All you children get a good look here at something you’ll never ever see again in football: rain games on that original style astroturf. It’s like playing on glass.
You're right. I typed in "distance between Boston College and Holy Cross" and it said 8.5 miles, because for whatever reason, it directed me to the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, and not the actual school. Error on my end
@@marcus813 I've lived in the Worcester area my entire life, with a large part of that being within spitting distance of Holy Cross. Yeah BC ain't even close. Granted Massachusetts is a fairly small state, but still.
This was an incredible video. Brought back so many memories. As a Holy Cross Crusader alumni, I was a freshman at HC in that 1983 season and remember the game we played against BC that was supposed to be their last one until it was moved. Holy Cross was undefeated until the BC game. It was going to be a great rivalry game. The new and powerful darlings of college football, BC vs. undefeated HC...but alas, we got beaten up badly by Flutie, I think like 47-7. It was ugly that day but a great memory of college football in 1983. The way you told the story of the double bye week and its possible impact was fantastic. This was a great video!
The weird thing is, they're not even the last independent in Massachusetts to have this happen to them. 2017 UMass went from a bye-less schedule to back-to-back byes.
They couldnt get any teams to play them though! I remember this, though and that was what was said. Hard to schedule big boy clubs for games in Amherst. the Big boy clubs like the cupcakes in their home stadiums!
I'm not sure why coach was so baffled as to what to do with the time off. Throughout college football history, teams would play their last game Thanksgiving weekend and then wait five or six weeks to play their bowl game on Jan 1. College football has always had the strangest schedule.
As a native New Englander, I can say the Flutie Years at BC were the greatest in college football history. I was living in Utah during their '83 and '84 seasons and remember these games; the 1983 Alabama game is permanently etched in my memory. The horrific conditions, driving sleet and snow, and the fact my little BC beat Alabama. My teams never beat Alabama, darn right surrealist. If not for the worst place kicker in football history (I can't remember the fool's name), at any level, they would have beaten ND in that bowl game too. To this day, Doug Flutie is still my favorite football player, even though I've been a fan of the Boston/New England Patriots since '62. During his reign, BC beat some of the best football teams in the country. They would have been rated higher if not for Flutie's kryptonite: West Virginia.
Hey man, never seen your channel, just got suggested this video. But gotta say well done. This is a piece of CFB I never knew, and was well explained and put together. Much love, and War Eagle
I watched that game and Grandma and Grandaddy's house with my Grandaddy, Daddy, and uncle. The only game all three of us were rooting for the same team (3 generations of Clemson fans and one coot fan). The energy in the room when BC beat Miami was awesome. Great memory.
I’m wondering if the networks’ front-loading of programming decisions in 1982 had anything to do with the massive void in the middle of the NFL season that year
Possibly, since there was speculation as far back as the spring if 1982 that the NFL season could be disrupted by a labor dispute. In fact, had the strike cancelled the rest of the 1982 NFL season, I think CBS especially would have tried to move some of their highest profile college football games from Saturday afternoon to Sunday afternoon.
@@TheSonicsean Actually, JG got this one wrong. The old rule was 5 times in a 2 year stretch-83 was the final year of the old rule, as in January, 84, SCOTUS ruled that conferences/schools could make their own TV deals. The reason, IMO, that everyone loaded up in 82 is that you had new TV partners in CBS and TBS, plus everyone anticipated a friendly ruling at some point
@@troyturner173 5 times in 2 years was the rule when ABC had sole coverage of college football. The rule changed when CBS entered the fray a year or two before this.
Thank goodness things improved on that front in 1984. Those limits that the NCAA put on CBS and ABC made no sense IMO. I'm thankful for Georgia and Oklahoma taking the NCAA to court.
Jim Plunkett, and, John Elway, won, the, same, number, of, SBs, but, technically, he had the, better, College Football, career, by, winning, the, Heisman, that's life, who can explain it.
@diamonddog13 Yeah, the, future, HOFer, lost, that Game, meanwhile, the, most, famous person on the Bears, was, arguably, their coach, Joe Kapp, strange.
@JaguarGator8... Hey bud, loving your videos.. Just wanted to make a small correction. Holy Cross is in my hometown of Worcester, MA and is about 50 miles away from BC. I only mention this because Worcester never gets any love. Keep up the good work
It's, the, second-largest, city, in, New England, yet, it even takes a backseat to its, sister, city, of, Springfield, oddly enough, the, third-largest, city, in, New England, is, Providence, can't believe it isn't one of the many, cities, in Connecticut, oddly enough, their, largest, city, is, Bridgeport, which, you, never, hear about.
@@matthewdaley746 Perhaps you haven visited Hartford recently! You wouldnt be wondering so much! Hartford metro is pretty significant, but city proper, is poor and sad looking, and you wouldnt want to live there if you didnt have to! Springfield is more likely sister city with Hartford! Hartford is much closer, we share an airport, and many people in the Springfield area commute to CT for work! Worcester would have closer tie with Boston than Springfield.
@@inconnu4961 I visited, The, State Capitol, in 2007, I always preferred the coastal regions, particularly, New London County, Rhode Island, is a lot, like, Delaware, unless you have relatives, it's a state you drive, through, not, to.
Wow I clearly remember this! Thank you for posting the video! I saw the Penn State game on television. The only schedule that came close was in 1993 Penn State had a bye week , played Ohio State , then another bye week , then played Michigan. It’s also sad with the 12 game schedule and conference championship games teams don’t get bye weeks before their big annual rivalry game
@@88cutty Speaking of which, this, was, their, worst, season, in, years, and, they, still, nearly, won, the, Championship, that would have been about the, worst, possible, thing, imaginable, there's no question.
Penn State wasnt that good in 1983, they lost their first 3 games one of which was to my alma mater Cincinnati and that version of the Bearcats wasnt anywhere close to the powerhouse it is now. That Bearcats team was essentially a 1-AA team that year.
@JaguarGator8 You referenced Boston College finishing the 1978 season in Japan, they also had the double bye week that season...Probably isn't remembered because Boston College went 0-11 in 1978
I know it's been 40 years but 40 years ago how power 5 programs had maybe 2-4 games aired on TV and then 20 years later most power 5 programs have every game aired and then now almost ALL programs from the power 5 to the NAIA are broadcasted in some form
every college after september that plays notre dame has a bye the week b4 they play notre dame...look at the nd schedule over the last 10 years, it's crazy
The strangest schedule that Oklahoma State ever had was in 1995. They played 4 non conference road games (Tulsa, Wyoming, Tennessee and Hawaii). Their only home game out of conference was against what is now Missouri State.
Holy Cross is located in Worcester Ma. 47 miles fron Boston not 8 miles as you state in video. College of the Holy Cross has been in Worcester since 1843. They are both Jesuit Universities, that was the rivalry.
@@christophersadler2930 Yeah, and, unlike, when they, lost, to, Alabama, they, only, had themselves to blame, which made the, end, result, all the, sweeter.
I lost my voice at the '84 BC game, then went to the George Carlin show at the Coliseum. Woke up the next morning with a 103 fever. Stayed in bed for nearly a week. Then went to the Penn State game. We all know how that turned out.
I was a sophomore at Notre Dame in fall 1983. The weather for the Liberty Bowl was atrocious-low teens, with a wind chill well below zero, and an icy field. Both teams scored 3 touchdowns, but BC failed on all 3 conversions and ND made one. ND wasn’t even supposed to go to a bowl after finishing 6-5 with 3 straight losses. Ironically, one reason CBS was short on inventory Thanksgiving weekend 1983 was because the ND-Miami game, originally scheduled for that weekend, was moved up to September 24 and televised in prime time on CBS. 1983 was also the last season teams had major obstacles getting game films on opponents, because the following spring, the Supreme Court voided the NCAA’s restrictive TV contracts on antitrust grounds, which opened the floodgates for the vast majority of major football powers’ games being televised on any number of networks.
As a Canadian who grew up watching the CFL (that is relevant and will be explained), I find the idea of a team or its coaching staff verging on panic because they have back to back bye weeks laughable. It happens in the CFL well, not all the time, but frequently enough it's not considered unusual. For most of its history, the CFL has had nine teams split into two divisions, and a playoff format where the teams that finish first in each division hosts a division final. There are divisional semi-finals the week before that, giving the first place teams a bye week. The 'problem' is that with an odd (9) number of teams, at least one team is given a bye week in every week of the regular season - including the final one. That means there is about a 22% chance that the team with the final week bye ends up finishing first in one of the divisions, which gives them a bye in the first week of the CFL playoffs. It's generally not considered ideal, but there's no 'OMG, how do we cope with this unknown situation?' either.
No, but, Edmonton Eskimos, was, (correctly), considered offensive enough of a name, to, change, at least, they gave them an actual name, still can't believe the Packers, never, sued them, (or, vice-versa), except, for, the, two, E's, their old helmets, were, identical, in, color-scheme.
@@inconnu4961 Winnipeg, has to, win, in something, the, Jets, sure, aren't, ever, going, to, win, a, Cup, to say nothing, of, how, unattractive the city is to players, for, innumerable reasons.
I laugh at the scenario where BC coaches were frustrated that they had to wait a month before getting game film on Alabama!…… Bicknell and staff could have just taken a road trip one of those Saturdays and seen The Tide live since they obviously had time! Lol
I had no idea that BC's '84 game against The U was supposed to take place early that season. Thank goodness CBS (or any other college football broadcaster for that matter) wouldn't be able to do something like that today.
Two of the most iconic games in college football history (1966 Notre Dame-Michigan State and 1969 Texas-Arkansas) were moved to end of the season just before the season started due to significant influence from ABC.
Umm... I'm sorry - what? Boston College and Holy Cross are 40 miles apart, not 8. BC is in Chestnut Hill and Holy Cross is in Worcester. Maybe if they were playing Regis College you could say it's about 8 miles. But Holy Cross? Not even close.
Tennessee had a double bye in 2001 due to 9/11. I'm sure there were countless instances in 2020 due to covid but idk if I'd really count that cause every team in the country was going through their own versions of problems.
Can you do a video on the weird, asymmetrical schedule of the 1980 Detroit Lions? They played non-conference opponent St. Louis twice and only played two AFC teams, the Colts and Chiefs.
There is a solid reason for that; namely, the Lions had finished in fifth place in 1979. Thus, they played the other fifth place in the NFC twice (St. Louis) and the two fifth place teams in the AFC once each (Baltimore and Kansas City).
That was freshman year at PSU....they weren't that great of team. I can remember the silence on campus during the opener against Nebraska and how they got beat by Cincinnati in the home opener
Bicknell should have called Bobby Bowden. In 1980, FSU went a month between Virginia Tech (Nov. 8) and their next game, Florida (Dec. 6). FSU won both.
I’ve got a stranger schedule than that. 2020 Tulsa University football at the season opener canceled due to the opponents Covid numbers. They played a road game at number 11 ranked Oklahoma State and their next game was canceled due to Covid numbers. Then 2 weeks later they make a 15 point come back on the road at #11 UCF then have a20 day layoff due to opponents Covid numbers, play a game then have a bye week then play 3 games in 14 days! One was a Hail Mary at the buzzer by their 3rd string QB to upset #18 SMU then the next game a pick 6 for TD to win over Tulane in overtime. Then a make up game was canceled a week later so they finished the Season with the home game against Navy. Then in the following week losing by only three at number six ranked Cincinnati in the AAC conference title game. They went to a bowl game against Mississippi states to end the season 6-3. The Tulsa coach said the hardest thing was keeping his players game ready all year.
I know I’m late to the party PAL! However, This unofficial Official Jaguar Gator 9 historian will remind everyone you made a video about how the year before the NCAA’s TV agreement with ABC and CBS (along with the NFL strike) led to Pat Summerall and John Madden calling a Division III football game.
I used to participate on a Dolphins Board with you, 316. You were pretty cool. I recall our Memphis/Louisville Hoops debates! It's awesome to see you and I hope you are well!
In your otherwise wonderful video, I do have one small, historic quibble; namely, when you referred to 1940 as being "before World War II." True, the US was not formally involved in the war until December 1941, but the Second World War was already in its second year in 1940.
3 byes in 4 weeks...yikes. They played Alabama in Birmingham on 9/8, bye, hosted UNC, bye, bye, then hosted Temple. Just looking at Ohio State, they started these years the weekend after Labor Day. I wonder if some of these independent schools decided to start a week early to get a jump on everyone and maybe get a better chance at a TV slot.
Penn State class of '83 here. I graduates before the '83 season so I was spared that loss, sort of. But I remember it from watching it that fall. Thing about Penn State in those years, there was only one team we didn't like - Pitt. And "didn't like" is putting is not merely mildly, it's completely hiding the fact. We HATED Pitt. Once on a trip to the outskirts of Pittsburgh, many years later when we weren't even playing Pitt regularly any more, I took a detour into the city just to get out of my car and spit on the Pitt campus. It was like that. So losing to Boston College wes OK. Doug Flutie is cool. BC has been down forever, so it was good to see them doing well. And while I always wanted us to win every game, I never much liked blowouts, so if an opponent gave us a good fight, win or lose it was a good thing. That was during our "Heisman graveyard" years, too. We beat Marcus Allen, Herschel Walker, Doug Flutie (in his Heisman season but before he won the award), and Vinny Testaverde, Yet except that I couldn't stand Jimmy Johnson as a college coach, I had full respect for all those guys. So good on BC for those two seasons!
At least, he, was, a, good, person, Dennis Erickson, was, an, execrable, human being, who couldn't coach, out, of a paper bag, but, the talent that Jimmy Johnson, left, behind, made people ignore this, blood simple.
@@matthewdaley746 Yeah, I never saw his good side until he coached in the pros. Once he did that I liked him but while he coached college I hated his attitude and the thugs he allowed to play for him.
@@MichaelPiz With, all due respect, his, "conversion," was, completely, self-serving, he found, out, that if you talk to professional athletes, like, that, at, best, they get you fired, at, worst, they attack you physically, Urban Meyer, was, a, far, more-recent, example of a coach, overestimating, his power.
As a Penn State fan from 1982 onward, there wasnt much of a rivalry once Marino left Pitt. I used to make the ride up, as a kid, with family to Happy valley and remember the 'sh^t on Pitt' buttons! LOL Now Ohio State is the hated rival, and Pitt is likely an after thought!
ruth, phelen, and stratford played in the nfl. glenn foley qb's them in 90's. And matty ice qb'd bc up to '07. I believe bicknell was an off. coordinator after getting fired from bc. two time s b winning coach (thanks brady/bb) coughlin also coached bc.
I love all your videos. But this one I do not understand. What was the problem? Typically between the last game of the regular season and a bowl game there is anywhere from 2 1/2 to 4 weeks. Why would this be any different? And in asking this question I have touched on the biggest problem regarding the game of college football. Why aren’t there any meaningful games between the first weekend of December and New Year’s Eve. Except for the four team college football playoff, the bowl games are nothing more than glorified exhibition games. This is why they need to expand the college football playoff to 12 or even 16 teams. Once the power five conferences complete their takeover of college football from the NCAA, I think that will happen.
If you listen to the video, it was because its the MIDDLE of the season and its disruptive! Do you know why there is such a break? Because of a little tradition called FINALS. its that time of the semester where projects have to be finished and Finals are studied for and taken. That IS the main reason why they attend university, after all! Those are necessary breaks!
@@inconnu4961 the war didn't start when the US entered the war. the war had been going on for years in both Europe and Asia. not to mention before the US officially entered the war we were sending weapons and other supplies to the allies for years.
That's because nobody gave a #k about bc football until flutie came around. Then suddenly they were everywhere enjoying their 15 minutes of fame. Then they went to big east to be fodder to the U then followed that up by being a second division acc also ran. Go pray to your catholic priest about that if you think bc got the short end of things back in mid 80's. bc should have let their lord o god lead them never to leave the big east in the first place. They belong in the aac these days with rutgers battling temple for the bottom of conference.
BC had lots of good teams besides the Flutie team. They upset top ranked Notre Dame in South Bend in 93 and Matt Ryan took them to 2 ACC CG's. They've been garbage ever since, but for about 3 decades BC often had top 25 teams.
@@paulanderson6634 The ACC is a basketball conference not a football one! Thats in part, why they wanted Miami and FSU, and to a lesser extent BC, and Vatech, to bolster their football bona fides
All you children get a good look here at something you’ll never ever see again in football: rain games on that original style astroturf. It’s like playing on glass.
Love the big shoulder pads and the cutoff jerseys from the early to mid 80s
5:58 Chestnut Hill and Worcester are a little further than 8 and 1/2 miles apart.
You're right. I typed in "distance between Boston College and Holy Cross" and it said 8.5 miles, because for whatever reason, it directed me to the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, and not the actual school. Error on my end
I was about to say...I've never been in Greater Boston and I always knew they were much farther apart than that.
No worries, it happens. But either way definitely a big rivalry back in the day irrespective of the 40 mile distance between the two campuses.
@@marcus813 I've lived in the Worcester area my entire life, with a large part of that being within spitting distance of Holy Cross. Yeah BC ain't even close. Granted Massachusetts is a fairly small state, but still.
@@marcus813 You should come visit sometime! Now that the Big Dig is over, its not so bad getting around! LOL
This was an incredible video. Brought back so many memories. As a Holy Cross Crusader alumni, I was a freshman at HC in that 1983 season and remember the game we played against BC that was supposed to be their last one until it was moved. Holy Cross was undefeated until the BC game. It was going to be a great rivalry game. The new and powerful darlings of college football, BC vs. undefeated HC...but alas, we got beaten up badly by Flutie, I think like 47-7. It was ugly that day but a great memory of college football in 1983. The way you told the story of the double bye week and its possible impact was fantastic. This was a great video!
Holy cross even D1 for football anymore?
@@jbj7599 Yes, but at the FCS level. Won the Patriot League last year and made it to the second round of the FCS playoffs
@@OfficialJaguarGator9 nice, Thanks for the info!
@@jbj7599 No, I don't think so--Patriot League. Were were the #3 ranked school in the nation in 1983 but it was called Division IAA I think.
@@OfficialJaguarGator9 Unfortunately, it, took, JMU, making, "A, Deal, With, The, Devil," and, a, worldwide, pandemic, for, anybody, other, than, NDSU, to, win, That, Championship, simple, as, that, "The, Devil's," been, collecting.
The weird thing is, they're not even the last independent in Massachusetts to have this happen to them. 2017 UMass went from a bye-less schedule to back-to-back byes.
They couldnt get any teams to play them though! I remember this, though and that was what was said. Hard to schedule big boy clubs for games in Amherst. the Big boy clubs like the cupcakes in their home stadiums!
That Boston College-Penn State game would have been a College GameDay game if it existed in 1983
I'm not sure why coach was so baffled as to what to do with the time off. Throughout college football history, teams would play their last game Thanksgiving weekend and then wait five or six weeks to play their bowl game on Jan 1. College football has always had the strangest schedule.
Growing up in the 80s in Boston, that early-mid 80s run for BC was a fun time.
As a native New Englander, I can say the Flutie Years at BC were the greatest in college football history. I was living in Utah during their '83 and '84 seasons and remember these games; the 1983 Alabama game is permanently etched in my memory. The horrific conditions, driving sleet and snow, and the fact my little BC beat Alabama. My teams never beat Alabama, darn right surrealist. If not for the worst place kicker in football history (I can't remember the fool's name), at any level, they would have beaten ND in that bowl game too. To this day, Doug Flutie is still my favorite football player, even though I've been a fan of the Boston/New England Patriots since '62. During his reign, BC beat some of the best football teams in the country. They would have been rated higher if not for Flutie's kryptonite: West Virginia.
Hey man, never seen your channel, just got suggested this video. But gotta say well done. This is a piece of CFB I never knew, and was well explained and put together. Much love, and War Eagle
Watch JaguarGator9, it's like this but about the NFL.
War eagle
@@Fury325Fan nfl sucks though
Hell yeah chief glad you got another channel
I watched that game and Grandma and Grandaddy's house with my Grandaddy, Daddy, and uncle. The only game all three of us were rooting for the same team (3 generations of Clemson fans and one coot fan). The energy in the room when BC beat Miami was awesome. Great memory.
I’m wondering if the networks’ front-loading of programming decisions in 1982 had anything to do with the massive void in the middle of the NFL season that year
Possibly, since there was speculation as far back as the spring if 1982 that the NFL season could be disrupted by a labor dispute.
In fact, had the strike cancelled the rest of the 1982 NFL season, I think CBS especially would have tried to move some of their highest profile college football games from Saturday afternoon to Sunday afternoon.
A TV contract like that one would literally be impossible today and seemed absurd even for that time. SMH.
Imagine if CBS could only show Alabama 3 times in a 2 year stretch. Now it's about 3 times a month
@@TheSonicsean Actually, JG got this one wrong. The old rule was 5 times in a 2 year stretch-83 was the final year of the old rule, as in January, 84, SCOTUS ruled that conferences/schools could make their own TV deals. The reason, IMO, that everyone loaded up in 82 is that you had new TV partners in CBS and TBS, plus everyone anticipated a friendly ruling at some point
@@TheSonicsean CBS actually is limited to showing Alabama (or anybody else in the SEC) 5 times a year (not counting the SECCG).
@@troyturner173 5 times in 2 years was the rule when ABC had sole coverage of college football. The rule changed when CBS entered the fray a year or two before this.
Thank goodness things improved on that front in 1984. Those limits that the NCAA put on CBS and ABC made no sense IMO. I'm thankful for Georgia and Oklahoma taking the NCAA to court.
I'd argue the most iconic play of the 1980's involved the Stanford band.
Jim Plunkett, and, John Elway, won, the, same, number, of, SBs, but, technically, he had the, better, College Football, career, by, winning, the, Heisman, that's life, who can explain it.
@@matthewdaley746 And Elway's last college game was the one with the band on the field.
@diamonddog13 Yeah, the, future, HOFer, lost, that Game, meanwhile, the, most, famous person on the Bears, was, arguably, their coach, Joe Kapp, strange.
@@matthewdaley746 Which became "full circle" for Injun Joe: From Cal to CFL to NFL to an acting career then back to Cal.
@@bobscott2429 Totally, fair, it, appears.
@JaguarGator8...
Hey bud, loving your videos..
Just wanted to make a small correction.
Holy Cross is in my hometown of Worcester, MA and is about 50 miles away from BC.
I only mention this because Worcester never gets any love.
Keep up the good work
It's, the, second-largest, city, in, New England, yet, it even takes a backseat to its, sister, city, of, Springfield, oddly enough, the, third-largest, city, in, New England, is, Providence, can't believe it isn't one of the many, cities, in Connecticut, oddly enough, their, largest, city, is, Bridgeport, which, you, never, hear about.
@@matthewdaley746 Perhaps you haven visited Hartford recently! You wouldnt be wondering so much! Hartford metro is pretty significant, but city proper, is poor and sad looking, and you wouldnt want to live there if you didnt have to! Springfield is more likely sister city with Hartford! Hartford is much closer, we share an airport, and many people in the Springfield area commute to CT for work! Worcester would have closer tie with Boston than Springfield.
@@inconnu4961 I visited, The, State Capitol, in 2007, I always preferred the coastal regions, particularly, New London County, Rhode Island, is a lot, like, Delaware, unless you have relatives, it's a state you drive, through, not, to.
Wow I clearly remember this! Thank you for posting the video! I saw the Penn State game on television. The only schedule that came close was in 1993 Penn State had a bye week , played Ohio State , then another bye week , then played Michigan. It’s also sad with the 12 game schedule and conference championship games teams don’t get bye weeks before their big annual rivalry game
Lsu and Alabama are normally off the week before their matchup the first week in November.
@@wilnnn5 also, alabama typically schedules a community college the week before the iron bowl.
@@88cutty Speaking of which, this, was, their, worst, season, in, years, and, they, still, nearly, won, the, Championship, that would have been about the, worst, possible, thing, imaginable, there's no question.
@@88cutty I believe Florida started that “tradition”.
@CTubeMan It, began, truly, obscurely.
Penn State wasnt that good in 1983, they lost their first 3 games one of which was to my alma mater Cincinnati and that version of the Bearcats wasnt anywhere close to the powerhouse it is now. That Bearcats team was essentially a 1-AA team that year.
513 salute
Norte dame was 6-5 when they beat Boston college in the bowl game too. Not great
October 14: Navy at SMU
October 21: Tulsa at Temple
October 28: East Carolina at BYU
November 18: South Florida at Tulsa
que pasa
@JaguarGator8
You referenced Boston College finishing the 1978 season in Japan, they also had the double bye week that season...Probably isn't remembered because Boston College went 0-11 in 1978
I know it's been 40 years but 40 years ago how power 5 programs had maybe 2-4 games aired on TV and then 20 years later most power 5 programs have every game aired and then now almost ALL programs from the power 5 to the NAIA are broadcasted in some form
every college after september that plays notre dame has a bye the week b4 they play notre dame...look at the nd schedule over the last 10 years, it's crazy
The strangest schedule that Oklahoma State ever had was in 1995. They played 4 non conference road games (Tulsa, Wyoming, Tennessee and Hawaii). Their only home game out of conference was against what is now Missouri State.
Holy Cross is located in Worcester Ma. 47 miles fron Boston not 8 miles as you state in video. College of the Holy Cross has been in Worcester since 1843. They are both Jesuit Universities, that was the rivalry.
Doug Flutie was one of the coolest QBs ever
Flutie brought so much attention and TV $$ to Boston College, they should have renamed the school "The University of Doug."
This was a very interesting video (as always)
Flutie loved my Mountaineers. As much as we loved Penn State in the 80s, except for 84 and 88.
The whole country, loved, them when they shut, Miami, up, after, The, Fiesta Bowl.
@@matthewdaley746 anyone who shuts up Miami deserves love
@@christophersadler2930 Yeah, and, unlike, when they, lost, to, Alabama, they, only, had themselves to blame, which made the, end, result, all the, sweeter.
I lost my voice at the '84 BC game, then went to the George Carlin show at the Coliseum. Woke up the next morning with a 103 fever. Stayed in bed for nearly a week. Then went to the Penn State game. We all know how that turned out.
@@brianpack5479 Penn State, came through in 1986, that's all that matters.
I was a sophomore at Notre Dame in fall 1983. The weather for the Liberty Bowl was atrocious-low teens, with a wind chill well below zero, and an icy field. Both teams scored 3 touchdowns, but BC failed on all 3 conversions and ND made one. ND wasn’t even supposed to go to a bowl after finishing 6-5 with 3 straight losses. Ironically, one reason CBS was short on inventory Thanksgiving weekend 1983 was because the ND-Miami game, originally scheduled for that weekend, was moved up to September 24 and televised in prime time on CBS. 1983 was also the last season teams had major obstacles getting game films on opponents, because the following spring, the Supreme Court voided the NCAA’s restrictive TV contracts on antitrust grounds, which opened the floodgates for the vast majority of major football powers’ games being televised on any number of networks.
As a Canadian who grew up watching the CFL (that is relevant and will be explained), I find the idea of a team or its coaching staff verging on panic because they have back to back bye weeks laughable. It happens in the CFL well, not all the time, but frequently enough it's not considered unusual.
For most of its history, the CFL has had nine teams split into two divisions, and a playoff format where the teams that finish first in each division hosts a division final. There are divisional semi-finals the week before that, giving the first place teams a bye week.
The 'problem' is that with an odd (9) number of teams, at least one team is given a bye week in every week of the regular season - including the final one. That means there is about a 22% chance that the team with the final week bye ends up finishing first in one of the divisions, which gives them a bye in the first week of the CFL playoffs.
It's generally not considered ideal, but there's no 'OMG, how do we cope with this unknown situation?' either.
No, but, Edmonton Eskimos, was, (correctly), considered offensive enough of a name, to, change, at least, they gave them an actual name, still can't believe the Packers, never, sued them, (or, vice-versa), except, for, the, two, E's, their old helmets, were, identical, in, color-scheme.
Speaking of the CFL, looks like the Bombers are going to run away with it for the 3rd season in a row! Are we tired of the Bombers yet?
@@inconnu4961 Winnipeg, has to, win, in something, the, Jets, sure, aren't, ever, going, to, win, a, Cup, to say nothing, of, how, unattractive the city is to players, for, innumerable reasons.
Great story!!!!
I laugh at the scenario where BC coaches were frustrated that they had to wait a month before getting game film on Alabama!……
Bicknell and staff could have just taken a road trip one of those Saturdays and seen The Tide live since they obviously had time! Lol
I had no idea that BC's '84 game against The U was supposed to take place early that season. Thank goodness CBS (or any other college football broadcaster for that matter) wouldn't be able to do something like that today.
Two of the most iconic games in college football history (1966 Notre Dame-Michigan State and 1969 Texas-Arkansas) were moved to end of the season just before the season started due to significant influence from ABC.
Wait...wouldn't Bama have been playing Auburn that weekend?
They played the week before. Thanksgiving week/weekend has only been a "full schedule weekend" for the last 30 years or so.
Umm... I'm sorry - what? Boston College and Holy Cross are 40 miles apart, not 8.
BC is in Chestnut Hill and Holy Cross is in Worcester. Maybe if they were playing Regis College you could say it's about 8 miles. But Holy Cross? Not even close.
Boston College has ALWAYS been WORSE than a 39.6. THEY would be BETTER OFF just NOT showing UP at ALL!!!!
Tennessee had a double bye in 2001 due to 9/11. I'm sure there were countless instances in 2020 due to covid but idk if I'd really count that cause every team in the country was going through their own versions of problems.
9:23- Nice reference to One Week by Barenaked Ladies😁
Can you do a video on the weird, asymmetrical schedule of the 1980 Detroit Lions? They played non-conference opponent St. Louis twice and only played two AFC teams, the Colts and Chiefs.
There is a solid reason for that; namely, the Lions had finished in fifth place in 1979. Thus, they played the other fifth place in the NFC twice (St. Louis) and the two fifth place teams in the AFC once each (Baltimore and Kansas City).
You got a sub
My uncle was the starting left tackle on this team and I had no idea about any of this
That was freshman year at PSU....they weren't that great of team.
I can remember the silence on campus during the opener against Nebraska and how they got beat by Cincinnati in the home opener
Wow. That was a great story. I didn't know this.
Bring back the tangerine bowl because I love tangerines.
In 1985 Oklahoma didn't play their first game until September 28!
Why did Flutie wear #22?
Bicknell should have called Bobby Bowden. In 1980, FSU went a month between Virginia Tech (Nov. 8) and their next game, Florida (Dec. 6). FSU won both.
I’ve got a stranger schedule than that. 2020 Tulsa University football at the season opener canceled due to the opponents Covid numbers. They played a road game at number 11 ranked Oklahoma State and their next game was canceled due to Covid numbers. Then 2 weeks later they make a 15 point come back on the road at #11 UCF then have a20 day layoff due to opponents Covid numbers, play a game then have a bye week then play 3 games in 14 days! One was a Hail Mary at the buzzer by their 3rd string QB to upset #18 SMU then the next game a pick 6 for TD to win over Tulane in overtime. Then a make up game was canceled a week later so they finished the Season with the home game against Navy. Then in the following week losing by only three at number six ranked Cincinnati in the AAC conference title game. They went to a bowl game against Mississippi states to end the season 6-3. The Tulsa coach said the hardest thing was keeping his players game ready all year.
I remember the fight in the bowl game with those two last year.
I know I’m late to the party PAL! However, This unofficial Official Jaguar Gator 9 historian will remind everyone you made a video about how the year before the NCAA’s TV agreement with ABC and CBS (along with the NFL strike) led to Pat Summerall and John Madden calling a Division III football game.
Make a video about WVU
Some people are just ungrateful bastards. Jack Bicknell should've asked for a 3-week break every season since it kept working out so well.
LMAO fair enough!
I’m in a sandwich shop now and “One Week” just finished playing!
I’m pretty sure BYU has had double bye weeks before
It was the early/mid '80s so you know *exactly* what the players were *really* doing most of the time during those breaks (wink, nudge).
Playing Atari 2600?
Waging war against a fraternity of nerds?
@@christopherwebb3517 I was thinking they were doing lines of nose 👃 candy 🍬.
I used to participate on a Dolphins Board with you, 316. You were pretty cool. I recall our Memphis/Louisville Hoops debates! It's awesome to see you and I hope you are well!
Watching Magnum ?
39 Years Ago
9:24 OH, MY GOD, YOU WENT THERE!
Ole miss football had 6 home games in a row. With an off week in the middle. I believe it was 2013 or 2014.
I wish cfb wasn't all about media markets and nil
In your otherwise wonderful video, I do have one small, historic quibble; namely, when you referred to 1940 as being "before World War II." True, the US was not formally involved in the war until December 1941, but the Second World War was already in its second year in 1940.
No need to correct him! Assume he was speaking from the US's involvement in the war, which is the most pertinent fact!
UConn also had back to back in 2021
Check out the 1984 B.C. schedule.
I see the brief mentions of the 84 schedule.
3 byes in 4 weeks...yikes. They played Alabama in Birmingham on 9/8, bye, hosted UNC, bye, bye, then hosted Temple.
Just looking at Ohio State, they started these years the weekend after Labor Day. I wonder if some of these independent schools decided to start a week early to get a jump on everyone and maybe get a better chance at a TV slot.
How the once-mighty would fall. In 1990 I saw BC play Ohio State at Alumni Stadium.
Did anyone show up to watch the game? LOL
1:21 Does that player have just one arm???
No, he just had his arm bent so that you couldn't see it. Besides, that's Doug Flutie.
BRUHston College
Penn State class of '83 here. I graduates before the '83 season so I was spared that loss, sort of. But I remember it from watching it that fall. Thing about Penn State in those years, there was only one team we didn't like - Pitt. And "didn't like" is putting is not merely mildly, it's completely hiding the fact. We HATED Pitt. Once on a trip to the outskirts of Pittsburgh, many years later when we weren't even playing Pitt regularly any more, I took a detour into the city just to get out of my car and spit on the Pitt campus. It was like that.
So losing to Boston College wes OK. Doug Flutie is cool. BC has been down forever, so it was good to see them doing well. And while I always wanted us to win every game, I never much liked blowouts, so if an opponent gave us a good fight, win or lose it was a good thing.
That was during our "Heisman graveyard" years, too. We beat Marcus Allen, Herschel Walker, Doug Flutie (in his Heisman season but before he won the award), and Vinny Testaverde, Yet except that I couldn't stand Jimmy Johnson as a college coach, I had full respect for all those guys.
So good on BC for those two seasons!
At least, he, was, a, good, person, Dennis Erickson, was, an, execrable, human being, who couldn't coach, out, of a paper bag, but, the talent that Jimmy Johnson, left, behind, made people ignore this, blood simple.
@@matthewdaley746 Yeah, I never saw his good side until he coached in the pros. Once he did that I liked him but while he coached college I hated his attitude and the thugs he allowed to play for him.
@@MichaelPiz With, all due respect, his, "conversion," was, completely, self-serving, he found, out, that if you talk to professional athletes, like, that, at, best, they get you fired, at, worst, they attack you physically, Urban Meyer, was, a, far, more-recent, example of a coach, overestimating, his power.
@howarddamico1237 Beanpot, breeds, fierce, competition.
As a Penn State fan from 1982 onward, there wasnt much of a rivalry once Marino left Pitt. I used to make the ride up, as a kid, with family to Happy valley and remember the 'sh^t on Pitt' buttons! LOL Now Ohio State is the hated rival, and Pitt is likely an after thought!
How many future players were on the Boston college team of the 80s, fluttie at qb
Bill, Romanowski, LB, terrorizer.
ruth, phelen, and stratford played in the nfl. glenn foley qb's them in 90's. And matty ice qb'd bc up to '07. I believe bicknell was an off. coordinator after getting fired from bc. two time s b winning coach (thanks brady/bb) coughlin also coached bc.
@@stevenbauer4799 Eternally, grateful, true generosity.
@@matthewdaley746 yep.
@@stevenbauer4799 Doug, Pederson, ecstatic, too.
I love all your videos. But this one I do not understand. What was the problem? Typically between the last game of the regular season and a bowl game there is anywhere from 2 1/2 to 4 weeks. Why would this be any different?
And in asking this question I have touched on the biggest problem regarding the game of college football. Why aren’t there any meaningful games between the first weekend of December and New Year’s Eve. Except for the four team college football playoff, the bowl games are nothing more than glorified exhibition games. This is why they need to expand the college football playoff to 12 or even 16 teams.
Once the power five conferences complete their takeover of college football from the NCAA, I think that will happen.
If you listen to the video, it was because its the MIDDLE of the season and its disruptive! Do you know why there is such a break? Because of a little tradition called FINALS. its that time of the semester where projects have to be finished and Finals are studied for and taken. That IS the main reason why they attend university, after all! Those are necessary breaks!
Colgate. Why not ...
Norte dame was 6-5 when they beat Boston college in that 1983 bowl game . Not great
Let GO EAGLES 🦅
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
1940 is during not before ww2
The US didnt officially enter the war until 1942! So he is OFFICIALLY correct!
@@inconnu4961 the war didn't start when the US entered the war. the war had been going on for years in both Europe and Asia. not to mention before the US officially entered the war we were sending weapons and other supplies to the allies for years.
They beat Alabama.They beat Clemson.
#HowBasicallyPresumable!
Ohio State is the greatest
Ohio state SUX!
That's because nobody gave a #k about bc football until flutie came around. Then suddenly they were everywhere enjoying their 15 minutes of fame. Then they went to big east to be fodder to the U then followed that up by being a second division acc also ran. Go pray to your catholic priest about that if you think bc got the short end of things back in mid 80's. bc should have let their lord o god lead them never to leave the big east in the first place. They belong in the aac these days with rutgers battling temple for the bottom of conference.
@@howarddamico1237 NO.
BC had lots of good teams besides the Flutie team. They upset top ranked Notre Dame in South Bend in 93 and Matt Ryan took them to 2 ACC CG's. They've been garbage ever since, but for about 3 decades BC often had top 25 teams.
@@howarddamico1237 LMAO! no sh*t man! Someone needs a box of tissues and a dry martini, very badly!
@@paulanderson6634 The ACC is a basketball conference not a football one! Thats in part, why they wanted Miami and FSU, and to a lesser extent BC, and Vatech, to bolster their football bona fides