A lot on line at BC
Lindstrom sets big standard
Few players have given more to, and gotten more from, the Boston College football program than right guard Chris Lindstrom.
The 6-foot-4, 310-pound, senior from Dudley will make his 47th consecutive start and 50th appearance when the Eagles (7-4, 4-3) host No. 19 Syracuse (8-3, 5-2) in an ACC Rivalry Week encounter Saturday at Alumni Stadium.
Whether 47 straight starts are a school record could not be confirmed because that stat isn’t codified in the BC record book. But, Lindstrom’s appearance on Senior Day and subsequent bowl game becomes the standard going forward.
“It has been a tremendous four years and I’m just thankful that coach (Steve) Addazio gave me the opportunity to live out my dream and play here,” Lindstrom said following yesterday’s practice.
“It has been such an amazing ride these past couple of years and I’m just happy to be in this program.”
Lindstrom was an early arrival at BC in the spring of 2015 after being named ESPN Boston’s Lineman of the Year his senior season at Shepherd Hill.
Lindstrom was undersized, had just turned 18 and was the ideal candidate to be a redshirt freshman. But the Eagles had a dearth of offensive linemen going into training camp and Addazio had no choice but to prime Lindstrom for a baptism under ACC fire.
Lindstrom started the final nine games as a true freshman, seven against ACC schools including No. 5 Clemson, with nonleague matches against Northern Illinois and No. 4 Notre Dame at Fenway Park. BC finished 3-9, the only season without a bowl game in Addazio’s tenure.
“It was a great learning experience and there were a lot of things on preparation on how you have to be physically and mentally ready for the game,” said Lindstrom, an All-ACC first team candidate and likely NFL draft pick.
“I’m thankful for those games and they really taught you a lesson and I try to carry that to the young guys now. I tell them you never know when you number is going to be called and you always have to be ready.
Lindstrom started 26 games over the next two seasons, including a win over Maryland in the Quick Lane Bowl at Ford Field in Detroit in 2016 and a hard luck 27-20 loss to Iowa in the Pinstripe Bowl last December at Yankee Stadium.
Addazio commands the strongest, deepest and most balanced team on his watch. BC will start 14 combined graduate students, redshirt seniors and seniors against Syracuse in a game with bowl implications for both squads. Graduate middle linebacker Connor Strachan will make his 12th start of the season and team-high 51st appearance.
BC enters this week off back-to-back losses against No. 2 Clemson and last Saturday’s 22-21 heartbreaker at Florida State. An Eagles victory Saturday combined with an NC State win at North Carolina would create a three-way tie for second place in the Atlantic Division. NC State beat BC but lost to Syracuse, leaving several upper-tier ACC bowl games up for grabs.