An ACC Match up?!?
The 2016 edition of the Quicklane Bowl was supposed to be a Big 10 / ACC match up, but Maryland as a Big 10 representative?!? Maryland was a part of the ACC for over 60 years. So having Maryland face off against Boston College was less of a new Big 10/ACC matchup than a re-introduction of two old conference mates. Both were fairly evenly matched at 6-6 to make it an interest post-Christmas Foot Ball Game for Mike and Bone!
Mike drove up early so that the Boys could tipple a few Guinness at the ubiquitous Old Shillelagh down on Monroe!
Rabble Rousers,,,, and Boston College Fans!!
The Boys headed into the Stadium early to catch practice and the Bands and noticed that the Stadium had probably close to 30,000, not a bad turnout!!
Here comes the Eagles!
The Bands sounded great, then it was game on! Talk about a beautiful mess of a game, and you’re talking about this game. It was the sort of game that featured one team (Maryland) getting to the opponent’s 2-yard line, taking penalties and sacks to back up to the 36, then getting a new set of downs because of a defensive facemasking call, then marching back inside the 1 and fumbling the ball away on the goal line.
Game On!!
That actually happened here — with Maryland trailing by nine in the fourth quarter. Then BC turned the ball over to Maryland for a second time a few minutes later, and Maryland kicked a field goal to get within six. The Terps got the ball back for a last-ditch drive in the last two minutes but couldn’t move it, and BC finally won. It was an enjoyable football comedy, with silly penalties on one play, sneaky good offense on the next, and a turnover on the next. It was a slapstick mixture of ineptitude, occasional awesome plays, and excitement abounding. It was not textbook, but it was a lot of fun. Its pure entertainment value was surprisingly legitimate.
This was the sort of offensive showcase you never — literally ever, at any point, ever — saw coming. Boston College entered with the country’s 123-ranked scoring offense at 19 points per game, then dropped 29 in the first half, including a wide receiver reverse touchdown pass to the quarterback. This bowl was supposed to be the actual worst of the entire bowl season, but it turned out there was some decent action, albeit mixed in among foibles everywhere. Boston College QB Patrick Towles and Maryland QB Perry Hills, both seniors, were playing their final college games. Hills went 15-of-35 for 229 yards, two scores, and an interception. Towles was 10-of-22 for 151 yards, also for two scores and a pick. Towles’ performance was dedicated, of course, to Harambe. Maryland running back Ty Johnson had two touchdowns on 15 carries and 159 yards, but he was curiously uninvolved in the offense down the stretch.
The Victors? Boston College!
Boston College beat Maryland in a winding, error-filled, surprisingly exciting Quick Lane Bowl on Monday in Detroit, 36-30. The Eagles moved to 7-6 and the Terrapins to 6-7. It was the Eagles’ first bowl win since 2007. Both Maryland and Boston College had encouraging seasons, if you’re willing to view them with extreme relativity. Maryland won six regular season games after a 3-9 year and has seen a sharp recruiting spike under first-year coach D.J. Durkin, which are both good things. Boston College did the same after its own 3-9 record in 2015, and Steve Addazio appears to have secured himself in his job for at least next season. Neither team was particularly good, of course. BC’s defence was only occasionally able to cover for its woeful offense, and Maryland didn’t beat a single solid opponent all year. To contend seriously, both programs have a long way left to travel.
Post Game: Foray into Foran's then what the Blarney!
Mike and Bone went out for a few beers at the very cool Foran's Grand Trunk, after watching a few games, they moved close to Bonicello to have some awesome Susie-Q Fish and Chips at the Blarney Stone. The Susie Q was on (then) 2216 N Woodward Ave, just ¼ mile north of 12 Mile Road, now the site of a pet supply store, on 29402 Woodward Avenue. It was located next to Aunt Fannie's Restaurant (then 2244 N Woodward Avenue). The Susie Q restaurant served famous "chicken-n-chips" and "fish-n-chips" for under $4, making this a popular stop for families by day and young motorists cruising Woodward Avenue by night.
The Blarney Stone bought the Recipe and served Mike and Bone a huge portion that helped sober the Boys from the post Bowl partying! All said, a great football night!!!