Eagles face tall task vs. Clemson
Tigers own 30-game home winning streak
Boston College earned a measure of respect beating SEC foe Missouri last week to move to 4-0, but it’s entirely different matter opening ACC play at Clemson Saturday night in Death Valley.
Clemson was undefeated and the No. 1 ranked team in the country in BC’s last two games there. But it’s the Eagles (4-0) who are unbeaten entering a match with the reigning ACC champion and No. 25 Tigers (2-2).
BC coach Jeff Hafley isn’t buying the noise that Clemson is a diminished program, especially in a building where they have won 30 straight games, the longest active home win streak in FBS. Clemson has also won the last six ACC titles, as well as national championships in 2016 and 2018. The Tigers have been national finalists four times since 2015.
“Despite us being 4-0 and them being 2-2, we are still 16-point underdogs so our mentality is always going to be the same,” said Hafley on Wednesday. “I don’t think anybody outside this building thinks we can win this game. “
BC put a scare into Clemson last Halloween, building a 28-13 lead at the half that featured touchdown passes
from Phil Jurkovec to Zay Flowers and C.J. Lewis.
Clemson rallied in the second half behind freshman D.J. Uiagalelei, who was making his first career start in place of Trevor Lawrence, who was languishing in the NCAA’s COVID-19 protocol. Uiagalelei completed 30-of41 passes for 342 yards.
“It’s the same approach and we had guys last year who believed we could win the game just as if we were playing anyone,” said Hafley. “If you don’t believe you can win than what are you doing?”
Uiagalelei will start for the Tigers while BC’s offense is now led by Dennis Grosel, who took over the starting QB job when Jurkovec suffered a season-ending hand injury at UMass.
Grosel managed last Saturday’s 41-34 signature overtime win against Missouri. Grosel will compete in his third game at Death Valley and second as a starter.
“This will be my third time going up against them and they are a great opponent,” said Grosel. “If you are a competitor you want to compete against the best and they have been the best for a really long time.”