As roommates back in 1974, Vincent Russo and Tony DiBarnaba, BC '75, were just the second occupants of Mod 1A, and they had promised each other they would go to the ACC Championship game this year if BC made it. A group of six current sophomores booked their tickets immediately after the Clemson game, throwing down 300 bucks for a 5 a.m. flight to Jacksonville. And Brian Brown and two friends from the class of 1996 just needed a phone call.
"The second I got a personal call from Matt Ryan," said Brown, referring to the quarterback's recorded phone message sent out by the athletic department to alumni encouraging them to get to the game, "I knew I was coming."
These maroon-and-gold decked fans each had their own reasons for traveling to Florida, but there was no question they were outnumbered by their maroon-and-burnt-orange counterparts just like BC's team was outplayed by the Hokies in the second half of Saturday's 30-16 loss.
There were plenty of reasons for BC's poor showing in the stands on Saturday. Though geographically in the middle of ACC country, Jacksonville is a three-hour flight from Boston and an 18-hour drive. The drive from Blacksburg, Va. is a more manageable eight hours. Few direct flights exist to Jacksonville from Boston, and some fans had to connect in places like St. Louis and Charlotte, N.C.
Logistics also proved difficult for some fans once they actually got to the game. BC lineman Ty Hall's father, Jack, had trouble getting his signature headgear into the stadium after security considered it a "weapon." Many fans also complained that though the Virginia Tech fans were able to set up a tailgating lot, thanks to their ability to drive down, there was nowhere for BC fans to meet up, let alone find free giveaways like the pom poms handed out by Virginia Tech handed out to its fans.
"There's no central place for BC fans to congregate," DiBarnaba said. "The athletic department needs to do a better job fostering team spirit away from home and publicizing it."
2008 Woodie Awards
