Worst NCAA Offseason Belongs to Boston College

The Eagles chances of winning the BCS National Championship are slim to none. But then if by some miracle they do win? At 100/1 odds the joke would be on us. (AP Images)"]

Among conference championship games, the ACC's has ranked slightly above the Mid-American Conference's in terms of national interest in the past few years, so you might have forgotten that Boston College reached the title game in each of the past two seasons.

However, don't look for the Eagles, who are 100/1 on Bodog odds to win the BCS National Championship, to make it three in a row after a turbulent offseason for the program.

BC's problems started in January, when the school fired coach Jeff Jagodzinski after just two seasons in charge. He interviewed for the top job with the Jets, against the school's wishes. BC's athletic director threatened to fire Jagodzinski if he went through with the interview, and he kept his word. Jagodzinski, now offensive coordinator of the Tampa Bay Bucs, led the Eagles to a 20-8 record and two bowl games in his tenure.

Then in May, Eagles senior-to-be linebacker Mark Herzlich, the reigning ACC Defensive Player of the Year and a lock 2010 NFL first-round draft pick, announced he had been diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma, which is a very rare form of cancer. Herzlich was a beast last season, leading the team with 110 tackles, six interceptions, eight pass break-ups, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and two touchdown returns. A terrible break for a stellar player, and he is unlikely to ever play football again.

Then this week more bad karma hit BC with the news that likely 2009 starting quarterback Dominique Davis will be transferring in the wake of an academic suspension. When starter Chris Crane went down with a season-ending injury last season, the freshman Davis started the final four games and completed 63 of 138 passes for 741 yards with six touchdowns and four interceptions. The dual-threat QB led BC to the ACC title game with solid performances against Wake Forest and Maryland before struggling against Virginia Tech in the conference championship loss and then in Boston College's Music City Bowl loss to Vandy.

His transfer means the Eagles don't have a quarterback on the roster who has thrown a pass in Division I-A football.

It could be a long year for BC.

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