Improved, Harden BC Looks to Conference Playoffs
Improved, Harden BC Looks to Conference Playoffs
Things weren't terrible three weeks into the season for Boston College, but they weren't great.
But as the saying goes it's not how you start, it's how you finish. After opening the Liberty Conference D1AA season with a loss to Yale and then, after a win over Nazareth and a forfeit win over Colgate, a tie with Binghamton, the BC Eagles weren't in terrific shape. But since then they've beaten UConn (by a point) and Northeastern to get to 4-1-1 and good enough for 3rd in the league.
They face Yale once more in the conference semifinals and Head Coach Rob Conway thinks things might be a bit different this time around.
Another Big Victory for Yale In Liberty D1AA
"t was definitely a slow start for our standards," Conway told GRR. "We didn’t have a preseason this year, only one quick scrimmage before the Yale game. I felt we needed more time and preparation for a team as physical as Yale and we were a little undercooked."
The games after that have helped.
"As the season has gone on, we’ve hardened the team," Said Conway. "The attack has certainly taken off."
And while the slow start is indeed part of it, but Conway also said the conference itself is a tough out every week.
"I do feel the teams this year are highly highly competitive this year more than any other years," said Conway. "There are no gimmies. Every team is fighting for every possession, at least that's what we've seen this year. If you're holding a lead, it's never safe, and we have a reasonably young team so they had to learn about that."
Almost the almost the entirety of the current Boston College team will return next year, so, yes, it's a young team. As a result, "it took us a little while to ramp up the competitiveness. And that's why I've always encouraged players to play for all-star teams or select sides. When I was playing and coaching in Ireland, we were massively encouraged to reach outside the club to play for provincial teams because you see that next level of competitiveness and you're picking up things from other coaches. It makes us a better club."
Players such as captain Bobby Voth who was scrumhalf for the side but has now moved to his more natural position of flyhalf. He runs the attack and in their last four games BC has scored 160 points. But they also need some grit.
Lock Anton Schmitt was player of the game against UConn, and Eamon Coffey has moved from loose forward to partner Schmitt in the second row. Those two have become physically dominant powerhouses.
"Both of them are dominating contact areas," said Conway. "Their defense, they ball-carrying, and they got a lot out of their all-star selections."
So now the playoffs are here. UMass and their excellent defense are here ready to face UConn, while BC plays Yale. And, yes, BC lost 30-7 to Yale earlier in the season. But that was a month-and-a-half ago. This is a different Boston College team now.