Eagles adapting without O'Brien

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Eagles are making their first road trip since former head coach Tom O'Brien was introduced as North Carolina State's coach nearly three weeks ago.

And while things are different without O'Brien, the BC players said the remaining coaches have helped make the transition smooth.

"This is different for us because we've been so accustomed to traveling with Coach O'Brien," said quarterback Matt Ryan. "But change is the one constant you find in sports, and we're just adapting to that right now.

"Coach O'Brien is kind of the head of the family. He was the father figure, the guy that everybody looked to for direction. But now he's not here, and [interim] Coach [Frank] Spaziani is doing a good job.

"Practice has been great, and there haven't been any problems. It's been a good trip so far. I feel like, on the field, nothing has really changed. Off the field, obviously, there have been some distractions, but I think everybody has put that on the back burner."

Junior linebacker Jolonn Dunbar said the team appears to be following the same schedule it did when it played here in the Continental Tire Bowl in 2004.

"Using the plan Coach O'Brien instilled before is helping us," Dunbar said. "It makes things seem more familiar, plus the other coaches have done such a good job keeping us on track.

"In the long run, I think that's going to help us when the game comes Saturday."

Spaziani, his two sons, and seven BC players made an emotional visit to The Children's Hospital at Carolinas Medical Center before practice yesterday.

Players A.J. Ajudua, Thomas Claiborne, Billy Flutie, Dan Lennon, Mike Makinde, Jamie Silva, and Matt Tennant went to the hospital. Originally, only five players from each team were to make the trip, however more Eagles expressed an interest in visiting the sick children.

Spaziani's sons, 11-year-old Joe and 8-year-old Andrew, might have had the biggest impact. The boys arrived at the hospital bearing gifts, donating $50 each from a Christmas present from an uncle to the children at the hospital.

"My Uncle Hans gave us a check for $75 for Christmas, and he told us to give $50 to a charity or something that benefits kids," Joe Spaziani said. "It was fun to do that."

Added Andrew Spaziani: "It made me feel like a hero. It made me smile because I saw those kids and they looked like they needed help."

Navy and Boston College rank first and second, respectively, in graduation rates among NCAA Division 1-A schools. According to the most recent Academic Progress Rates, the Midshipmen graduated 98 percent of their players, while the Eagles graduated 96 percent. That, Navy coach Paul Johnson said, makes the Meineke Car Care Bowl a big deal. "I think that any time two teams with academic reputations like these two play, it's a big deal," Johnson said. "And for it to be in a bowl game is special. Certainly, I'm proud of our guys, and we have a lot of respect for Boston College for what they've done -- not only on the field, but in the classroom as well." . . . Seven BC players already have earned undergraduate degrees: Larry Anam, Josh Beekman, Tony Gonzalez, James Marten, Mark Palmer, J. Survival Ross, and Taylor Sele . . . Three Navy players have been named to ESPN The Magazine's Academic All-District Team: Greg Veteto, Byron McCoy, and Zerbin Singleton .

Navy has one player from Massachusetts on its roster: Millis native David Wright. Wright, a senior, posted 30 tackles as Navy's starting nose guard. The 6-foot-3-inch, 274-pound Wright has 8 1/2 tackles for loss . . . Johnson said BC is the biggest team Navy has faced this season.