Frank Spaziani expected his next few weeks to be dominated with preparing Boston College for its Dec. 30 game against Navy in the Meineke Car Care Bowl in Charlotte, N.C.
However, the career assistant coach expected to concentrate his attention on his responsibilities as the Eagles? defensive coordinator, not on the whole team. That plan changed in an instant last week when Boston College named Spaziani its interim head coach following Tom O?Brien?s abrupt decision to become head coach at N.C. State.
“Everything happened pretty suddenly,” said Spaziani, who has served as Boston College?s defensive coordinator since 1999. “My thoughts now are for the staff and the players to put all of the turmoil on the side and focus on the opponent in front of us.”
Spaziani said that despite O?Brien?s departure, he does not expect the Eagles to lose their focus as they go after a seventh straight bowl victory, the longest such winning streak in the country. With more than a month between its last game, Spaziani feels enough time will have passed to remove any distraction that currently exists.
“Having gone to so many bowl games through the years, we have a certain system in place, and we are going to follow it like we have every other year,” Spaziani said.
While never serving as a head coach, Spaziani is quite familiar with preparing for a bowl game and competing against Navy. In his 37-year career, he has been on the sidelines for 18 bowl games, including three while serving as an assistant at Navy under George Welsh in 1975-1981. During his time at Navy, the Midshipmen played in the 1978 Holiday Bowl, the 1980 Garden State Bowl and the 1981 Liberty Bowl.
Spaziani said while his time at Navy won?t offer any additional help in preparing for this bowl game, it does offer him a great understanding and respect of the opposition.
“There are so many quality student-athletes there, and they should be proud of what they?ve accomplished,” Spaziani said.
