CLEMSON, S.C.-A big sigh of relief was exhaled from the Boston College sideline after Clemson kicker Mark Bucholz's 54-yard field goal settled on the ground in the end zone, short of the uprights, which gave the Eagles a 20-17 victory in Death Valley. The BC seniors have been in this position before - a conference title or ACC title game berth on the line - and thus far they had been unsuccessful. They had lost in excruciating fashion. This was their last chance to get to an ACC title game. And they came out playing with a purpose, to accomplish a goal they had set back in the offseason: to get to the ACC title game.
"You keep banging your head against a glass ceiling and it's got to break. I told them at breakfast [Saturday] morning, 'It's glass for a reason. You can break through it, and it's your turn to do it,'" said BC head coach Jeff Jagodzinski.
In 2004, the Eagles were on the verge of winning the Big East title outright and clinching a spot in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, but they ran into Everett High School product Diamond Ferri and the 5-5 Syracuse Orangemen. The 'Cuse came out and dominated the Eagles 43-17 in BC's finale as a member of the Big East. Ferri, a third-string back, carved up the BC defense for 141 yards on 28 carries for two touchdowns.
The Eagles were knocking on the door the following year, their first in the ACC, and traveled down to North Carolina to face the Tar Heels. UNC had a 3-4 record when the 19th-ranked Eagles visited, and the Heels handed the Eagles their third conference loss of the season. BC ended the season with a 5-3 conference record, tying the Seminoles, but losing the tie-breaker because of the head-to-head meeting.
The following season, the Eagles had another chance to keep their ACC title game hopes alive. They traveled down to Coral Gables, Fla. to take on the Miami Hurricanes, a team they have not beat since Doug Flutie's Hail Mary pass in 1984. The Eagles led at the half, but the 'Canes were playing for their slain teammate Bryan Pata and mounted a comeback, crushing BC's hopes of getting a shot at the ACC title.
2008 Woodie Awards
