Eagles look to rebound against Temple
After spending an absolutely miserable afternoon in West Lafayette, Ind., Boston College returns home for a nonconference game against Temple this week.
In the span of a few hours last weekend, the Eagles lost a football game, lost for their first time in the Top 25 in 10 years — and also may well have lost any chance of AJ Dillon becoming a legitimate Heisman Trophy contender.
They fell 30-13 to previously winless Purdue (0-3 but by a total of eight points) and were manhandled all day. Dillon, whose numbers from the first two games were limited because of playing weaker opponents, ran for just 59 yards on 19 carries and was consistently hit behind the line.
That was last week. Now, as a nearby pro coach likes to say, it’s on to Temple, a program previously led by BC coach Steve Addazio before he left for BC.
The Eagles, who fell to 3-1, are two-touchdown favorites against the Owls, who opened with a loss to FCS Villanova but are 2-1 since — with wins at Maryland and at home against Tulsa in the AAC opener.
“Temple is a very strong team,” Addazio said. “They have got some really skilled players on both sides of the ball. Coming off two good wins against Maryland and Tulsa and playing with a lot of confidence. We will have our work cut out for us.”
As tough as it was for Dillon last week, the afternoon was a nightmare for Anthony Brown. After throwing five touchdown passes to earn ACC honors the previous week, he was 13-of-27 with four interceptions and one touchdown pass.
“It’s like nothing I’ve never seen before,” Addazio said after the game. “Two batted balls for interceptions. Penalties all over the place. It was one of those days when you’re on the sidelines and you’re saying to yourself, ‘Are you kidding me? What else can go wrong here?’
“I’m completely taken off my seat. This was not a team looking by anything. This was not a team feeling fat and happy about themselves. I didn’t see that at all.”