Notre Dame’s Deshone Kizer Trolls Tom Brady, MI

As for Brian, he’s never been one to say this game’s bigger than that one. He always thought his future would be in baseball, and so many of his dreams and aspirations are of the big leagues. Mike McLaughlin, a hard-hitting linebacker and two-time team captain (2008-09) from Woburn, addressed the squad after Wednesday’s practice at Alumni Stadium, where highlights from BC’s past victories against Notre Dame were played on a loop on the giant video screens in both end zones. BC last emerged victorious in 2008, the end of a six-game win streak over Notre Dame. Notre Dame used a 10-2 run over the final three minutes of the second quarter to take a 29-17 lead into halftime after Westbeld’s layup on an Allen feed with two seconds left.

The words Red Sox slugger David Ortiz defiantly spoke two years ago, when he stood before a packed Fenway Park five days after the Boston Marathon bombings and proclaimed, “This is our [expletive] city!” may have faded into the echoes of Hub history, but they still resonate with the Boston College football team.

Freshman Arike Ogunbowale provided a boost off the bench for Notre Dame with four rebounds and two assists as she drove the lane aggressively when the Irish were searching for a spark on offense.

Notre Dame is nearly 800 miles away. Notre Dame (9-1) has the benefit of redshirt junior running back C.J. Prosise this week, after he missed last week’s win over Wake Forest with a concussion. Fenway seats fewer than 40,000, and Notre Dame’s stadium 80,000.

Notre Dame has a powerful rushing attack that averages 215.6 yards per game and 5.7 yards per carry, along with 25 total touchdowns.

Notre Dame travels to South Dakota State on Saturday. It’s hard to see them doing much against anyone, as they average nearly 9 points a game against FBS schools. There was one rather large problem. And believe it or not, a football field actually fits-I know, I was doubtful, too, but the lines are already drawn. A 100-yard field fit … but just barely.

That was a playful response from Kizer, but it’s a good one.

And that heightened angst for the game is just the rivalry itself.

In many ways it’ll look like the Hockey East showdowns between the Irish and the Eagles on Saturday night, with the long change playing a significant part in substitutions, especially down by the opposite goal line.

Notre Dame is exceptional at the one thing Boston College’s defense has struggled with this season – the explosive play. In order to do that, we have to be able to beat today.

The Polo Grounds went on to be a frequent host of the Army-Navy game in the early part of the 20 century, and then the primary home field of Fordham. It was BC’s first-ever win over the Fighting Irish. In dramatic lore they are known as starvation, Pestilence, Destruction and Death.

From a marketing standpoint, it’s a boon for the university, which each year gets to inject its brand into a market that might not otherwise be exposed to it. Since holding its first Shamrock Series game in San Antonio in 2009, the team has taken its roadshow to NY City, Washington, DC, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Indianapolis. Primarily a tailback, he also plays slot, wildcat QB, wide receiver, handles punt / kickoff returns and threw a touchdown pass. Of the nine 300 all-purpose yards performances this season, three belong to McCaffrey.

Good thing Boston College usually just rolls over for its archrival. They would hope that’s the way you play the game.

The team that first embraced the forward pass called St. Louis’ Sportsman’s Park home for many years before it stopped playing football.