Bye Week Eagle Action Q&A

It’s almost over. Mercifully.

The nightmare that’s been the 2025 season will end next weekend with a 3:00 p.m. game in The Dome at Syracuse.

Before then, let’s see what folks are thinking during this bye week. As always, I’ll do my best to give informed takes/answers/opinions…

Is there any way we could somehow lose this week?

Technically, yes. More de-commits. They’ve already had a couple and presumably more will be coming. This isn’t just a BC problem, it’s a ‘college football is a disaster right now’ problem where verbal commitments mean very little at this point.

While 1-10 (maybe 1-11?) certainly doesn’t help, I put very little stock in a verbal commitment from anyone to anywhere this point until that kid is playing in that particular program’s uniform. Too much money and not enough regulations going around.

But getting back to the question, yes. Yes they could.

“Coach…why do coaches with bad football teams deny media access to practices, ie BC, Syracuse, etc. ? In what ways does this help the team, as historical evidence seems to show it tends to make teams play worse the following game, not better. “

Fair question.

But, to also be fair to the program, we didn’t have media access during the first bye week either. I only covered one game of Adazzio so I’m not sure what he did during bye weeks. But, from stories I’ve head from older reporters who were covering the team, he wasn’t the most accommodating. Hafley used to do one Zoom on Wednesday (I think?) during bye weeks. Completely closed practices aside from the first 20 minutes of stretching.

O’Brien fully opened training camp and practices for about the first four weeks. I think it’s mostly to try and have guys not worried about what we may say if they screw up in practice or it’s a bad day for the team. They are still kids, despite being paid now.

At this point, there’s not a ton to ask. We’ve all seen it. We’ll ask him if there’s been any discussions about his future when we’re there on Tuesday, but other than that, we’ve all seen it. They all know it’s been really, really bad. But, he’s not going to all of a sudden tell us that yes he’s making significant staff changes next year, or that he’s leaving, or not being brought back.

How long was he in the NFL, particularly with Bill Belichick? He and the staff are legitimately looking to try and win a game against Syracuse for the seniors and go from there. There is a slight look towards the future with younger guys practicing more this week as veterans rest, but no one in that building is looking past Saturday, whether you believe it or not. They all know there’s decisions to be made by everyone ahead, but it’s college football, they’re going to enjoy the time they still have, which is why you got the effort you got against Georgia Tech.

In the end, it is what it is for us when it comes to closed practices. Would we love to be there? Sure, but frankly, with other teams to cover besides the Eagles, it’s been much easier for me not having to rush somewhere else for a 1-10 team.

For the 1st time since August, I am willing to go out on a limb and guarantee that BC football will NOT lose on the field this weekend. Trying to be an optimist.

I dare you to put money on it…

Is Coach O’Brien down? What would he say to the fans who are down?

I laughed.

But, I genuinely believe he will remember this team fondly aside from the record, obviously. A bunch of college kids who could be looking at what’s next for them (despite everything I just said in the above answer, they’re still human, I get it…) they haven’t quit.

Things looked bleak against Pitt when it was an embarrassing effort. Then, Clemson was simply better. The SMU display was more mind-boggling ineptitude, but that Georgia Tech game should give BC fans hope if Bill O’Brien is retained. Kids do want to play for him, contrary to a lot of opinions.

You should also be encouraged by the performance from a bunch of the 2025 kids. If that’s a sign for this staff’s recruiting ability, if the people above finally decide to open the wallets and hand out checks, then the scouting and development may not be as bad as people think it is when they can go look at the 4 and 5 stars instead of the 2’s and 3’s…

But, if I had to go to Syracuse on Thanksgiving weekend with nothing to tangibly play for, I’d be down. It’ll be very interesting to see how both of these teams approach it with (presumably) a pretty empty building.

Please ask why the team has stopped going to be with the band for the alma mater after the game? Really doesn’t have the time since it is not Brown? Or is it beneath him after another L. ?

So we’re usually rushing to beat the (one) elevator before they hold it for the coaches, otherwise it’s a 6-flight sprint over to Yawkey Center for his postgame presser. I’ve never even noticed this until someone brought it up to me last week.

One of us will ask on Tuesday. Not being a true ‘BC’ guy, I’m genuinely curious, is the majority of the alumni/fan base actually pissed about this? Or is it a select few?

Did he ever find out what’s up with Trevor?

I’ll give Brett and Mac credit, the shirts look pretty good.

Is BOB embarrassed that this is the worst BC team in 45 years?

I’m sure he is, but I’d look above him before placing it all on him and the staff. Hard to compete in the ACC when shopping in the bargain bin in the portal, or having to scout lesser talent in high school because you know you can’t afford the elite guys.

Administration treats football like it’s 2008 still. Matt Ryan ain’t walking through that door. Have to catch up or every single coach that comes through here is stuck in 6-6, 7-5, possibly 8-4 territory. Historically bad is another new low and he’ll have to make staff changes if he’s back, but this is a much larger problem than just the coach.

Looking at that injury report vs ga tech
(Its been that way most of the season)
Is there something we can point to training/practice wise and/or are guys sitting out?
Or does bc list guys that are out for the year since week 1/2 every week at ga tech does not?

A lot of the injuries were bad luck this year, having seen a few of them happen in camp. Craig Fitzgerald is wildly considered one of – if not the best – S&C guy in the country. If you remember, he was either already at Florida or about to go to Florida before joining O’Brien’s staff. A lot of bad luck this year.

As far as the listing of guys, yes, they’ve listed guys that are out for the season just about every week I believe. I assume it’s not a requirement, but there’s probably an element of making it a point to let everyone know how banged up they are when things go as south as they have this season.

Thanks!

Always enjoy doing these and appreciate folks continuing to check out the content this year despite the ugliness. I’ll be getting to more basketball once the HS Super Bowls are done and we’ll probably have three teams in the FCS playoffs. Hoping to get to every ACC home game this season.

Is it weird I think they might actually make a run at the tournament?