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GENE DeFILIPPO Has an open date |
Boston College will open its 2008 football season Aug. 30 against Kent State at Cleveland Browns Stadium, but the Eagles are still looking for a replacement for Army on the schedule Sept. 13. The Black Knights asked for and received a release from the game.
"Going to Cleveland will be great," said BC athletic director Gene DeFilippo, who readily accepted the switch from Kent State's Dix Stadium. "Now we have to find a replacement for Army. We sent out a letter to every [bowl subdivision] school to see if anyone is available."
The Army game was scheduled to be on the road, meaning the Eagles would be open to traveling, with the stipulation of a home game against the replacement team in a future season.
The only problem is that the Eagles' schedule is filled through 2014, although changes could be made.
Normally, the fallback for the Eagles would be to schedule a game against a playoff division school, but BC is slated to play Rhode Island next season and would like to avoid facing two playoff division schools in the same year.
The Eagles will travel to Orlando, Fla., Sunday for their Champs Sports Bowl meeting with Michigan State a week from tomorrow. Ticket sales are slow. Of its allotment of 12,000 (which it is required to buy), BC expects to bring about 5,000 fans to the game, which would not help its reputation as a school that does not travel well.
Mark Blaudschun can be reached at blaudschun@globe.com.
© Copyright 2007 Globe Newspaper Company.
