Teammates Unfazed By Transfers

Justin Tuggle and Josh Haden have apparently had enough. This week, the academic sophomores decided to call their football careers at Boston College quits, and they will now look to transfer to other schools where they hope to have opportunities for more playing time.

After starting the first two games of the season at quarterback, Tuggle struggled in his third career start at Clemson. He completed only four of 20 attempts and threw three interceptions. Tuggle was also sacked three times in the game, prompting the coaching staff to finally make Dave Shinskie the team's permanent starter.

"With three guys competing at quarterback, all in the same year of eligibility, you kind of expect one of them to leave," said defensive end Alex Albright. "But you have no idea what is going to happen going down the road. Maybe it is the right situation for Justin."

Haden began his freshman year as BC's starting running back. Montel Harris quickly joined him, and the two formed a very effective one-two punch, prompting Harris to change his jersey from No. 41 to No. 2 next to Haden's No. 1. Haden finished last year with 479 yards on 130 carries. Harris, however, outperformed him with 900 yards on 179 carries and entered the 2009 season as the starter. This year, while Haden saw significant playing time as a backup, most of BC's handoffs went to Harris. Harris has 794 yards on 156 carries, while Haden had just 213 on 58 touches.

"[Haden] wants to be the star on the team," said safety Marcellus Bowman. "Especially as a running back, you want to be the one making those plays, breaking records, and everything."

Recently, rumors surfaced that some players were not happy about their playing time in comparison to others. Everyone saw Tuggle's significant drop on the depth chart; he began the season as the starter and was a third-stringer by the Virginia Tech game when true freshman Mike Marscovetra played in relief of Shinskie.

"It is understandable," Bowman said. "There's only one ball on offense. There's only so many chances each player is going to get to touch the ball. I can understand why Haden would want to transfer, and I can understand why Tuggle would want to transfer. Do I necessarily agree with it being in the middle of the season? Not necessarily. But that's their own choices."

Others players agreed with Bowman about the timing of the decision. It comes immediately following a tough loss to Notre Dame, BC's third road loss. And there are still four games left in the regular season, and potentially one or two postseason contests after that.

"You don't want guys jumping ship before the ship's even landed," Albright said.

But they did. Now the Eagles must make adjustments. Though Tuggle dropped to third on the depth chart, Haden was still the number two running back, and he will now have to be replaced.

"The game might change a little bit, but we've got other guys," Shinskie said. "Jeff Smith and Rolandan Finch need to step up and are going to step up because they are athletes and they play for BC."

As far as this weekend's game against Central Michigan, Marscovetra and Finch will be the second-stringers. Marscovetra has seen time against Northeastern, Kent State, and Virginia Tech, and has completed 13 of 20 pass attempts. Finch has recorded 134 yards on 28 carries this season. His season-high came against Northeastern when he rushed seven times for 58 yards. Their success as true freshmen has given the team confidence that the personnel changes will not be a distraction.

"It's not something for us to focus on," Albright said. "It's not going to help us beat Central Michigan. [Head coach Frank Spaziani] kind of made reference that a lot of stuff has happened, but it's time to move forward, it's time to focus on Central Michigan."

CMU, which sits just outside of the top 25 with a 7-1 record, brings yet another strong quarterback to Alumni Stadium. When the teams played the season-opener three years ago, Dan LeFevour was a back up that came off the bench and completed 22 of 37 pass attempts for 221 yards. Despite entering the game when the Chippewas were struggling, LeFevour almost led the them to a comeback victory.

Now, he has developed into a full-fledged threat. LeFevour leads Central Michigan in both passing and rushing. He has gained 1,696 yards on 156 of 223 passing attempts and 522 yards on 112 rushes. BC must prepare for LeFevour's duel-threat ability; at 6-3, 238 lbs., he has more size than many passers, never mind rushers.

"Even when there is no one in the backfield with him you still have to play the run," Albright said. "He's a big kid … If I were him, I don't think I would have any problem taking on a lot of guys too. A lot of guys are shorter than me so just lower my shoulder and hope for the best."

The Eagles had success against NC State's Russell Wilson, a similar-type of signal-caller, holding him to 35 yards on the ground. As a quarterback with a good arm and impressive running capabilities, LeFevour provides a challenge that BC has faced before. The Eagles have faced duel-threats before, and they will face them again.

"This is more of a trap game for them than it is for us really," said center Matt Tennant. "They're the ones 7-1 and going to be ranked in the top 25 soon. We're the ones with the freshman quarterback, guys transferring, and everything. We're the ones with nothing to lose. We can just go out there and play."