The undefeated Boston College Eagles (7-0), ranked No. 2 in the country, play No. 8 Virginia Tech Hokies (7-1) in an Atlantic Coast Conference showdown tonight at Lane Stadium/Marshall Field in Blackburg.  This should be a classic Thursday night college football game, covered live on ESPN at 7:30 pm ET.  Tech boasts a 9-4 advantage against BC in the series but, in Thursday night games, BC has a 3-2 edge.

            BC entered the ACC in 2003-04, exiting the Big East.  Apart from joining a conference with great universities, including Duke, North Carolina, Virginia and Wake Forest, and generating increased TV revenue to fund other BC athletic programs, a principal goal was to increase BC’s visibility to younger people in the south. 

            Demographic trends indicate a growing pool of undergraduates from the region.  BC surveys showed it enjoying least name recognition among potential recruits there compared to other parts of the country. The school’s gridiron prowess in the ACC seems to be yielding recruiting dividends—and may whatever the outcome of tonight’s game.

            The outcome is important for BC quarterback, Matt Ryan.  He probably needs to win big to keep serious attention as a possible Heisman Trophy candidate.  Having watched Ryan the last few years while on BC’s faculty, I’m rooting for him and for the Eagles, despite my recent move to GW, on the Virginia line.  Go Eagles.

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