W2WF: Holy War

If you've read anything I've written over the past few years, you'll know how much I love talking about Massachusetts' parochial pride. It's one of the more fascinating things about growing up out here because so much of my identity is derived from my hometown.

Part of that pride stems from an appreciation for the people, none of whom carried more impact than the good folks at Malden Catholic. We had a genuinely rich sports culture built during a time when it was seemingly experiencing unstoppable growth. The school created pride through those teams, using the games to enforce lessons instilled within a Catholic education. It stressed that the logo stood for something greater than what happened on the field.

Except for one thing. Our school logo interlocked gold letters on a blue background, and our fight song had this college's melody and tone to it. The painted message on an office wall bore the simple message to "bleed the blue and gold," and it all looked remarkably similar to a sports team that was truly an enemy of my childhood: Notre Dame.

I grew up a Boston College fan in the 1990s, which meant I enjoyed the apex of the young rivalry. I couldn't fully embrace that fight song because it triggered something deep within my soul.

I had to draw a clear distinction because it rang out for Notre Dame, and I was still an Eagle at heart. I walked the halls in maroon when others wore blue and gold. A BC-ND game week brought good-natured trash talk and commentary. I usually laughed last since BC won three out of those four years, and I learned to enjoy the sweet sound of silence on a Monday after an Eagles' victory.

In the end, it all stemmed from the respect for the schools' academic tradition. Both stressed athletic excellence without compromising its core values. The game generated discussion and a connection, and everyone enjoyed it with a healthy respect for the other side. It was so unique because no other rivalry extolled that brand of virtue. It was a game, but it was an admission that two schools could draw battle lines with absolute passion while also supporting each other's high character mission.

I thought about those years this week because having Notre Dame on the schedule flooded back all of those old emotions. A win in this game, which isn't played annually, makes Saturday all the more critical. The Irish are riding a six-game win streak in the series, stretching 10 years, but I can't think of anything sweeter than watching BC walk out of Notre Dame Stadium with that lovely sound of silence.

This is Notre Dame week. This is the Holy War. It might not have the longstanding history of other rivalries, but this matters for so many different reasons. This is an Us-Vs.-Them game, and it kicks off on Saturday in South Bend.

Here's what to expect between the Eagles and Irish:

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Weekly Storylines

Throw the Book at them.

Ian Book is one of the most unique athletes in college football. He's a dual-threat quarterback with a wealth of experience and success, the latest name to win games as the signal caller at Notre Dame. For the modern era of the game, he's exactly the type of athlete that teams look for in a recruit.

"He's an athletic guy," said BC head coach Steve Addazio. "He's a competitive guy that throws the ball well. He has game experience, and he's a great player. He can throw it up to a big receiver with great body control that can make plays. They have other guys, too, that (make) a balanced team with a good tight end and good running backs."

Book is going to create a different type of test for the BC defense because he is a terror at getting out of jams. His agility is incredibly elusive, and it combines with better than average velocity. Considering he can throw on the run and possesses elite level vision, he's arguably the best all-around threat staring at the well-publicized issues around the defense.

"He's the best we've seen at getting outside the pocket and extending plays," linebacker Max Richardson said. "That causes issues for a defense. We've seen a lot of fast quarterbacks, but he has good straight line speed. That's going to be a challenge to contain the quarterback, but that's something we need to do if we want to win.

Be better today than yesterday.

Those defensive issues won't go away with the wave of a magic wand. There is no amount of lights-out defense that can change what happened this season, and there's no chance to jump in a Delorean to erase or alter the first 10 games. So there's not really a point in revisiting what happened against Kansas or Louisville within the framework of the larger macro study of the year. Dwelling on the past won't fix any present focus, and it can only stymie the intended improvement for the future.

"These are all learning experiences," Addazio added. "It's part of the maturation process. We've had a number of defensive backs that had success and went into the NFL. This is another group that will have that opportunity - but not yet. There's a lot of development left to happen."

This week offers a rare opportunity to step back into a mentality of looking at the season as a series of "one-game seasons." The bye week enabled a deep breath with physical healing, and it really promoted a different energy for the Notre Dame game. The Fighting Irish are an individually unique team, so they require a unique, deep dive view. Looking back for the Syracuse or NC State game can only display trends in the same manner as the elements from Florida State or Wake Forest. Neither victory ensures success of the same principle on Saturday, but neither defeat ensures those same pillars will crumble. Everything simply needs to be tailored for a single opponent in order to win that game without looking back - or looking forward.

"They have an explosive offense," Richardson continued. "So we've been working on playing team defense and getting to the quarterback. We've worked on making plays in the back end. That's all things that we need to do in order to get the win."

Offense On Point

Anyone who talks about Boston College's inability to run with opponents is living too far in the past. The Eagles enter this game with the 12th-ranked offense in FBS. They didn't miss a beat after losing starting quarterback Anthony Brown to a season-ending injury, and the ability to score quickly was on full display in the fourth quarter against Florida State.

"The confidence is building, week-in and week-out," quarterback Dennis Grosel said. "Another bye week is another opportunity to grow and maybe get some new schemes. I'm ready to come out and throw as much as we need to, but I know our running game is going to (be strong)."

Grosel's development into a pure No. 1 starter has been one of the most delightful storylines of October and November. He lit up the Florida State defense for 227 yards two weeks ago and scored three overall touchdowns, including a rushing and passing score in the fourth quarter's late stages. He has that certain something that really can't be defined, an intangible willingness to compete that makes him a favorite in the clubhouse, in the interview room and, most importantly, on the gridiron. There are high hopes for him this week against Notre Dame as the Ohio son returns to the Midwest to play in a stadium he likely dreamed about playing in as a child.

"Obviously being in the vicinity of the Midwest, a lot of guys grew up as fans of Notre Dame," Grosel said. "There's that connection. It's such a renowned program that it doesn't stick in (just) the Midwest. I can't wait to be in that tunnel.

"But the white lines are the white lines," he added. "It's an away game, so we're going to handle it like we usually do."

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Countdown to Kickoff

10…Notre Dame's six-game winning streak over the Eagles spans the last 10 years. It began in 2009 with a 20-16 win.
9…Since the series became a regular occurrence in 1992, BC is 9-12 against Notre Dame.
8…Eight players on the Notre Dame defense have at least four tackles for loss.
7…Notre Dame has had over 400 yards of total offense in seven games this season. The model of consistency, the Irish have only failed to hit 200 yards once, against Michigan.
6…A win on Saturday would clinch BC's sixth winning season in non-conference games in the Steve Addazio era.
5…If BC can defeat Notre Dame, it would only be the fifth time the Eagles defeated a ranked Notre Dame team.
4…AJ Dillon enters this week fourth among ACC career rushing leaders. He needs 243 yards to pass North Carolina's Amos Lawrence for third and 455 yards to pass NC State's Ted Brown for the ACC record.
3…Three of Notre Dame's six consecutive wins over BC have been by four points or less.
2…David Bailey is ranked second in the ACC with a 6.43 yards per carry rushing average.
1…Notre Dame's defense has held one team - Duke - to less than 200 yards of offense this year.

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BC-ND X Factor

Notre Dame Stadium

Notre Dame Stadium is one of those places that feels almost exactly like it did in 1975. It's gone through updates through the years, but it always felt like the changes created enhancements of the older model. There was the move to artificial turf a year after the Eagles' last visit in 2011. A video board addition in 2017 was a stark modernization, but its location within the stadium enabled the removal of the original scoreboard - allowing for better views from the stadium of the Word of Life mural better known as "Touchdown Jesus." It was all geared towards intensifying and promoting the culture of mystique that is still very real.

"In your preparation when you play a team like Notre Dame, you've got to have great respect for them," Addazio stated. "You've got to have great preparation so you can have that warrior mentality."

If everything oozes tradition at Notre Dame, it's not without merit. The Fighting Irish are 26-5 at home since the 2015 season and have 50 wins at home in this decade. It's every bit the same success enjoyed by teams like LSU and Oklahoma, and it's why the team warrants discussion on the national radar every single year.

Handling that atmosphere isn't easy. Addazio pointed to that warrior mentality, and that's really what every player and coach needs to embrace. Road teams will endure the boos and jeers from the home crowd, and it will galvanize the entire maroon and gold sideline.

Developing that internal structure is something that can happen in isolation. Everything about a road game is designed to keep players away from the distractions that exist at home, and the time spent away from public view on the bus, in the locker room or in a hotel, pushes everyone together.

By the time BC runs out of that tunnel, there will be a deep-rooted, introspective reflection about what it will take to beat Notre Dame. The Eagles have only one thing to focus on during their trip to South Bend, and it can come to fruition on Saturday when the team competes against one of its biggest rivals.

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Meteorology 101

A late November game in South Bend is one of the most traditional times in the Midwest. The sausages and brats will sizzle on grills as smoke hangs in the air, and the cold wind hanging on the outdoor temperatures will allow cheeks to become rosy when they pile under the dome to listen to the trumpets blast the Notre Dame Victory March.

South Bend is going to be cold on Saturday morning, with temperatures down under 30 degrees. It will steadily warm up into the 40s before dropping back down under the lights, making for absolutely perfect conditions for the 2:30 p.m. start time. It's almost tailor made for a game to end with drama under the lights.

Notre Dame is one of those places that, if you're going to the game, needs to become a day-long experience. Get there early and pack a couple of warm layers to enjoy the festivities.

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The Bowl Race

This year's bowl race is one of the most insane pieces of the ACC schedule because it seems like nobody wants to separate from the pack. Clemson is still undefeated after a blowout win over Wake Forest last week, and the Tigers are finally back inside the College Football Playoff. That puts the Orange Bowl back in play for a second-ranked ACC team, but this is where everything starts getting muddied.

I haven't read up on the situation if the ACC doesn't have a second team in the CFP rankings. Right now, Notre Dame would slide into the ACC's bowl slots, but the Fighting Irish stand alone as an Independent if they qualify for the New Year's Six. That's why ACC teams have played them in the Orange Bowl in the past, and the ACC's website outlines the bowl selection as an ACC team against either the SEC, Big Ten or Notre Dame. So there's an inference that can be made that a second ACC team would go to the game, even in an unranked capacity.

That puts everything into an interesting bind because the remainder of the ACC is mayhem. Virginia, Pittsburgh and Virginia Tech are all 7-3 with two ACC losses, and they all stand essentially tied for the Coastal Division lead. The Panthers and Hokies play a virtual elimination game this weekend in Blacksburg, and Virginia Tech plays Virginia next week in its season finale. Pittsburgh, even with a win, would still need to beat BC in order to have a chance at the division championship.

Then there's Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons now have three conference losses with two games left, but their 7-3 record positions them ahead of Louisville on an overall basis. The Cardinals beat Wake in that 62-59 shootout a few weeks ago, so it becomes an interesting argument between the two teams, especially with Florida State looming with a 4-4 conference record. If the Seminoles upset Florida, another 7-5 team in the mix is going to be a tough draw.

That leads everything back to Boston College. The Eagles lost to the three teams that they hypothetically could tie with for second in the Atlantic Division, so a trip to the Citrus Bowl or the Camping World Bowl seems out of the question if they win their last two games. But they could still draw a Tier One Bowl game if everything breaks correctly. A 6-6 finish would likely send BC to the tier of games with the Military Bowl.

Here's the thing about bowl berths. More than half of the FBS slots have some kind of tie-in, which, in my opinion, makes it more imperative to make a bowl game. Missing a postseason game costs a team its additional practice time, creating a short chasm between the teams that qualify and the ones that don't. That extra spring practice is a continuation from one season to the next, so from a pure football standpoint, it's critical to get to a postseason game.

Second, the ACC has been chaos this year, so getting to a game illustrates how difficult it is. BC is in the Atlantic Division with the defending national champion and is playing a crossover game against two teams in the hunt for the Coastal Division championship. It goes without saying that a program wants to be in that mix, and wins over all of those teams creates a high level of success. But the ACC this year is proving just how hard it is to win on any given game; it's been a demolition derby. Getting to six or seven wins is an accomplishment worth celebrating, even if no team begins the season expecting to lose five games.

"(Bowl eligibility) is in there, 100%," Steve Addazio said. "(They players) are well aware of it. That's a goal. It's a stated goal early in the season. So for all of those reasons, there's a lot going into this game. Stakes are high. That's exciting."

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Scoreboard Watching, ACC Edition

So what happens this week? For starters, BC needs to win this game in order to become bowl eligible. That's the primary objective, and it's something the Eagles are well aware of.

After that, it's really just a matter of watching the games and letting chips fall where they may. Pittsburgh and Virginia Tech have one of the only three league games this week, with Syracuse playing at Louisville and Duke heading to Wake Forest. The former two games are at 3:30 p.m. with the latter at 7:30 as part of a slate largely seen on ACC Network.

There are some other games, including Virginia's game against Liberty and Miami's trip to Florida International, but those shouldn't impact the ACC bowl structure without a massive upset, making the BC game at Notre Dame appointment television for fans of opposing teams.

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Scoreboard Watching, NCAA Edition

College football fans will need to be glued to their televisions all day on Saturday because it's one of the biggest days on the FBS schedule. Schedules are winding down, and with most historic rivalries on the horizon, Saturday offers one of the last chances to see a team in a standard, competitive setting devoid of the same brand of history and hate.

No. 2 Ohio State hosts No. 8 Penn State at noon in a game that will determine the fate of the College Football Playoff rankings, and it goes off opposite Minnesota's trip to Northwestern. The Gophers are a week away from playing Wisconsin for the West Division championship, and the winner likely awaits the winner of the Ohio State game this week. Of all of those teams, someone is probably headed to the CFP in some capacity.

Elsewhere, No. 14 Baylor hosts Texas at 3:30 in a game that will likely press the Bears forward after losing to Oklahoma. Baylor needs to keep winning in order to hold a chance at the Big 12 Championship, though in all likelihood, both the Bears and the Sooners need to win out and get a little bit of help in order to make the CFP. The Sooners host TCU at 8 p.m. in Norman.

On the West Coast, UCLA plays No. 23 USC at the Los Angeles Coliseum in the renewal of their rivalry, and No. 25 SMU plays Navy one week after the Middies tumbled out of the national polls. Both schools will keep an eye on No. 18 Memphis, which is playing at South Florida with the inside track to the Group of Five's New Year's Six bid.

The one non-AAC team still fighting for that NY6 bid is Boise State. The No. 20 Broncos can all but wrap up the Mountain Division in the MWC with a win over Utah State, and the West Division is up for grabs in a game between San Diego State and Hawaii. A Rainbow Warrior win would give them the tiebreaker over the Aggies, and the team already holds a tiebreaker over Nevada.

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Pregame Quote and Prediction

We're gonna go inside. We're gonna go outside. Inside and outside. We're gonna get 'em on the run boys, and when we get 'em on the run, we're gonna keep 'em on the run. And then we're gonna go, go, go, go, go, and we're not gonna stop until we get across that goal line. This is a team they say is good. But I think we're better. -Knute Rockne

I'm probably going to eat massive amounts of crow for using Knute Rockne as my pregame speech, but when in Rome, right?

I'd love to sit down and analyze this game as an even matchup between Boston College and Notre Dame, but that would be disrespectful to the nationally-ranked Fighting Irish. There's a reason why many considered them a national championship contender this year, and it's not because the voters simply overrated them to a severe degree.

As a program, BC isn't that far off, even if there have been growing pains this season. I think about the Florida State and Wake Forest games, and I see how this team ran so dangerously close to having seven or eight wins entering this game, just like how last year ran on the edge of being a nine-win season. That said, I've been stressing how hindsight doesn't do anyone any good, so there's no point in reflecting on those games. Wins always make a team look like world beaters, and losses always make it feel like the worst waves crashing onto the shore.

None of that really matters at this point. All that matter is this Saturday and winning this game. Beating Notre Dame on the road will etch this Boston College team into the record books forever. It would tie the team into the generation of football players who remember beating ND every year, and it's a sentiment everyone craves. Throw in a dash of bowl eligibility and the possibility of playing in a postseason game, and it all of a sudden becomes a critical game, singular, by itself, for these players to care about.

There's so much at stake in this one, and it's why BC needs to play like there's no tomorrow. It might be many players' only crack at winning a game on the Notre Dame Stadium turf. It might be the chance to become bowl eligible. It might be the opportunity to dig in and take out a nationally-ranked opponent on its home soil. It might be the need to prove the past performances wrong and the past wins right. It might be simply playing for today because, on this day, being the better team is about simply not stopping.

Welcome to the Holy War.

Boston College and No. 15 Notre Dame will kick off at 2:30 p.m. on NBC with streaming video available on NBCSports.com. Radio broadcast of the game is available at WEEI 93.7 FM and via Satellite radio on Sirius 129, XM 382 and Online 971. Streaming audio of the game is also available via the TuneIn app on mobile devices.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

David Bailey

Anthony Brown

AJ Dillon

Dennis Grosel

Max Richardson

W2WF: Holy War

Next Event

Players Mentioned

David Bailey

Anthony Brown

AJ Dillon

Dennis Grosel

Max Richardson

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