More Pre-Snap - Among Optimism, One Bastion of Negativity

[h2o]

This guy gets it.

http://www.presnapread.com/among-optimism-one-bastion-of-negativity/

Boston College’s decline was of its own making. The Eagles were there, winning eight or more with ease, for more than a decade. Then the program spit the bit, slowly but surely self-destructing following its decision to fire Jagodzinski early in 2009. The first error was hiring Spaziani, since that hire was motivated solely by the desire to avoid another broken heart; B.C. didn’t like getting jilted at the altar, and knew that Spaziani was never, ever going to leave the program for greener pastures.

How many programs in college football would kill to experience the sort of run B.C. went through from 1999-2008? Kent State hasn’t won more than six games in a season in 25 years. Tulane is 52-103 since Tommy Bowden left after the 1998 season. Things are looking up at Eastern Michigan, but that program remains more than two decades removed from its last winning season. Northwestern? Vanderbilt? U.A.B., Akron, Duke?

Think any one of that group – or countless others in the F.B.S. – wouldn’t kill for a run like the one B.C. experienced for 11 years? Or even half of that run, or a third of that run, or just one eight-win season? That’s why it’s so easy to be negative about the Eagles: because they were the envy of so many, without even knowing it, and threw it all away. It wasn’t taken away; it was given away. Twenty-four of the bottom 25 can find one reason or another to be excited about 2012. At B.C., there’s enough negativity to go around.

[claver2010]

It really is unreal to think that a mere 5 years ago we were #2 in the country and 4 years ago we were on our way to the 2nd of a back to back ACC championship game.

Fuck Gene

[DuchesneEast]

I am glad people are pointing this out. From consistent to shit.

[rktbrkr]

It will take a top notch HC 5 years and a bunch of luck to get BC back to the jags era

[MrAwesomeII]

Yea, this Myerberg guy gets it. He gets it that one (1) losing season in 12 years is an "outrageous disgrace." He gets it that BC is comparable to Kent State and Eastern Michigan. He gets it that as a result of the one losing season in 12 the program, not just the '11 team or the upcoming '12 team, but the entire program, is rated 101st, or with the dregs of the sport.

Dont just ignore the language he uses and deem that he gets it. He's all over the place in that article. 8-5 is good and to be commended, but 7-6 is "disastrous"? Spazoo deserved to be considered for the job when Jagz got hired, but it was a stupid hire 2 years later?? Again, pay attention because that is what this article says.

Hey, I'm all for a return to the "Jagz" era if anyone on here can expain why the man was spectacularly fired from the Tampa Bay job?? Why was he relegated to the Omaha Nighthawks of the the UFL?? Why hasnt he been hired by anybody else since?? Can anyone give those answers? Does DeFilipo have sway over this many people that he can ruin this guy in professional & collegiate coaching circles?? Or is it simply that there is something wrong with Jagz' character and ability and no one wants him??

The biggest mistake DeFilipo made was hiring Jagz in the first place, compounded by Spaz 2 years later.

[eagle9903]

Yea, this Myerberg guy gets it. He gets it that one (1) losing season in 12 years is an "outrageous disgrace." He gets it that BC is comparable to Kent State and Eastern Michigan. He gets it that as a result of the one losing season in 12 the program, not just the '11 team or the upcoming '12 team, but the entire program, is rated 101st, or with the dregs of the sport.

Dont just ignore the language he uses and deem that he gets it. He's all over the place in that article. 8-5 is good and to be commended, but 7-6 is "disastrous"? Spazoo deserved to be considered for the job when Jagz got hired, but it was a stupid hire 2 years later?? Again, pay attention because that is what this article says.

Hey, I'm all for a return to the "Jagz" era if anyone on here can expain why the man was spectacularly fired from the Tampa Bay job?? Why was he relegated to the Omaha Nighthawks of the the UFL?? Why hasnt he been hired by anybody else since?? Can anyone give those answers? Does DeFilipo have sway over this many people that he can ruin this guy in professional & collegiate coaching circles?? Or is it simply that there is something wrong with Jagz' character and ability and no one wants him??

The biggest mistake DeFilipo made was hiring Jagz in the first place, compounded by Spaz 2 years later.

I don't like sequel aliases.

[HJS]

It will take a top notch HC 5 years and a bunch of luck to get BC back to the jagsTom O'Brien era

Fixed. I don't think we will see the Jags Era again in my lifetime.

[eaglecaddy]

Yea, this Myerberg guy gets it. He gets it that one (1) losing season in 12 years is an "outrageous disgrace." He gets it that BC is comparable to Kent State and Eastern Michigan. He gets it that as a result of the one losing season in 12 the program, not just the '11 team or the upcoming '12 team, but the entire program, is rated 101st, or with the dregs of the sport.

Dont just ignore the language he uses and deem that he gets it. He's all over the place in that article. 8-5 is good and to be commended, but 7-6 is "disastrous"? Spazoo deserved to be considered for the job when Jagz got hired, but it was a stupid hire 2 years later?? Again, pay attention because that is what this article says.

Hey, I'm all for a return to the "Jagz" era if anyone on here can expain why the man was spectacularly fired from the Tampa Bay job?? Why was he relegated to the Omaha Nighthawks of the the UFL?? Why hasnt he been hired by anybody else since?? Can anyone give those answers? Does DeFilipo have sway over this many people that he can ruin this guy in professional & collegiate coaching circles?? Or is it simply that there is something wrong with Jagz' character and ability and no one wants him??

The biggest mistake DeFilipo made was hiring Jagz in the first place, compounded by Spaz 2 years later.

I don't like sequel aliases.

For whatever it is worth this is not an alias. This is Mr. Awesome returning as Mr. AwesomeII. As for a return to the "Jagz" era, I would say a return to playing for the ACC title would not be terrible. Based on a lot of the information streaming out these days about spaz I would say lack of character and ability is still the rule of the day with the head coach at BC. Just this time without the winning.

[Bryn Mawr Eagle]

It will take a top notch HC 5 years and a bunch of luck to get BC back to the jagsTom O'Brien era

Fixed. I don't think we will see the Jags Era again in my lifetime.

Ahh, I remember when we all thought TOB had to go because he "consistently" only won 8 or so games a year. I wouldn't want to give up the 07 and 08 seasons for anything, but Gene's greatest crime is that he has caused fans like me to now think back to the TOB era as a pretty darn good time for BC football. That is kinda sad.

[innocentbystander]

It will take a top notch HC 5 years and a bunch of luck to get BC back to the jagsTom O'Brien era

Fixed. I don't think we will see the Jags Era again in my lifetime.

Ahh, I remember when we all thought TOB had to go because he "consistently" only won 8 or so games a year. I wouldn't want to give up the 07 and 08 seasons for anything, but Gene's greatest crime is that he has caused fans like me to now think back to the TOB era as a pretty darn good time for BC football. That is kinda sad.

I just left a comment over there kinda-sorta on this theme.

I don't think Paul gets it, either that or I don't get it.

[twballgame9]

Hey, I'm all for a return to the "Jagz" era if anyone on here can expain why the man was spectacularly fired from the Tampa Bay job?? Why was he relegated to the Omaha Nighthawks of the the UFL?? Why hasnt he been hired by anybody else since?? Can anyone give those answers?

What difference does any of that make? Answer me this: What did he do while he was actually the coach of ... oh, I don't know ... BC?

[b0mberMan]

Yea, this Myerberg guy gets it. He gets it that one (1) losing season in 12 years is an "outrageous disgrace." He gets it that BC is comparable to Kent State and Eastern Michigan. He gets it that as a result of the one losing season in 12 the program, not just the '11 team or the upcoming '12 team, but the entire program, is rated 101st, or with the dregs of the sport.

Dont just ignore the language he uses and deem that he gets it. He's all over the place in that article. 8-5 is good and to be commended, but 7-6 is "disastrous"? Spazoo deserved to be considered for the job when Jagz got hired, but it was a stupid hire 2 years later?? Again, pay attention because that is what this article says.

Hey, I'm all for a return to the "Jagz" era if anyone on here can expain why the man was spectacularly fired from the Tampa Bay job?? Why was he relegated to the Omaha Nighthawks of the the UFL?? Why hasnt he been hired by anybody else since?? Can anyone give those answers? Does DeFilipo have sway over this many people that he can ruin this guy in professional & collegiate coaching circles?? Or is it simply that there is something wrong with Jagz' character and ability and no one wants him??

The biggest mistake DeFilipo made was hiring Jagz in the first place, compounded by Spaz 2 years later.

So.. what's your point?

[DuchesneEast]

Yea, this Myerberg guy gets it. He gets it that one (1) losing season in 12 years is an "outrageous disgrace." He gets it that BC is comparable to Kent State and Eastern Michigan. He gets it that as a result of the one losing season in 12 the program, not just the '11 team or the upcoming '12 team, but the entire program, is rated 101st, or with the dregs of the sport.

Dont just ignore the language he uses and deem that he gets it. He's all over the place in that article. 8-5 is good and to be commended, but 7-6 is "disastrous"? Spazoo deserved to be considered for the job when Jagz got hired, but it was a stupid hire 2 years later?? Again, pay attention because that is what this article says.

Hey, I'm all for a return to the "Jagz" era if anyone on here can expain why the man was spectacularly fired from the Tampa Bay job?? Why was he relegated to the Omaha Nighthawks of the the UFL?? Why hasnt he been hired by anybody else since?? Can anyone give those answers? Does DeFilipo have sway over this many people that he can ruin this guy in professional & collegiate coaching circles?? Or is it simply that there is something wrong with Jagz' character and ability and no one wants him??

The biggest mistake DeFilipo made was hiring Jagz in the first place, compounded by Spaz 2 years later.

So.. what's your point?

Jags was blackballed by GDF and he holds a grudge and uses his mafia ties to get him fired at every stop.

[PhillyandBCEagles]

It really is unreal to think that a mere 5 years ago we were #2 in the country and 4 years ago we were on our way to the 2nd of a back to back ACC championship game.

Fuck Gene

5th anniversary of the Miracle in Blacksburg will be this year. I'm curious to see how BC will handle it.....I'd expect it to be completely ignored so as not to draw attention to what GDF and Spaz have done to the program, but there's always the possibility that the opposite will happen and GDF will trumpet it in order to take credit for it

[Endless Mike]

Hey, I'm all for a return to the "Jagz" era if anyone on here can expain why the man was spectacularly fired from the Tampa Bay job?? Why was he relegated to the Omaha Nighthawks of the the UFL?? Why hasnt he been hired by anybody else since?? Can anyone give those answers? Does DeFilipo have sway over this many people that he can ruin this guy in professional & collegiate coaching circles?? Or is it simply that there is something wrong with Jagz' character and ability and no one wants him??

Here is a relevant question along that line: why did no other program want to make your old pal Spaz a head coach?

[innocentbystander]

Hey, I'm all for a return to the "Jagz" era if anyone on here can expain why the man was spectacularly fired from the Tampa Bay job?? Why was he relegated to the Omaha Nighthawks of the the UFL?? Why hasnt he been hired by anybody else since?? Can anyone give those answers?

What difference does any of that make? Answer me this: What did he do while he was actually the coach of ... oh, I don't know ... BC?

He coached Ryan and the team to the best record BC has had (after 8 games) since 1940.

[MrAwesomeII]

My point?? Well, I thought this thread started out praising the article by Paul Myerburg on PreSnap Read as being spot on, and that the author "gets it", and that it was great to finally have someone point all of these flaws out. THEN, someone wrote that, alas, BC would never return to the glory days of the Jagz era. My points were that Myerburg's article was poorly written and contradictory, ie 8-5 commendable, 7-6 disastrous, and a continuation of the Jagz era, which lasted 2 whole years, is a sketchy proposition as he won at BC with someone else's players and hasnt been able to hold a job since he left BC.

[b0mberMan]

My point?? Well, I thought this thread started out praising the article by Paul Myerburg on PreSnap Read as being spot on, and that the author "gets it", and that it was great to finally have someone point all of these flaws out. THEN, someone wrote that, alas, BC would never return to the glory days of the Jagz era. My points were that Myerburg's article was poorly written and contradictory, ie 8-5 commendable, 7-6 disastrous, and a continuation of the Jagz era, which lasted 2 whole years, is a sketchy proposition as he won at BC with someone else's players and hasnt been able to hold a job since he left BC.

So.... what? Are we all good then?

[MrAwesomeII]

Are you Paul Myerburg?

[twballgame9]

My point?? Well, I thought this thread started out praising the article by Paul Myerburg on PreSnap Read as being spot on, and that the author "gets it", and that it was great to finally have someone point all of these flaws out. THEN, someone wrote that, alas, BC would never return to the glory days of the Jagz era. My points were that Myerburg's article was poorly written and contradictory, ie 8-5 commendable, 7-6 disastrous, and a continuation of the Jagz era, which lasted 2 whole years, is a sketchy proposition as he won at BC with someone else's players and hasnt been able to hold a job since he left BC.

So in other words, because he hasn't been able to hold a job since, he never went to two ACCCGs? Got it. It's retarded, but I got it.

Even though it never happened because he lost his later jobs, I'd return to it in a facking heartbeat.

[Endless Mike]

Hey, I'm all for a return to the "Jagz" era if anyone on here can expain why the man was spectacularly fired from the Tampa Bay job?? Why was he relegated to the Omaha Nighthawks of the the UFL?? Why hasnt he been hired by anybody else since?? Can anyone give those answers? Does DeFilipo have sway over this many people that he can ruin this guy in professional & collegiate coaching circles?? Or is it simply that there is something wrong with Jagz' character and ability and no one wants him??

Here is a relevant question along that line: why did no other program want to make your old pal Spaz a head coach?

Okay, I'll answer: he was only promoted for personal reasons and legitimate athletic directors all saw that he was not head coach material. Hooray Spaz!

[ClubMed93]

Seriously, the Jags worshipping has grown incredibly tiresome. OK, so he was the head coach during a great two-year run. But there was very little, if any, cause and effect there. Jags had one of the greatest players in school history playing the most important position on the field and he won with TOB's players and coaching staff, the weakest link of which was replaced by a ridiculously good OC. So kudos to Jags for hiring Logan. But the fact that Jags has crapped in his hat since he left BC is pretty compelling evidence that he's not a great coach, he was just fortunate to walk into the right situation at the right time at BC.

[claver2010]

Seriously, the Jags worshipping has grown incredibly tiresome. OK, so he was the head coach during a great two-year run. But there was very little, if any, cause and effect there. Jags had one of the greatest players in school history playing the most important position on the field and he won with TOB's players and coaching staff, the weakest link of which was replaced by a ridiculously good OC. So kudos to Jags for hiring Logan. But the fact that Jags has crapped in his hat since he left BC is pretty compelling evidence that he's not a great coach, he was just fortunate to walk into the right situation at the right time at BC.

Yeah the 2008 season sort of debunks that one huh?

In 1.5 recruiting cycles he recruited 2 1st rounders and the school's all-time leading rusher.

[DavidGordonsFoot]

Seriously, the Jags worshipping has grown incredibly tiresome. OK, so he was the head coach during a great two-year run. But there was very little, if any, cause and effect there. Jags had one of the greatest players in school history playing the most important position on the field and he won with TOB's players and coaching staff, the weakest link of which was replaced by a ridiculously good OC. So kudos to Jags for hiring Logan. But the fact that Jags has crapped in his hat since he left BC is pretty compelling evidence that he's not a great coach, he was just fortunate to walk into the right situation at the right time at BC.

[eagle9903]

Seriously, the Jags worshipping has grown incredibly tiresome.

The hyperbolic (see 94) blowback against Jags is equally tiresome.

OK, so he was the head coach during a great two-year run. But there was very little, if any, cause and effect there. Jags had one of the greatest players in school history playing the most important position on the field and he won with TOB's players and coaching staff

Most of this is true in 2007 (not the cause and effect thing which I disagree with strongly). It holds much less weight in the more impressive (from a coaching perspective) 2008 season, most obviously no more Ryan. Castanzo and Harris were big contributors in light of TOB not recruiting running backs or competent tackles at the end of his tenure, so it is difficult to say it was all TOB players.

the weakest link of which was replaced by a ridiculously good OC. So kudos to Jags for hiring Logan. But the fact that Jags has crapped in his hat since he left BC is pretty compelling evidence that he's not a great coach, he was just fortunate to walk into the right situation at the right time at BC.

Hiring a competent staff is an enormous part of coaching success. I have absolutely no issue with Jags being nothing more than a CEO and not screwing up Logan's work with the QBs and offense and Bicknell doing some good work with the OL. He even(I assume it was him because it never happened under TOB or under Spaz the HC) made Spaz stop crying while huddled in a ball long enough to be somewhat aggressive at times.

I find the post BC career failure to be an overwhelmingly poor argument under the circumstances.

1. Do you believe Gene should have fired him, if yes, do you believe he should have done so publicly and loudly? If the answer to either question is no than you agree that a major black mark on Jags' resume would have been avoided.

2. What happened in Tampa Bay? I've seen rumors that Jags backed starting Josh Freeman as a rookie, but Raheem Morris wanted Byron Leftwich and this was the eventual tension which led to his firing. I've also seen the rumors that he was woefully unprepared as an OC, was over reliant on Logan for play calling and that there was some kind of disaster in a preseason game where the plays were all kinds of screwed up. I have no idea which is true. Obviously, Raheem (if it was his position to sit Freeman) changed his mind right after Jags quit, but if that was the reason it was black mark 2 on the resume and really probably the end for Jags. If the other reason is true, then I think it is safe to say Jags was a complete failure as an NFL assistant and would likely be a terrible NFL HC. However, I still don't think this is a reflection in any way on his ability to coach college football.

3. What happened in Hartford. It was the UFL, his career was completely derailed at this point regardless and the league went bankrupt.

My conclusion is that he was involved in a series of loud, public and embarrassing conflicts with his superiors, which has made him a pariah. Even if they were (either or all) his fault, I still don't think that makes him a bad coach, it just means he was never going to last anywhere long.


In closing, if TOB or Spaz was the head coach in 2007 I don't believe we would have beaten Clemson (with Spaz 8 wins wouldn't have shocked me) and our best season since at least Coughlin would have been just like 2006 or so many other average years. I'm not saying Jags is a great coach, but I think he is the best coach since Tom Coughlin at BC (yes that makes him the best of 4 mediocre to awful coaches) and therefore comparing him favorably to Spaz and TOB seems completely reasonable to me.

[pick6pedro]

3. What happened in Hartford. It was the UFL, his career was completely derailed at this point regardless and the league went bankrupt.

[eagle9903]

3. What happened in Hartford. It was the UFL, his career was completely derailed at this point regardless and the league went bankrupt.

oh yeah, that place instead.

[innocentbystander]

Seriously, the Jags worshipping has grown incredibly tiresome. OK, so he was the head coach during a great two-year run. But there was very little, if any, cause and effect there. Jags had one of the greatest players in school history playing the most important position on the field and he won with TOB's players and coaching staff, the weakest link of which was replaced by a ridiculously good OC. So kudos to Jags for hiring Logan. But the fact that Jags has crapped in his hat since he left BC is pretty compelling evidence that he's not a great coach, he was just fortunate to walk into the right situation at the right time at BC.

Yeah the 2008 season sort of debunks that one huh?

When you have not one but TWO Mike Ruths at defensive tackle (at the same time) you are going to win 9 out of 12 games simply because there is not a team in the country that will run the ball on you.

[eagle9903]

In 1.5 recruiting cycles he recruited 2 1st rounders and the school's all-time leading rusher.

Where is the asterisk! he was a repeat violator of team rules!

[pick6pedro]

Seriously, the Jags worshipping has grown incredibly tiresome. OK, so he was the head coach during a great two-year run. But there was very little, if any, cause and effect there. Jags had one of the greatest players in school history playing the most important position on the field and he won with TOB's players and coaching staff, the weakest link of which was replaced by a ridiculously good OC. So kudos to Jags for hiring Logan. But the fact that Jags has crapped in his hat since he left BC is pretty compelling evidence that he's not a great coach, he was just fortunate to walk into the right situation at the right time at BC.

Yeah the 2008 season sort of debunks that one huh?

When you have not one but TWO Mike Ruths at defensive tackle (at the same time) you are going to win 9 out of 12 games simply because there is not a team in the country that will run the ball on you.

It's pretty apparent that what Brace did had more to do with BJ than Ronnie.

As he was older than the backups, Ronnie did KNOW HOW TO WIN. So I'll give you that.