2013 College football countdown | No. 100: Boston College

• Boston College has seen its win total decline in each season since 2007%2C going 2-10 a season ago
• New coach Steve Addazio comes over from Temple%2C where he won 13 games from 2011-12
• Addazio and his staff are in the first stages of at least a two-year rebuilding project at B.C.

So that's over, and better late than never. Boston College's win total since 2007 reads like a trip to the optometrist: 11 wins in 2007, nine in 2008, eight in 2009, seven in 2010, four in 2011 and then just two a season ago. Most saw the decline coming; that didn't make it any less surprising.

New Boston College coach Steve Addazio's first task will be remaking the Eagles' broken sense of self-worth. If not the easiest first step, at least Addazio can tackle the task without worrying about teams like USC, Florida State and Clemson, three of Boston College's opponents over the first half of 2013. Wins and losses matter less than player development.

How did BC get to this point? By doing nothing. By waiting, twiddling thumbs, while a solid foundation crumbled and the rest of the ACC ran laps and laps around one of the most consistent programs of the century's first decade. Well, that's over. A new athletic director, new coach and new sense of direction have given Boston College new life.

LAST YEAR'S PREDICTION

It's been a steep slide down for Boston College: once an ACC contender, then a pretender, now an afterthought. Everything has fallen apart. The offense lacks any punch. The defense has turned porous. The program lacks any sense of urgency. Consistency, once the bedrock of this program, for better or worse, has left the building. Today, you can't think of one good reason why this team will do anything more than take another step back after last season's step back, which followed a step back in 2010, which followed a step back in 2009. There are serious issues here, but they pale in comparison to the issues plaguing the program as a whole. BC went stale a year ago; now the current leadership is well past its expiration date. It's decision time for BC, which can no longer plug along and pretend it's not raining. It's time for the university to make some changes.

2012 RECAP

— In a nutshell: If this is what it took for Boston College to pull up its pants and make a move, well, it was all worth it. Right? Maybe. BC wasn't just bad; the Eagles were absolutely terrible, playing a brand of football not seen in Chestnut Hill since at least 1989, when the Eagles went 2-9, and perhaps since 1978, the last time BC lost 10 or more games in a single season. For example, the Eagles played four of the five ACC teams to win five or more games in league play and allowed at least 37 points each time. As another example, BC lost to Army. As a third example, the Eagles' lone FBS win came against a team featuring a true freshman quarterback making his first career start. At least it's over.

— High point: The moment when the clock hit zero against N.C. State.

— Low point: Any point from Sept. 1 through Nov. 24. The whole season was a nightmare. In fairness to BC, my nightmare scenario for 2012 featured a loss to Maine. On the other hand, even that scenario included a win over Army. There will be only occasional discussions of the 2012 season from this point forward.

— Tidbit: This will be one of those occasional discussions. Boston College finished no higher than seventh in the 12-team ACC in any one of the six major statistical categories: scoring offense, scoring defense, passing offense, pass defense, rushing and run defense. Perhaps the most striking decline was in stopping the run, where B.C. ranked 11th in the league. The Eagles led the ACC in run defense in 2007, 2008 and 2010 and ranked second in 2009, finishing no lower than 14th nationally in any one of those four years.

— Tidbit (10 and 10 edition): BC is one of 10 teams in the FBS to have a 10-win season and a 10-loss season during the past six years. The Eagles went 2-10 last season and 11-3 in 2007, Jeff Jagodzinski's first season with the program – and Matt Ryan's last. The others are Ball State, Kansas, Miami (Ohio), Middle Tennessee State, Northern Illinois, Rice, San Jose State, Southern Mississippi and Utah State.

FORMER PLAYERS IN THE NFL

— 24: LB Alex Albright (Dallas), CB Will Blackmon (Seattle), OT Anthony Castonzo (Indianapolis), OT Gosder Cherilus (Indianapolis), LB Nick Clancy (Atlanta), OT Emmett Cleary (Indianapolis), LB Jo-Lonn Dunbar (St. Louis), CB Donnie Fletcher (New York Jets), LB Rob Francois (Green Bay), DE Antonio Garay (New York Jets), QB Matt Hasselbeck (Indianapolis), LB Mark Herzlich (New York Giants), LB Mathias Kiwanuka (New York Giants), LB Luke Kuechly (Carolina), WR Ifeanyi Momah (Philadelphia), TE Chris Pantale (New York Jets), P Ryan Quigley (New York Jets), DT B.J. Raji (Green Bay), QB Matt Ryan (Atlanta), DE Damik Scafe (San Diego), OG Chris Snee (New York Giants), C Matt Tennant (Philadelphia), OT Jeremy Trueblood (Washington), OT John Wetzel (Oakland).

ARBITRARY TOP FIVE LIST

— FBS coaches, last name contains the letter z

1. Barry Switzer (157-29-4, 1973-88)
2. Robert Zuppke (131-81-12, 1913-41)
3. Lou Holtz (249-132-7, 1969-2004)
4. Barry Alvarez (118-74-4, 1990-2012)
5. Ben Schwartzwalder (153-91-3, 1949-73)

COACHING

— Steve Addazio (Central Connecticut State '81), entering his first season. Addazio spent the last two seasons in the same position at Temple, winning nine games in 2011, the Owls' final year as a member of the MAC, and going 4-7 last fall, the program's first (and last) season as a member of the Big East. It's no secret that Addazio was in the mix for the job in 2009, when the program opted for Spaziani and continuity rather than looking outside the program for Jeff Jagodzinski's replacement. Where would BC be today had it hired Addazio rather than promoted Spaziani?

Temple stood as a homecoming of sorts for Addazio, a former Florida assistant who was born and educated in Connecticut and whose college coaching career begin in the Northeast. In terms of his resume, Addazio was extremely qualified – prior to the Al Golden-led resurgence, one would have said Addazio was overqualified for the Temple position. He spent six years at Florida, helping the Gators to national titles in 2006 and 2008. Those championships came when Addazio was leading the UF offensive line; even when he came under fire for his play-calling as coordinator, Addazio remained one of the most well-regarded line coaches in the country. About his time as coordinator: Florida suffered a pretty significant slide offensively under Addazio's watch over his last two years with the program, particularly in 2010, when the Gators attempted to replace Tim Tebow and at least partially implement a system better suited for the team's first-year starting quarterback.

Of course, the slide was met with massive criticism from the Florida fan base, which was not torn up over Addazio's move to the MAC. Temple was Addazio's first non-automatically qualifying conference coaching position: stints at Indiana, Notre Dame and Syracuse joined his six-year tenure in Gainesville. What attracted Temple was this big-time experience, not to mention Addazio's well-deserved reputation as one of the great motivators in college football. Need energy, enthusiasm and a sense of purpose? Addazio's your guy.

— Tidbit (coaching edition): One new hire is immediately recognizable: Ryan Day, a former Boston College assistant from 2007-11, returns to the program as the Eagles' new offensive coordinator. Day is one of five hires brought over from Temple, joining defensive line coach Ben Albert, offensive line coach Justin Frye, tight ends coach Frank Leonard and special teams coordinator and co-linebackers coach Sean McGowan. Addazio also retained one member of Spaziani's staff in former BC. defensive tackle Al Washington, who assisted with the Eagles' special teams and defensive front a year ago; Washington will coach the running backs.

Bringing in a defensive coordinator like Don Brown was a real coup for Addazio, who can feel very secure in giving his attention to the offensive front and new offensive scheme while Brown takes control of the defensive side of the ball. Brown – like Addazio, a bit of a New England-area coaching institution – spent the last two years at Connecticut after a pair of seasons at Maryland. One more new hire bears noting: Todd Fitch, the former offensive coordinator at East Carolina and South Florida, will coach the wide receivers. While a position coach, Fitch will be a useful sounding board for Day in the passing game.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

— Offense: Boston College's new north-south mentality on offense will hearken to the program's not-so-distant past – say, four or five years ago – when the Eagles' physicality controlled the line of scrimmage on the ground while opening up lanes for the play-action pass. That's the basic theme offensively, though there's little doubt that Addazio will incorporate many of his Temple-era bells and whistles. Eventually, at least: BC is still built for a plain-and-simple offensive package centered on a pocket passer, though I imagine finding a dual-threat quarterback is high on the Eagles' recruiting checklist. For now, with this current personnel, relocating a tougher and more physical mentality is Addazio's top priority.

It'll be senior Chase Rettig for one more year. Barring an unexpected leap in 2013, his legacy has already been set: Rettig, for better or worse, will be remembered as the multiple-year starting quarterback over the Eagles' recent decline. Fair, unfair? A little unfair, honestly, as Rettig's physical gifts as a passer deserved a better fate than his recent three-year turn as the program's starter. Last year's offense put him front and center – there was no running game to speak of – and Rettig responded with a hugely up-and-down season ruined by a horrific final month, underlining one crucial fact: Rettig can't do it alone. He needs to be teamed with a strong running game to be successful, in other words.

And how bad was last year's running game? Unbearably bad: Boston College was one of just eight teams in the FBS to average less than 100 yards per game on the ground, joining luminaries like Idaho, UMass and New Mexico State. This was not the offensive line's lone area of weakness; the Eagles' front also allowed 36.0 sacks, often leaving Rettig out to dry, so this is a bottom-up rebuilding job for Frye and Addazio. It's also an inside-out rebuilding job: BC has a number of experienced hands along the interior but no trustworthy options whatsoever at tackle, which is a bit of a concern – as Rettig is fully aware.

Senior Ian White is back at right guard, thanks goodness, after he missed the final three games of last season due to injury. How bad was Boston College's offensive front with White in place? Not good. How bad was this line without White? Let's not talk about it. Having White in place is a start, but here's the painful truth: BC still won't go anywhere unless junior center Andy Gallik and junior left guard Bobby Vardaro make a huge improvement upon last season's struggles – or unless the new staff swaps in reserves like sophomore Paul Gaughan or redshirt freshman Frank Taylor, who could push Gallik and Vardaro for starting jobs during fall camp. In better news, the Eagles' tackle play could and should improve even with two new linemen breaking into the starting lineup. Juniors Seth Betancourt and Aaron Kramer and redshirt freshman Win Homer have the length to play on the outside.

The potential beneficiaries of stronger line play are Rettig, of course, and senior running back Andre Williams (584 yards), the team's top returning rusher. Williams seemed set for big things as a freshman in 2010, when he turned in a 185-yard performance in November win over Syracuse, but like the offense – and the program – as a whole, Williams has failed to develop over the last two seasons. This is his final shot: Deuce Finch is gone, leaving Williams as the unquestioned leader in a revitalized and retooled running game. While I'm confident that Williams has the size, burst and toughness to carry the load in 2013 – he'll get 200-plus touches – the Eagles' lack of depth is a concern. Junior Tahj Kimble is the best secondary option, but he's still working his way back from knee surgery. The Eagles also return sophomore David Dudeck and redshirt freshman George Craan while adding a pair of freshmen in time for fall camp.

— Defense: The defense is ahead of the offense heading into Addazio's first season. Give a few members of the previous staff credit: While last year's defense performed well below the program's recent standard, the Eagles did find occasional (very occasional) success despite playing a largely inexperienced crop of contributors along the defensive line and in the secondary. One of last year's issues, the high degree of fluctuation along the two-deep up front and along the back end, might be an asset in 2013, in fact. Why? Because while BC was unable to cement a working starting lineup last fall, a large number of returning underclassmen saw time in key moments inside and out of ACC play. That'll pay off a bit this season.

The strongest section of this defense is at linebacker, befitting the program's recent history of production at the position. The lone loss is in the middle, where BC must replace leading tackler Nick Clancy, but the Eagles return a pair of all-conference-caliber starters in seniors Steele Divitto (92 tackles) and Kevin Pierre-Louis (85 tackles, 2.0 sacks). Divitto is the real deal; Pierre-Louis is at least extremely experienced, at best a hugely vital presence in the Eagles' paltry pass rush. When it comes to replacing Clancy, BC could shift Divitto inside, where he's big enough to handle the load, which would open up a spot on the outside for an underclassman like sophomore Steven Daniels or junior Sean Duggan. BC will build around the duo of Divitto and Pierre-Louis.

How bad was last season's pass rush? Abysmal. BC was unable to form any kind of pressure on third down, which was bad enough, but getting any sort of push into the backfield against the run was an equal concern. There are two reasons to expect a degree of improvement: one, the expected development of last year's unready defensive line, and two, the return of senior tackle Kaleb Ramsey, who missed all but four games due to injury over the last two seasons. If healthy, Ramsey will slide right into a starting role alongside returning interior linemen like Dominic Appiah, Jaryd Rudolph, Brian Mihalik (24 tackles) and Connor Wujciak. Mihalik's length also allows him to slide outside to end, where he can be a weapon in run support. But again, adding some burst in the pass rush is vital for the Eagles' overall defensive success. The top group at end consists of senior Kasim Edebali (59 tackles, 7.5 for loss), junior Mehdi Abdesmad (25 tackles, 3.0 for loss) and sophomores Malachi Moore and Kieran Borcich. Adding Ramsey helps; this is still an average group.

Opponents with an actual passing game – everyone but Maine, Georgia Tech and Army – ripped this secondary to shreds a season ago, either picking and choosing the Eagles to death with timing routes or, like Florida State, just dropping back and heaving touchdowns right over the top. Any improvement from last season's wholly overwhelmed defensive backfield will be for naught if the Eagles' front four cannot harass the quarterback on third down. Another concern: BC does not have a senior set to hold a steady role in the rotation, so while the future holds promise, more rocky days are ahead.

Here are some nice things to consider: Al Louis-Jean returns after missing all of last season, and he has enormous potential at any spot in the secondary, likely at safety; junior safety Sean Sylvia is a hard-nosed, unafraid tackler on the corner; Spencer Rositano (56 tackles, 3 interceptions) and Manual Asprilla have proven they can start in the ACC; and younger defensive backs like Bryce Jones and Justin Simmons will be far stronger for last year's experience. There are pieces here to expect some degree of turnaround in 2013, though the secondary's best days lie another season down the road.

— Special teams: For all of the team's other faults, Boston College did do an adequate job on special teams a season ago. A few pieces are gone, however. The Eagles must replace punter Gerald Levano, choosing between either senior kicker Nate Freese – giving him both duties – or sophomore Alex Howell. BC also lost long snapper Sean Flaherty. But the kicking game is very strong; Freese made 18-of-20 field goals in 2012. Junior wide receiver Spiffy Evans headlines the return game after 18.56 yards on kickoffs and 25.27 yards on punts, scoring once. He's a threat.

POSITION(S) TO WATCH

— Wide receiver: The receiver corps is a mixed bag. BC has senior Alex Amidon (78 receptions for 1,210 yards), who put together an All-ACC season despite two hampering factors: one, the Eagles' pathetic offense, and two, his own occasional inconsistency – drops, in short. But Amidon is clearly the Eagles' lead target and a fine top dog, especially if the offensive line forms a stronger pocket around Rettig on passing downs. As in the backfield, however, the issue is depth. Would-be senior Johnathan Coleman opted not to return for his fifth season, robbing the Eagles of their second-leading receiver. Senior Bobby Swigert's 2012 season was stymied at multiple turns by injuries, stemming his development, while Evans has yet to translate his speed and elusiveness as a returner to the passing game.

This is still the Eagles' top three: Amidon, Swigert and Evans. BC won't need to go much deeper than that in this offense, though developing at least another trio of options will be a point of emphasis during fall camp. One underclassmen set for a large role is sophomore Marcus Grant, a local product who originally signed with Iowa before transferring following the 2011 season; after sitting out last season, Grant is set to join the rotation. Another four untested youngsters to watch: Harrison Jackson, Joel Karim Zoungrana, Nigel Matthews and Dan Crimmins, the latter a 6-5 sophomore. Although BC won't throw the ball another 473 times – or another 400 times, hopefully – the Eagles do need to develop stronger depth beyond the top three.

GAME(S) TO WATCH

— Wake Forest: It's the Eagles' most winnable ACC home game, for one. Secondly, a win over Wake would push BC to 2-0 heading into back-to-back losses to USC and Florida State; a win over Army would leave BC at 3-2 prior to the heart of conference play. Every conference game will be a test in Addazio's first season, but the Eagles could round into form before November and take advantage of easier road games against Maryland and Syracuse to end the regular season.

SEASON BREAKDOWN & PREDICTION

— In a nutshell: It will take Addazio one year to reverse the losing tide, this offseason and next to change Boston College's weak mentality and at least two recruiting cycles – if not three – to bring in the sort of talent this program needs to again challenge Clemson and Florida State for supremacy in the Atlantic Division. So this is a multiple-season task, basically, and the Eagles are going to again struggle mightily finding victories after last year's complete and utter disaster. But enjoy this: BC has cleaned house, and that's wonderful, wonderful news.

The Eagles are moving forward with a mishmash of personnel not wonderfully suited for Addazio's particular style of football. This is obviously the case at quarterback: BC will eventually turn to a dual-threat quarterback with mobility, an asset one would never connect with Rettig. But he's the guy in 2013, and look for Addazio to tailor his offense more toward the pass with the senior under center. The backfield could use at least one additional option behind Williams, especially if Kimble remains slowed by his knee injury. The offensive line is not in great shape. The receiver corps is solid but lacks depth beyond the top three.

Defensively, the Eagles can take some comfort in Brown's experience and track record of success on the FBS level – but not much else. There's no pass rush. The secondary is one season away from reaching its potential. There are bodies along the interior, but relying on Ramsey to carry the water seems like a stretch, given his recent injury history. What strikes me most of all about BC heading into 2013? The lack of star power. Divitto is a player, as is Pierre-Louis, but the lack of punch compared to the majority of the ACC is striking.

This year's team will win four games, doubling last year's mark, but I'm struggling to find more than one in ACC play. What's the Eagles' safest bet? I'd say Wake Forest, though that comes early, before this group likely finds its groove under the new staff. Perhaps late-season games at Maryland and Syracuse hand BC a league victory. Anything other than 2-10 would mark a degree of progress. Actually, anything other than the previous regime would mark progress – so BC has already moved forward.

— Dream season: Boston College lands a huge upset of USC to go 4-0 in non-conference play and adds another three wins against ACC competition to move back into the postseason.

— Nightmare season: The Eagles beat New Mexico State and Villanova but fail to get within 10 points of any other opponent.

— All-name team nominee: WR Spiffy Evans.

UP NEXT

— Who is No. 99? Said aloud as one word, the acronym for this university could describe a cave system in the Scottish Highlands.

2013 TEAM OVERVIEW

— Conference: ACC, Atlantic

— Location: Chestnut Hill, Mass.

— Nickname: Eagles

— Returning starters: 13 (6 offense, 7 defense)

— Last year's ranking: No. 101

— 2012 record: 2-10 (1-7)

— Last year's re-ranking: No. 108

— 2013 schedule:

Aug. 31 Villanova
Sept. 6 Wake Forest
Sept. 14 at USC
Sept. 28 Florida State
Oct. 5 Army
Oct. 12 at Clemson
Oct. 26 at North Carolina
Nov. 2 Virginia Tech
Nov. 9 at New Mexico State
Nov. 16 N.C. State
Nov. 23 at Maryland
Nov. 30 at Syracuse

Paul Myerberg, a national college football writer for USA TODAY Sports, is on Twitter@PaulMyerberg.