Boston College Eagles — 2014 Syracuse Football preview

Addazio
Football coach Steve Addazio speaks to reporters. Mandatory Photo Credit: AP Photo, Stew Milne.

As we countdown to kickoff in August, we’re going to be doing a team-by-team preview each Tuesday over the summer. SU will finish its 2014 regular season schedule when they play BC on Nov. 29.

GREAT STARTSteve Addazio couldn’t have asked for a better first season at Chestnut Hill. The Eagles exceeded expectations in nearly every way en route to a 7-5 regular season, returning to respectablity after the dismissal of Frank Spaziani, who went 21–29 from 2009-12. As an added bonus, the Eagles also received a Heisman caliber season from Andre Williams. The running back made a late push for the top honor in college football, amassing 897 in a three game stretch in November (he finished with 2,177 yards on the season). It was good enough to receive an invite to the finalist’s ceremony, something that was completely off the radar to begin the 2013 campaign. A 42-19 loss to Arizona in the Independence Bowl wasn’t the ending that Addazio wanted, but the fact that BC was even in a bowl was a victory.

Addazio
BC beat expectations last year

» Related: Previewing Syracuse’s matchup against Pitt

WHO TO WATCH FORThere’s been plenty of turnover on offense with the depature of QB Chase Rettig, the aforementioned Williams and wide receiver Alex Amidon, who accounted for more than half of the the team’s receiving yards in 2013. BC was expecting junior WR Harrison Jackson to fill the void, but Jackson tore his ACL in spring practice. That will put pressure on senior Bobby Swigert to become the main target, but he’s recovering from a tough knee injury that sidelined him all last season. Florida transfer Tyler Murphy takes over at quarterback, while a committee led by Myles Willis will try to replace Williams.

PREDICTION: No one is doubting Addazio’s ability to coach, but replicating last season’s success will be difficult. There are only 10 starters returning (4 offense, 6 defense) and BC will face a brutal stretch to close the season where they play at Virginia Tech, against Louisville and at Florida State. A return to a bowl game is possible, but the margin for error is razor thin, especially if you ask top online sports betting siteSYRACUSE 31, BC 28.

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About Wes Cheng 2907 Articles
Wes has worked for Rivals.com covering the New York Knicks, as well as for Scout.com covering Syracuse athletics. Wes has also been a contributing writer for the South China Morning Post (Hong Kong), for SportsNet New York (SNY) as a news desk writer covering all of New York professional sports, and reported on the NBA and MLB for the New York Sportscene. A native of Long Island, New York, Wes graduated from Syracuse University in 2005 with a degree in journalism. Contact him at wes[at]sujuiceonline.com.