Yesterday Boston College athletic director Gene DeFilippo ended his job search to replace former head coach Jeff Jagodzinski and named 14-year Boston College defensive coordinator Frank Spaziani head coach of the Boston College Eagles. Was there ever a question Spaz was the right man to take over the B.C. program in the wake of Jagodzinski's flirtation with the NFL?
Coach Spaz bleeds maroon and gold, which cannot be overstated enough as a requirement for the next football coach at Boston College. Jags viewed the B.C. job as a steppingstone, which he has every right to do, but Jagodzinski's first date with the Jets unquestionably hammered Boston College in the recruiting process. Do you think UConn and Randy Edsall were asking recruits why they wanted to play at B.C. when the Boston College head man was obviously interested in a return to the NFL.
Recruiting is what keeps a college football program relevant and Jags was destroying the B.C. brand. If you had a son, who was talented enough to play college football in the ACC or Big East, would you advise him to consider B.C. as a viable destination for his college football career when Jags was expressing interest in every available NFL gig? Jags took the Jets interview, rumors then surfaced that he was a candidate to be Seattle's new offensive coordinator until Jim Mora named Greg Knapp to that role, but where was the talk of Boston College football?
Boston College is not an indestructible brand name in college football that can suffer damage in the recruiting process. When Pete Carroll's name has been mentioned for certain NFL head coaching vacancies, USC is still going to get blue chip recruits. The USC brand is resilient and strong. Boston College does not have Traveler, USC Song Girls or the USC Trojan Marching Band. The Boston College brand lacks a safety net when it comes to recruiting. When there are questions regarding the future of the Boston College program, action has to be taken.
USC Song Girls
Spaziani appears to be the right man at the right time to lead Boston College into a new era of success. Boston College athletic director Gene DeFilippo made the right decision to end the Jeff Jagodzinki era. Boston College Superfans need to stock up on gold towels to wear on their game day shoulders, visors to shield the sun from their Busch Light blurry eyes, and fake moustaches; because the Coach Spaz era has hit The Heights.
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As my crack research assistant, Patrice, has correctly noted, no one will be allowed on the bus to the 2009 Jihad in Benderville without a moustache. Last summer, I attempted to a grow a 1970s firefighter handlebar moustache and the result was less than aesthetically pleasing. In fact, I resembled your run-of-the-mill child molester, which is never a good look -- I guess, unless you really are a child molester -- but wouldn't you want to hide the fact that you were a child molester? To recap, I look really creepy with a moustache.
Coach Spaz with Matty Ice
But I'm not saying Coach Spaz looks creepy with a 'stache. It fits Spaz, like former Calgary Flame Lanny McDonald's cookie duster fit him.
Lanny
