By: Nicole Battaglia, YawkeyTalkies Correspondent

While the beginning of August usually means vacation time for most New Englanders, it marks the beginning of preseason practices for the Boston College Eagles football squad. 2009 was a solid year for the Maroon and Gold, going 8-5 and making an appearance in the Emerald Bowl against USC. As head coach Frank Spaziani heads into his second year with the program, the Eagles have a good chance to lock up the ACC Atlantic division.

Boston College’s biggest question mark heading into this season is All-American linebacker Mark Herzlich. Herzlich was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma in early 2009 and stayed sidelined for the entire season. He is now cancer-free and determined to make a comeback in 2010, but after a year without football, it is uncertain how he will respond. Considering he just beat cancer; you can assume he is going to approach his final season with BC with the same tenacity. If Herzlich can return to his sophomore year form, coupled with fellow All-American Luke Kuechly, the Eagles could have a very dangerous linebacking core. However, he’s already facing one setback with a stress fracture in his foot, but says he’ll be ready for the September [...]

By: Jess Lander, YawkeyTalkies Editor
Yesterday, was a great day for Boston Sports, as all of their teams got W’s, some more important than others. Here’s a recap:
BC Eagles. Won NCAA Hockey Championship 5-0: For the third year in a row, the city of Boston owns this trophy. Last year, BU came back from two goals behind to win it, and BC had it the year before. So even more awesome than for Boston, is that BC has won this twice in three years, meaning their Seniors and even Juniors, now have two shiny rings.
The Eagles went 12-0-1 in their last thirteen games, but earlier in the season, not many would have necessarily picked them for winning the big dance, as they still managed to tally 10 losses, 2 coming from foe BU and another from Northeastern.
But alas they did, and they did so big-time. Winning 5-0 in a Championship game is just insane. Wisconsin didn’t stand a chance, and the Eagles proved they not only deserved this, but that they in fact own Commonwealth Avenue. Sorry, Terriers, this a’int your street anymore.
Boston Bruins. Clinch a playoff spot: It’s been a long, painful season, but despite everyones assumptions, the Bruins [...]

By: Dave Cheng, YawkeyTalkies Staff Writer
The past two seasons have ended as close to nightmares as possible for the Boston College Eagles and their fans.  In 2009, the Eagles watched as their hated ACC rival, North Carolina, cut down the nets at the end of the NCAA basketball tournament.  A few days ago, the team watched another hated conference foe, Duke, narrowly beat Butler to claim their fourth national title.  BC’s athletic department is hoping that former Cornell head coach Steve Donahue is the answer to the Eagle’s latest struggles.
Donahue was hired this past week as the Eagle’s newest coach, replacing the winningest coach in the programs history, Al Skinner, who was let go after a 15-16 season because of his lack of ability to garner top recruits.
“It was extremely difficult to leave Cornell.  I loved being the head basketball coach at Cornell University. For 10 years, my family and I developed great relationships. I had an unbelievable experience with tremendous student-athletes. I had a great administration,” Donahue said in an article through the Boston Globe.  ”I knew it would take an unbelievable opportunity to leave. That opportunity presented itself when Gene (DeFilippo) made the call.”
There’s no question as to [...]

By: Dave Cheng, YawkeyTalkies Staff Writer
Throw out the glass slipper.  After an NCAA tournament filled with surprises and upsets, the Final Four is set with Duke, West Virginia, Michigan State and Butler.  None of which are by any means considered Cinderella stories.
Many claimed Duke was given a nearly free ride with the weakest region in the tournament.  Second seeded Villanova was done by the second round, and Duke’s opening game was against Arkansas Pine-Bluff, winner of the 65 versus 64 play in game.  Their only real challenge came in the Elite Eight against third seeded Baylor, where Duke had the upper hand with their height and used it to their advantage by out-rebounding Baylor 41-35. This included 17 offensive boards in the second half alone.  Their final four opponent will be Bob Huggins and his West Virginia Moutaineers.
WVU also had a near cake walk into the final four.  Other than Kentucky, the top seed in the eastern region of the bracket, the team has faced tenth seeded Missouri and 11th seeded Washington beating them by a combined score of 22 points.  Then Daryl Bryant went down with a broken bone in his right foot, and people began doubting how far [...]

By: Dave Cheng, YawkeyTalkies Staff Writer
The most successful coach in Boston College Men’s basketball history is officially done as the Eagle’s head coach.  Al Skinner, who recently interviewed for the vacant St. John’s coaching position, has been fired as leader of the BC men’s basketball program after a rough season that ended with a 15-16 overall record, and 6-10 in the ACC.
“Coach Al Skinner and I met last Wednesday and agreed it would be mutually beneficial for us to part ways,” athletic director Gene DeFilippo said in a statement. “In our meeting, we discussed our philosophical differences and our concern for the future of our basketball program.”
DeFilippo also said that Skinner was not fired for interviewing for the St. John’s position.  According to two anonymous sources that spoke to the Associated Press, plans had been in the works to let him go for about a week now, but that the school kept it under wraps so that Skinner would be able to pursue other possible coaching jobs.
Skinner has won a total of 247 games, and lost 165, in his 13 seasons leading the Eagles to go along with seven NCAA berths since 2001.  However, Boston College has finished under .500 [...]

By: Dave Cheng. YawkeyTalkies Staff Writer
The St. John’s men’s basketball program is in the hunt.  After firing head coach Norm Roberts late last week, the Red Storm athletic program has targeted two ACC head coaches as their primary targets.
Current Georgia Tech head coach Paul Hewitt met with St. John’s officials earlier this week, but has since stated that he would not accept an offer from St. John’s because for family reasons.
“My family and I have developed deep ties to Georgia Tech and the city of Atlanta,” Hewitt said in a statement released by Tech. “I strongly believe in what Georgia Tech can do for young people, and I am committed to returning the Tech basketball program to the level of success our fans have come to expect. We took a step in that direction this past season, and I fully intend to continue on that path.”
Athletic director Chris Monasch has now directed his attention towards Boston College head coach Al Skinner, the most successful coach in Boston College history.  According to WEEI, Skinner will be interviewing for the position this afternoon.
Since his time in Boston began in 1997, Skinner has compiled a 210-137 record along with six NCAA tournament appearances [...]

By: Joe Ballway, YawkeyTalkies Staff Writer
The high-flying Boston College offense came through in the clutch yet again, and they’ll be rewarded with a number one seed when the opening round of the 2010 NCAA Tournament kicks off this Saturday in Worcester.
In last weekend’s Hockey East Championship game, the Eagles pulled through with a thrilling 7-6 overtime victory against a relentless and physical Maine squad. The Black Bears seemingly had an answer for every puck BC put in the net, setting the tone by responding just 24 seconds after the Eagles opened the scoring in the first period. All in all, Maine battled back to tie the game on three different occasions–including a goal from Joey Diamond to knot it up at 6-all with just 27 seconds remaining.
But destiny, as it has been in so many seasons past, was on the Eagles side in the end. Matt Lombardi potted his third of the game 5:26 into the extra fame, and Boston College became the rightful owner of the 2010 Hockey East trophy, stealing it back from Boston University after having last won it in 2008, just like they stole the Beanpot from the Terriers this year too.
Just two years removed from their last national title, Jerry York’s squad enters tournament play with high expectations. The [...]