No. 23 Eagles visit winless Purdue
Ranked for the first time in 10 years and 3-0 for the first time in 11, Boston College hits the road again this week with a nonconference visit to Purdue.
Winless Purdue.
“They’re a team that’s very explosive,” coach Steve Addazio told his weekly media gathering. “Obviously, their quarterback broke the school’s single-game passing record, which is quite a statement. Speaks to their ability to throw the ball down the field. Very talented.”
The quarterback Addazio was talking about is David Blough, the fifth-year senior who stepped in for an injured Elijah Sindelar and broke the school passing record by throwing for 572 yards against Missouri. He had 590 yards of total offense and was named Big Ten offensive player of the week.
But the Boilermakers lost. They dropped for 0-3 for the first time since 1996.
BC was last 4-0 in 2007. Purdue was last 0-4 in 1987.
Both could happen this weekend.
“It’s challenging,” Addazio said. “We’re going on the road … to play a Big Ten team at their place. That’s challenging.
“I think part of our maturation process of our program right now is to be able to take on one of those games, go get that done. That’s not easy. Compared to the ACC, I mean, these are all really good power conferences. They all have legitimate, talented players.”
And this BC team matured in a 41-34 Thursday night road win at Wake Forest, as Anthony Brown threw for five touchdowns and 308 yards (both career highs) and AJ Dillon carried for 185 yards and a touchdown to lead the offense and Wyatt Ray had four sacks to pace the defense.
All three were honored with player of the week honors by the ACC this week, and Ray was named Walter Camp Defensive Player of the Week after a career-high eight tackles and a quarterback hurry.
Dillon was tabbed as the running back of the week for the second straight week and is fifth in the nation with 144 yards per game — and those totals include playing less than a total of three quarters combined in the first two games.
The Eagles have scored 40-plus points in the first three games of a season for the first time in the history of the program. They have scored 158 points in three games.
“They are going to try to run the football first and they have a great rushing attack and that’s what they are going to feed off, so that’s what we have to stop,” said Purdue coach Jeff Brohm.
Asked if it feels good to be ranked for the first time in his tenure, Addazio said, “It beats the alternative. I know you guys can appreciate this. I say what I think. I mean, I really haven’t even wasted one second thinking about it. In fact, to me it’s just one more distraction.
“Listen, it’s great for your fan base, OK? It recognizes the fact that you’ve made improvements. It recognizes the fact that you’re moving in the right direction. But really what I want to recognize is having a chance to be 4-0 around 4 o’clock Saturday afternoon, or that doesn’t mean anything. I’ve been around long enough to know and see it all. There’s no conversation going on in our program.
“Now, do I think there’s not conversation in the dorm going on? Human nature. But I can tell you, I didn’t even speak to it, about it, nor did anybody on this football team after having our Tuesday practice today.”
