Game Notes: Week 1 vs. UMass
August 27, 2018 | Football
BC is set to begin the 120th season in school history as the Eagles host in-state foe UMass
• For the second time under head coach Steve Addazio, the Boston College football team opens the season against UMass on Saturday, Sept. 1. BC also started the 2014 campaign against the Minutemen.
• The game will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra. Doug Sherman provides play-by-play commentary while Matt Chatham has the color commentary.
• Coverage on the Boston College IMG Sports Network begins at 12:30 p.m. with Jon Meterparel, Pete Cronan and Scott Mutryn. Fans can listen to the game locally on WEEI 850 AM, nationally on TuneIn and on Sirius channel 134 and XM channel 384.
• Boston College returns 17 starters from last season's 7-6 squad that finished 4-4 in the ACC. The Eagles won five of their last six regular season games a year ago and finished the season in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl vs. Iowa.
• UMass is 1-0 to start the season after last Saturday's 63-15 win over Duquesne in Amherst.Â
• BC holds a 21-5 series advantage over Massachusetts and has won the last nine meetings, the latest coming in 2016 (26-7 at Gillette Stadium).
• The Eagles are 33-5-2 all-time against New England's two FBS schools, UMass and UConn.
• In the 2016 win over UMass, then sophomore wide receiver Jeff Smith finished with five receptions for 98 yards, including two touchdown receptions of 46 and 36 yards.
• BC is 12-3 all-time at home against UMass. The last time the two schools met at Alumni Stadium was in 2011 as BC prevailed 45-17
• BC defensive coordinator Jim Reid was the head coach at Massachusetts from 1986 to 1991. He compiled a 36-29-1 record and guided the Minutemen to three Yankee Conference titles. He was named the Yankee Conference Coach of the Year in 1988 and 1990. Reid got his start at UMass as a graduate assistant in 1973.Â
• Boston College is set to begin the 120th season in school history as the Eagles host in-state foe UMass.
• Boston College has nine straight wins in the series vs. UMass. The last time the Minutemen defeated the Eagles was a 27-0 shutout in 1978.
• BC head coach Steve Addazio enters his sixth season at the Heights (31-33) and is 4-1 in season openers. The lone loss in a season opener under Addazio was in 2016 in Ireland to Georgia Tech.
• Under Addazio, BC is 10-10 in the month of September, including a 9-6 mark in September home games.
• All-time, BC is 69-48-2 in season openers, including a 13-5 mark since 2000.
• Saturday's game against UMass marks the first time since 2015 that Boston College has opened the season at Alumni Stadium. The Eagles defeated Maine 24-3 in the 2015 opener.
120th Season of Boston College Football
• The 120th season of Boston College football is set to begin on Saturday, Sept. 1 vs. UMass. All-time, BC is 659-487-37 in 1,183 games.
• BC is 36th in NCAA history with 659 victories. The Eagles are one of eight ACC schools ranked in the top 40 all-time in victories.
NCAA All-Time Won-Loss Records (by Victories)
1. Michigan 943
2. Ohio State 896
Texas 896
4. Nebraska 893
5. Alabama 891
6. Notre Dame 885
15. Virginia Tech 737
17. Clemson 729
18. Georgia Tech 728
20. Pitt 717
23. Syracuse 709
28. North Carolina 689
36. Boston College 659
37. Virginia 649
Opening Act
• Boston College is 69-41 all-time in season openers. The Eagles have won four of five season openers under Steve Addazio and the Eagles have won 11 of their last 14 opening games of the season.
Notes to Remember
• Boston College finished the 2017 regular season winning five of its last seven games as the Eagles closed out a 7-6 season and 4-4 mark in the ACC.Â
• Boston College was one of 21 teams nationally - and just one of 13 teams from Power Five conferences - to win at least five of the final six games of the regular season.
• Boston College was just one of two bowl teams nationally to play 10 teams who qualified for a bowl in 2017.
• Only Clemson (6-0) and Boston College (5-1) won at least five of their last six in the regular season among ACC schools.
• Head coach Steve Addazio has led the Eagles to four bowls in his first five years, the first head coach in BC history to do so.
• The Eagles return ACC Rookie of the Year AJ Dillon, the nation's second-leading rusher among freshmen and the country's No. 7 overall rusher with 1,589 yards and 14 touchdowns.
• Dillon was BC's first ACC Rookie of the Year. He had 1,099 rushing yards over the last six regular season games, the most of any player in the country.
• Dillon's 1,589 rushing yards were the second-most by any ACC freshman in conference history.
• Dillon tied for the most All-ACC votes with reigning Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson. Dillon had four games of 190+ yards of rushing in 2017.
• Boston College had nine players earn All-ACC honors, tied for the most in school history. Seven of the nine All-ACC selections return in 2018.
• Over the last six regular season games, BC averaged 36 points per game and outscored the opposition by 19 points per contest including wins over Florida State (35-3), at Louisville (45-42) and at Virginia (41-10).
• Boston College was third nationally in pass efficiency defense in 2017.
• Boston College was 12th nationally in interceptions (18) in 2017.
• BC scored 35+ points in three consecutive games for the first time since 2002.
• BC scored 40+ points in consecutive conference games once in school history in the BIG EAST and ACC (this season).
• 500+ yards of total offense in consecutive games against Louisville and Virginia was also a first in ACC history for BC.
• Boston College's rushing offense was the most improved unit of any Power 5 school in yards per carry (96th to 25th).
• Boston College was 12th nationally and was second in the ACC in sacks allowed in 2017.
• Boston College was 18th nationally in total plays in 2017. In 2016, the Eagles ranked 94th nationally in total plays.
• Lukas Denis was tied for second nationally with seven interceptions in 2017.
Preseason Award Watch List
• The following list of Eagles were named to various preseason award watch lists and All-America teams:
Phil Steele's – Preseason All-America
Athlon – Preseason All-America
Bednarik Award – Watch List
Bronko Nagurski Trophy – Watch List
Wuerffel Trophy – Watch List
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ACC – Preseason Team
The Athletic - Preseason All-America
Associated Press  - Preseason All-America
Sporting News – Preseason All-America
Sports Illustrated – Preseason All-America
CBSSports.com - Preseason All-America
Athlon – Preseason All-America
Street & Smith's – Preseason All-America
Bednarik Award – Watch List
Bronko Nagurski Trophy – Watch List
Jim Thorpe Award – Watch List
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ACC – Preseason Player of the Year
ACC – Preseason Team
Associated Press  - Preseason All-America
Phil Steele's – Preseason All-America
The Athletic - Preseason All-America
Sports Illustrated – Preseason All-America
CBSSports.com - Preseason All-America
Athlon – Preseason All-America
Lindy's Sports – Preseason All-America
Doak Walker Award – Watch List
Maxwell Award – Watch List
Walter Camp Football Foundation – 50 Players to Watch
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Phil Steele's – Preseason All-America
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ACC – Preseason Team
Athlon – Preseason All-America
Outland Trophy – Watch List
ACC – Preseason Team
John Mackey Award – Watch List
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Athlon – Preseason All-America
Allstate AFCA Good Works Team – Nominee
Paul Hornung Award – Watch List
Roster Breakdown by State
• The 105 players on the Boston College roster hail from 20 states and one Canadian province.
State Number of Players
Alabama 1
Arizona 1
California 6
Connecticut 7
Florida 9
Georgia 5
Indiana 2
Maryland 3
Massachusetts 24
New Hampshire 4
New Jersey 13
New York 13
North Carolina 2
Ohio 3
Pennsylvania 3
Quebec (Canada) 1
Rhode Island 1
South Carolina 1
Texas 4
Virginia 1
Wisconsin 1
Dillon Named ACC Preseason Player of the Year
• Sophomore running back AJ Dillon returns as the ACC Preseason Player of the Year after a record-setting freshman campaign in 2017.
• Dillon's 1,589 yards rushing last season were the second-most by any freshman in ACC history. The New London, Connecticut, native ranked second nationally among all freshmen in rushing in 2017 and seventh among all players. Dillon set the Boston College freshman rushing record while posting the fourth-highest single-season total in school history.
• Dillon received 45 votes in this year's ACC Preseason Player of the Year balloting to edge Clemson defensive tackle Christian Wilkins by three votes. NC State quarterback Ryan Finley placed third with 37 votes, and Florida State running back Cam Akers followed with 13.
Second in ACC History
• AJ Dillon became the 12th freshman in ACC history to run for 1,000 yards in a season after his 196-yard performance against No. 23 NC State on Nov. 11, 2017. He finished 2017 second in ACC history with 1,589 rushing yards by a freshman.
ACC Freshman Rushing Yards Leaders
1. Ryan Williams, Virginia Tech (2009)Â 1,655
2. AJ Dillon, Boston College (2017) Â Â 1,589
3. Darren Evans, Virginia Tech (2008)Â 1,265
4. Giovani Bernard, North Carolina (2011) Â 1,253
5. Amos Lawrence, North Carolina (1977) Â 1,211
• Dillon was the first BC player to rush for over 1,000 yards since graduate quarterback Tyler Murphy accumulated 1,184 in 2014.
BC Single-Season Rushing Yards Leaders
1. Andre Williams (2013) 2,177
2. Mike Cloud (1998) 1,726
3. Derrick Knight (2003) 1,721
4. AJ Dillon (2017) 1,589
5. William Green (2001) 1,559
BC's Freshman Rushing King
• AJ Dillon became BC's all-time leading freshman rusher with 1,039 rushing yards after logging 196 yards against NC State last season. Dillon scored the game's first touchdown on a 66-yard touchdown run, his second-longest carry of the season.
• Dillon eclipsed Montel Harris' BC freshman rushing record of 920 yards in 13 games during the 2008 season.
• Dillon has seven career 100-yard games, including two games of 200+ rushing yards.
• Dillon's 300 carries ranked fifth in Boston College single-season history in 2017.
• Dillon's seven 100-yard games in 2017 are the ninth-most in school history for single-season 100-yard games.Â
Breakout Performance
• AJ Dillon had one of the best performances in school history in the 45-42 victory at Louisville on Oct. 14, 2017.
• Dillon finished the day with a career-high 272 yards on 39 carries, his first career 200-yard game, along with a career-best four touchdowns.
• Dillon finished with the third-best single-game rushing total in school history and the most ever by a true freshman in Boston College history.
• He earned Walter Camp Football Foundation National Offensive Player of the Week honors for his efforts in the Louisville victory. He was the fifth Boston College player to earn Walter Camp National Player of the Week honors since 2004, and the first since running back Andre Williams (Nov. 17, 2013).
Top Performance Nationally
• AJ Dillon's 272 yards rushing were the seventh-most nationally in a game in 2017 and the most by a true freshman.
NCAA Single-Game Rushing Leaders (2017)
1. Khalil Tate, Arizona 327 at Colorado
2. Bryce Love, Stanford 301 vs. Arizona State
3. Khalil Herbert, Kansas 291 vs. West Virginia
4. Malcolm Perry, Navy 282 vs. SMU
5. Phillip Lindsay, Colorado 281 vs. Arizona
6. Darrius Guice, LSU 276 at Ole Miss
7. AJ Dillon 272 at Louisville
BC Single-Game Rushing Leaders
1. Andre Williams (339 vs. NC State) 11/16/13
2. Andre Williams (295 at New Mexico State) 11/9/13
3. AJ Dillon (272 at Louisville) 10/14/17
4. Montel Harris (264 vs. NC State) 10/17/09
BC Single-Game Rushing Attempt Leaders
1. Andre Williams (42 vs. NC State) 11/16/13
Andre Williams (42 at Syracuse) 11/27/10
3. Montel Harris (41 vs. Maryland) 11/28/09
Fred Willis (41 vs. Pitt) 11/14/70
5. AJ Dillon (39 at Louisville) 10/14/17
Rolandan Finch (39 vs. Maryland) 10/29/11
Jim Bell (39 vs. Tennessee) 10/31/87
Non-Conference Action
• Boston College faces UMass, Holy Cross, Purdue and Temple in non-conference play in 2018. Under Steve Addazio, the Eagles are 17-8 in non-conference games.
BC vs. 2018 Opponents
• Boston College is 170-165-6 all-time against its 2018 opponents. The Eagles own winning records against UMass, Holy Cross, Wake Forest, Temple and NC State.
UMass 21-5
Holy Cross 48-31-3
Wake Forest 13-10-2
Purdue First meeting
Temple 28-7-2
NC State 9-6
Louisville 4-6
Miami 5-24
Virginia Tech 8-18
Clemson 9-16-2
Florida State 5-11
Syracuse 20-31
Cap and Gown
• Five members of the 2018 Boston College Football team have already earned their undergraduate degree from BC: Center Jon Baker (marketing), linebacker Kevin Bletzer (communication), offensive lineman Sam Schmal (marketing), linebacker Connor Strachan (finance) and tight end Tommy Sweeney (marketing).
Returning Firepower for the Eagles
(Percentage of 2017 statistics returning)
Rushing Yards 68%
Passing Yards 69%
Receptions 80%
Tackles 68%
TFLs 65%
Sacks 56%
Interceptions 78%
Look Out for Lukas
• Lukas Denis made a flawless transition from cornerback to free safety in 2017. The Everett native tied for second nationally with seven interceptions last year.
• He is the only player in the country over the last decade to total at least 80 tackles, seven interceptions, 10 pass breakups and two forced fumbles in a single-season.
• Denis ended the season earning Walter Camp Football Foundation Second-Team All-America honors and was an All-ACC selection for the first time in his career.
• Denis also tied for 12th nationally with 17 passes defended in 2017.
The Nation's Most Complete Defensive Lineman
• Boston College defensive end Zach Allen has quietly become the most complete defensive lineman in the nation.
• Allen, a Preseason All-America selection, was one of two defensive linemen nationally in 2017 that recorded 100 or more tackles.Â
• An All-ACC honorable mention pick last year, Allen finished the season with 100 tackles, 15.5 tackles-for-loss and 6.0 sacks. The 15.5 TFLs ranked Allen in the top-10 in BC single-season history.
• Allen recorded a career-high 14 tackles, leading all players, in the Oct. 7, 2017 game against No. 16 Virginia Tech. He notched a career-high three tackles for loss and one sack on the night. He was named the ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week for his efforts in the Virginia Tech game.
All-ACC Linebacker Returns
• Connor Strachan collected All-ACC honorable mention honors in 2016 and returns as one of the top defensive players in the nation in 2018. Strachan's 2017 season was cut short due to a knee injury and he earned a medical redshirt.
• Strachan earned All-ACC honors for the first time after he led the Eagles with 80 tackles in 2016. Appearing in 12 games including 12 starts, Strachan was third on the team with 11.0 tackles-for-loss and led the Eagles with four fumble recoveries. The four fumbles recovered ranked second nationally.
What Can Brown Do for You?
• Anthony Brown had his best performance of his young career in the Oct. 21, 2017 win at Virginia. The New Jersey native finished 19-of-24 passing for 275 yards and three touchdowns.
• Brown was named ACC Rookie of the Week for the first time in his career following the UVA victory and also was one of eight quarterbacks nationally recognized by The Manning Award as its "Stars of the Week."
• Brown established new career-highs in passing yards and passing touchdowns in the victory.
• He was the first Boston College player with three passing touchdowns and zero interceptions in a conference game since Quinton Porter in 2003 in the 41-10 victory at UVA.
• It marked the second-best single-game passer rating by a BC quarterback since 1996.
• Brown was the second freshman in BC history to start a season opener under center in the Sept. 1, 2017 win at Northern Illinois. He is the only freshman quarterback in school history who started to win a season opener on the road.
• Brown was 26-for-42 with 191 passing yards and two touchdowns in the NIU win. He threw one interception.Â
Single-Game Passer Rating Leaders (since 1996)
Player Passer Rating
1. Quinton Porter (10/11/03) vs. Temple 224.1
18-of-24, 308 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT
2. Anthony Brown (10/21/17) vs. Virginia 216.7
19-of-24, 275 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT
3. Tim Hasselbeck (9/9/00) vs. Army 216.2
14-of-21, 256 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT
4. Brian St. Pierre (9/22/01) vs. Navy 211.8
19-of-25, 247 yards, 4 TD, 0 INT
5. Brian St. Pierre (10/20/01) vs. Pitt 210.2
14-of-21, 241 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT
Defending the Pass
• Boston College is tied for 12th nationally with 18 interceptions last season.
• Opponents had a tough time completing passes against the BC pass defense last season. The Eagles ranked third nationally in passing efficiency defense as opponents finished with a 101.8 pass efficiency rate. BC led the ACC in passing efficiency defense in 2017.
Watch Out for Walker
• Michael Walker was all over the field for the Eagles in 2017. The Naples, Fla., native led the nation in combined kick returns with 1203 yards in 2017.
• In punt returns, Walker was fourth nationally with 354 punt return yards in 2017.
• Against Central Michigan last year, Walker registered 128 punt return yards - including 124 in the first half - the fourth-best single-game total in BC history. It was the most punt return yards in a game since Ed Rideout finished with 131 punt return yards against Holy Cross in 1970. He finished the game with 135 all-purpose yards.Â
Yards Name (Year) Opponent
166Â Kelvin Martin (1985)Â Holy Cross
136Â Kelvin Martin (1986)Â SMU
131Â Ed Rideout (1970)Â Holy Cross
128 Michael Walker (2017) Central Michigan
109Â Spiffy Evans (2012)Â Maryland
The Nation's Best Safety Tandem
• Will Harris and Lukas Denis have put up strong numbers to form the best safety tandem in the nation. Denis was named an All-American in 2017 after finishing tied for second nationally with seven interceptions.
• Harris collected Phil Steele Preseason All-America first-team honors as the standout senior safety has started all 26 games he has played in over the previous two seasons.Â
• Harris led the nation with four fumble recoveries in 2017 to go along with 83 tackles (third on the team). For the year, Harris totaled 5.5 TFLs, one interception, one sack and two pass breakups as a key part of one of the nation's top pass defenses.
Pound the Rock
• For the 11th time under Steve Addazio and second time in 2017, Boston College rushed for 300 yards or more in the Nov. 18 win over UConn at Fenway Park.
• Under Addazio, BC is 11-0 when rushing for 300+ yards in a game.
• The Eagles ranked fourth in the ACC and 25th nationally averaging 220.4 rushing yards per game in 2017.
300+ Rushing Yards During Addazio Era
1. 452 No. 9 Southern California (9/13/14)
2. 420 NC State (11/1613)
3. 413 Maine (9/20/14)
4. 364 at Louisville (10/14/17)
5. 347 Howard (9/12/15)
6. 338 UMass (8/30/14)
7. 330 at UConn (11/18/17)
8. 320Â at New Mexico State (11/9/13)
8. 320 Army (10/5/13)
10. 310 at NC State (10/11/14)
11. 300Â Wagner (9/24/16)
500 Club
• Boston College rolled up a season-high 555 yards of total offense in the 45-42 victory at Louisville on Oct. 14, 2017.Â
• It marked the best day of total offense for the Eagles since rolling up 578 yards of total offense at NC State on Oct. 4, 2008.
• BC went over 500 yards of total offense for the sixth time under head coach Steve Addazio in the victory at Virginia. The Eagles finished with 512 yards of total offense against a Virginia defense that entered the game in the Top 20 nationally in total defense.
• The last time BC went over 500 yards of total offense in consecutive games was against Maine and Southern California in 2014.
• In ACC play, it marked the first time ever over 500 yards in consecutive games for the Eagles.
500+ Yards of Total Offense During Addazio Era
1. 555 at Louisville (10/14/17)
2. 550Â at New Mexico State (11/9/13)
3. 523 Army (10/5/13)
4. 512 at Virginia (10/21/17)
5. 511 UMass (8/30/14)
6. 506 No. 9 Southern California (9/13/14)
All-ACC Tight End Returns
• Tommy Sweeney returns as one of the top tight ends in the ACC and nationally in 2018. A member of the John Mackey Award preseason watch list, Sweeney enters his third year as the starter at tight end for the Eagles.
• Sweeney was an All-ACC third-team selection in 2017 after leading the Eagles in receptions (36), receiving yards (512) and receiving touchdowns (4). He became the first BC tight end to earn All-ACC accolades since 2008. The Ramsey, N.J., native has started all 26 games over the last two years for the Eagles.
