Navy (9-3) vs. Boston College (9-3)
Dec. 30,
1:00 p.m. ET, ESPN
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| Meieke Bowl History |
| 2005 |
NC State 14, South Florida 0 |
| 2004 |
Boston College 37, North Carolina 24 |
| 2003 |
Virginia 23, Pittsburgh 16 |
| 2002 |
Virginia 48, West Virginia 22 |
|
By
Richard Cirminiello
Meineke Car Care Bowl Player Profile
QB Matt Ryan, Boston College – If
you’re on the prowl this bowl season for the next big thing in a
pro-style NFL quarterback, don’t sleep on the Meineke Bowl. Ryan is
going to play this game long after he leaves the Heights. His
numbers the last two years may suggest otherwise, however, pro
scouts are already hinting that the junior could ascend into the
first round of the 2008 NFL Draft with a big senior year. In terms
of next-level skills, Ryan has got it all. He’s 6-5 with a strong
arm, deceptive mobility and great intangibles, not unlike a certain
other quarterback from the New England area. He’s also tough,
playing on a gimpy left ankle and sore left foot that’s forced him
to wear a boot since September. A former three-sport star in high
school, Ryan has yet to truly have a breakout year at Boston
College. Sure, he was named All-ACC first team in 2006, but that
had as much to do with the dearth of deserving quarterbacks in the
league than anything else. Ryan threw just 14 touchdown passes to
eight interceptions in 11 games and was the nation’s 48th-ranked
passer. There’s reason to believe, however, those pedestrian
numbers are going to change dramatically in 2007. This past year,
Ryan was saddled with a conservative offense, very suspect support
and that bad left wheel. The injury will heal and Jeff Jagodzinski
is determined to address everything else. Boston College’s new head
coach, a proponent of a more wide-open, quarterback-friendly
offense, plans to get the most out of his franchise player in 2007.
Jagodzinski, who is leaving his post as the Green Bay Packer
offensive coordinator, is no stranger to really good quarterbacks.
Don’t be surprised if he impacts Ryan’s future next year much the
Charlie Weis helped propel Brady Quinn after leaving the New England
Patriots for Notre Dame.
Best Middie Bowl Moment – Ben Fay will forever be a part of
Navy football lore. He was the backup quarterback, who came off the
bench in the fourth quarter of the 1996 Aloha Bowl to help upset
Cal, 42-38. The senior led the offense on touchdown drives of 80
and 84 yards over the final 10:38 as the Academy captured its first
bowl win in 18 years.
Best Eagle Bowl Moment – The 1984 season will forever be
remembered fondly by Eagle fans. It was the year of Flutie, the
Heisman and the miracle in Miami. It was also the scene of Boston
College’s first bowl win in 44 years, a 45-28 thumping of Houston in
the 1985 Cotton Bowl. Flutie threw three touchdown passes, but the
real hero was running back Troy Stradford, who ran for 196 yards and
was named the game’s MVP.
Boston College's best win ...
Boston College 22 ... Virginia Tech 3
Boston College's defense held Virginia Tech to just 181 yards
of total offense forcing four turnovers and allowing a 36-yard Brandon Pace
field goal. The Eagle offense got two touchdown catches from Kevin Challenger,
but the real star was walk-on PK Steve Aponavicius, who provided the first
steady kicking of the year with two field goals and two extra points. The Hokies
finished averaging just 2.9 yards per play.
Boston College's worst loss ... NC State 17 ... Boston College 15
NC State QB Daniel Evans, in his first start, didn't have a
night to remember until his final drive. Down five with 46 left and starting on
his own 28, Evans found Anthony Hill for an 18 yard pass. He threw a 20-yard
pass to John Dunlap to get to the BC 34, and then with five seconds to play,
found Dunlap in the end zone for touchdown. The Wolfpack were able to win on the
score since BC failed on a two-point conversion after a Brian Toal touchdown run
early in the fourth quarter. The Eagles scores early in the game on a 22-yard
catch from Tony Gonzalez, but the extra point was no good. Andre Brown ran for a
26-yard score in the third quarter for State's touchdown before the final score.
Navy's best win ...
Navy 41 ... Connecticut 17
Brian Hampton ran over UConn for three touchdowns and bombed
away for a 77-yard touchdown pass to Reggie Campbell leading Navy to
605 yards of total offense on the way to an easy win. Hampton ran
for a score from 24 yards out in the first quarter, and put the game
well out of reach with touchdown dashes from 52 and four yards out
in the fourth. Campbell added to the big plays with a 68-yard
scoring dash on Navy's first play from scrimmage in the second half.
UConn only managed a 14-yard touchdown catch from Terry Caulley and
a four-yard scoring grab from Deon Anderson, but three fumbles and
the inability to get the Navy offense off the field proved costly.
Navy's worst loss ...
Rutgers 34 ... Navy 0
Rutgers held Navy to 161 yards of total offense and 113 yards
on the ground, while the passing game got working with three Mike Teel
touchdown passes including two to Tiquan Underwood. Jeremy Ito hit two
field goals and Kordell Young ran for a three-yard score, but the real
story was the Rutgers D, and the loss of Navy QB Brian Hampton to a knee
injury. Navy converted just four of 19 third down chances and completed
four of 16 passes in comeback mode.
2005 Meineke Car Care Bowl
NC State 14 ... South Florida 0
NC State got a nine-yard touchdown catch from Brian Clark and
a one yard scoring run from Andre Brown in the second quarter for all
the points it would need. The defense took care of the rest with six
sacks and three forced turnovers. Andre Hall was the only positive for
the South Florida offense with 118 rushing yards, but the Bull passing
game never got on track.
Player of the game: NC State LB Stephen Tulloch
made 15 tackles, three sacks, five tackles for loss, one broken up pass,
one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
Stat Leaders: USF - Passing: Pat
Julmiste, 8-25, 91 yds, 1 INT
Rushing: Andre Hall, 19-118. Receiving:
Andre Hall, 2-49
NC State - Passing: Marcus Stone, 9-19,
127 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Toney Bakey, 23-93. Receiving:
Brian Clark, 3-66, 1 TD
Boston College Bowl History (11-6)
|
2005 |
MPC Computers |
Boston College 27, Boise
State 21 |
|
2004 |
Continental Tire |
Boston College 37, North
Carolina 24 |
|
2003 |
San Francisco |
Boston College 35,
Colorado State 21 |
|
2002 |
Motor City |
Boston College 51,
Toledo 25 |
|
2001 |
Music City |
Boston College 20,
Georgia 16 |
|
2000 |
Aloha |
Boston College 31,
Arizona State 17 |
|
1999 |
Insight.com |
Colorado 62, Boston
College 28 |
|
1994 |
Aloha |
Boston College 12,
Kansas State 7 |
|
1993 |
Carquest |
Boston College 31,
Virginia 13 |
|
1992 |
Hall of Fame |
Tennessee 38, Boston
College 23 |
|
1986 |
Hall of Fame |
Boston College 27,
Georgia 24 |
|
1984 |
Cotton |
Boston College 45,
Houston 28 |
|
1983 |
Liberty |
Notre Dame 19, Boston
College 18 |
|
1982 |
Tangerine |
Auburn 33, Boston
College 26 |
|
1942 |
Orange |
Alabama 37, Boston
College 21 |
|
1940 |
Sugar |
Boston College 19,
Tennessee 13 |
|
1939 |
Cotton |
Clemson 6, Boston
College 3 |
|
Navy
Bowl History (6-5-1)
|
2005 |
Poinsettia |
Navy 51, Colorado St 30 |
|
2004 |
Emerald |
Navy 34, New Mexico 19 |
|
2003 |
Houston |
Texas Tech 38, Navy 14 |
|
1996 |
Aloha |
Navy 42, California 38 |
|
1981 |
Liberty |
Ohio State 31, Navy 28 |
|
1980 |
Garden State |
Houston 35, Navy 0 |
|
1978 |
Holiday |
Navy 23, BYU 16 |
|
1964 |
Cotton |
Texas 28, Navy 6 |
|
1961 |
Orange |
Missouri 21, Navy 14 |
|
1958 |
Cotton |
Navy 20, Rice 7 |
|
1955 |
Sugar |
Navy 21, Ole Miss 0 |
|
1924 |
Rose |
Navy 14, Washington 14
|
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