With the end of the 2011 Boston College football season, Superfans witnessed the program's first losing season since 1998. While a 4-8 record would not seem to be an indicator of any future success, a closer look at the Eagles' season tells a different story.
The 2012 season certainly should see an increase in wins, due in large part to the combination of young talent and the hopeful return of several veteran leaders. Of course, the whole season may rely on the choice of a certain All-American linebacker. Junior Luke Kuechly will have to make the difficult choice of either remaining at BC for his senior year or declaring himself eligible for the NFL draft. Named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year and a Butkus award winner for the nation's best linebacker, Kuechly has been an omnipotent force for the Eagles. His return would certainly benefit a fairly young defensive unit.
Heading into BC's season finale against Miami, the Eagles' defensive depth chart saw only one senior starter in defensive back Donnie Fletcher. The team is returning a solid core of players, such as sophomore linebackers Kevin Pierre-Louis and Steele Divitto. The return of this seasoned group should mean a significant improvement in play next season.
Offensively, the hopeful return of both running back Montel Harris and wide receiver Ifeanyi Momah could provide quarterback Chase Rettig with the tools necessary to reach the high goals set with his arrival on campus. Harris, who never fully recovered from knee surgery prior to the season, is BC's career rushing leader. He, along with Deuce Finch, Andre Williams, and Tahj Kimble, would hopefully implement more diversity in the team's play-calling. Rettig could also benefit from the addition of the wildcat offense featuring redshirt freshman Josh Bordner.
A more strategic combination of passing and rushing plays will give head coach Frank Spaziani a more flexible offense. This past season, the team showed glimpses of success. However, Spaziani struggled to utilize his different options fluidly. Harris would give the team an established option out of the backfield. Momah, who was lost for the season with a knee injury, could create a formidable matchup lined up across the field from Colin Larmond, Jr. At 6-foot-6-inches and 6-foot-3-inches, respectively, Momah and Larmond would help stretch the field for the running game, as well as shiftier slot receivers like Bobby Swigert and Alex Amidon. Utilizing Swigert and Amidon in short, quick routes will help Rettig find his rhythm and establish confidence. The loss of Momah this season clearly hurt the Eagles, as Rettig was without his top receiving option.
The Eagles won three of their last five games, including a dominant 24-17 victory over Miami in the season finale. This game saw Rettig throw for two touchdowns on 13-of-17 passing. Kuechly also made his presence felt with a 45-yard interception return for a touchdown. Even in the Eagles' Nov. 19 loss at Notre Dame, the visiting squad showed signs of life on both sides of the ball. Rettig, for his part, found an impressive groove in which he threw 10 straight completions, as well as a touchdown. The wildcat also proved it could be effective, as Bordner rushed for a score.
There is no doubt that there are a lot of question marks heading into next season. The football program has had its worst season in over a decade, but it has the tools necessary to regain its winning tradition. The learning curve faced this past season was evident in the team's lack of success. At the same time, Spaziani and his staff were unable to make consistent or effective play-calling until the end of the season.
However, these last few games showed a number of small changes that added up to a couple of victories and some strong individual performances. The team needs to continue working on these adjustments, and should be able to handle them due to increased experience. Looking forward, this team has the capability for a winning season next year.
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