Thursday night's 38-7 drubbing by Florida State guarantees the Eagles a losing record and sets an early end for the season, as Boston College is officially bowl ineligible for the first time since 1998.
The loss marks a new low point in the ongoing decline of BC football. Since going 11-3 and peaking at No. 2 in the polls in 2007, the Eagles have failed to repeat the success they enjoyed with Matt Ryan in the huddle and Jeff Jagodzinski on the sidelines.
Since then, BC has won fewer and fewer games in each successive season. The Eagles snapped their 8-game win streak in bowls, when they lost to Vanderbilt in the Music City Bowl. They have yet to capture another postseason victory. They have not been ranked since 2008.
In spite of the now-shortened season, players and coaches have not lost motivation.
"There's a lot of football to play," head coach Frank Spaziani said. "The season's not over. Senior day's coming up."
The Eagles have one home game left, this Saturday against NC State. They finish the season on a two-game road trip, first to Notre Dame and then to Miami. The focus is still very much on winning.
"I don't think with this team—with the BC team—anyone's going to quit," said linebacker Luke Kuechly. "We want to win."
The Eagles are one step removed from a spot in the ACC cellar on the strength of their head-to-head tiebreaker with Maryland, their only conference win this season.
Quarterback shuffle
The Eagles' were incapable of responding to the quick-striking Seminoles' offense. By the time FSU had scored its fourth touchdown, BC had no points, no first downs, no downs in FSU territory and six yards total offense.
That's when Josh Bordner was put in the game to try to spark something positive.
On his first play from scrimmage, the redshirt freshman quarterback rushed for 25 yards and then alternated snaps with Rettig as the offense marched downfield in the waning minutes of the half. Bordner also connected with Bobby Swigert for a 37-yard pass to the 2-yard line.
Bordner threw just two passes in the game. The other was intercepted by FSU's Telvin Smith.
The two quarterbacks continued to share snaps in the second half, but that does indicate a forthcoming revolving door at the quarterback position.
"I don't foresee two offenses, but we certainly have a weapon," Spaziani said of Bordner.
Finch's fumbles
A number of mistakes and shortcomings spelled Thursday's loss, but perhaps none were as critical as the pair of lost turnovers on the part of Deuce Finch.
Finch was spectacular the week before against Maryland, running for 243 yards and two touchdowns. He slowed down against a stalwart Seminoles defense, averaging just 2.1 yards per carry on 28 rushes.
The two fumbles certainly did not help, especially since they happened in all the wrong places at all the wrong times.
The first came on the BC 2-yard line during the Eagles' second possession. Florida State scored on the ensuing drive. The other came on the FSU 2-yard line in the final seconds of the first half. The Seminoles proceeded to run out the clock and return to the locker room with a 28-point lead.
Extra points
The last time BC played a Thursday night game was on Oct. 25, 2007 at Virginia Tech. The Eagles on won that game 14-10. The following week, they lost to Florida State, at home, at night, on Nov. 3.
Thursday's loss constitutes the largest margin of defeat this season. The last time the Eagles lost by more than 30 points was in 2009 at Virginia Tech. BC lost that game 48-14.
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