Eagles. But there remains an element of improvement to the infrastructure of the program. Following losses along the defensive line, BC is taking their current components and continuously building them up. That presents some options as they continue to work.
"I think we're really talented (on defense), but we don't have the same interior depth that we had," Addazio said. "So we need these younger guys like Tanner Karafa and Bryce Morais step up. They do some really good things, but there just isn't consistency. They're still young and immature but they have ability. They're getting coached at a very high level, and they're in there plugging and battling. We do have some flexibility there with the ends, and we can move them around too. Those are some really talented guys."
***
Meteorology 101
Saturday is increasingly looking like a good, overcast, spring day to get out to Alumni Stadium. Forecasts are calling for cloudy skies, but it'll likely be devoid of the rain and rawness hitting the Boston area on Friday. Temperatures will be in the 50s for a midday start, with a stiff breeze keeping it cold enough for a blanket. Overall, it's a good day, though I'm sure everyone wouldn't mind another 5-10 degrees and breaking sunshine.
***
Prediction Time
The spring game is meant to be fun for everyone, so it's best to look at life within the lines. It'll be great just to see football competition among players playing for fun, a relaxed last look after an intense practice schedule.
There are items to break down, such as the quarterback play. Watching the offensive line plow the road for the running game will always be of special interest, and, of course, the stoutness of the defense, which has been elite for the past two seasons.
But overall the recommendation is to come out and just enjoy a great day at Alumni Stadium. Football, for one day, is back, and that's cause enough to be excited.
Players Mentioned
QB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
DE
/ Football
DL
/ Football
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