ORLANDO, Fla. - Earlier in the week, Boston College coach Jeff Jagodzinski was asked about his team's preparation for its Champs Sports Bowl meeting with Michigan State.
"A lot like spring practice," said Jagodzinski, describing conditioning and fundamentals, and a gradual buildup to the game.
And that is exactly how the 14th-ranked Eagles played last night before a crowd of 46,554. They started slowly, very slowly, and made mistakes, before hanging on for a 24-21 victory, BC's eighth consecutive bowl win, the longest active streak in college football.
"It's a heck of a thing," said a relieved Jagodzinski after the game, reflecting on a senior class that finished its final season with 11 wins, the most for a BC team in 67 years. "I told these guys, 'I recruited 25 guys just like you.' It says something about them."
What it said was that the Eagles, led by Matt Ryan (three touchdown passes) and All-America safety Jamie Silva (two interceptions), had enough plays to win one more time.
In the first half, the Eagles looked like a team on its first day back at work after a long vacation. Michigan State's Devin Thomas returned the opening kickoff 79 yards, and three plays later it was 7-0 Spartans following an 18- yard touchdown pass from Brian Hoyer to Kellen Davis.
The Eagles (11-3) considered that a wake-up call. Leading the way was Silva, who picked off two first-half passes en route to being named the game's most valuable player, and linebacker Mark Herzlich, who caused a fumble and recovered it to set up the Eagles' first touchdown, a 1-yard pass from Ryan to tight end Jon Loyte to tie the score at 7.
"All-Americans make plays like that, that's why they are All-Americans," said Jagodzinski.
Gradually, all of the Eagles regained the form that had earned them the ACC Atlantic Division title and 10 regular-season wins. But it took awhile and it was sloppy, the Eagles getting the eventual winning score when Ryan, playing the final game of a storied career, threw a 68-yard TD pass to wide receiver Rich Gunnell for a 24-13 lead with 9:21 remaining.
Gunnell caught two touchdown passes and could have a third, but he lost an early pass in the lights. "I told [Ryan], 'I owe you one, the first one I should have caught,' " said Gunnell. "I told him to throw it again and I would get it for him."
Gunnell did that, and when the Eagles picked up a first down and the clock was hitting the seven-minute mark, they looked safe.
Then the Eagles got sloppy again and it cost them, as Ryan was sacked and fumbled on what Jagodzinski said was going to be a safe screen pass. Michigan State recovered at the BC 37.
"It was going to be screen pass and it was open," said Jagodzinski, who could only watch in dismay as Ryan was hit and the ball and the momentum switched to Michigan State.
Three plays later, Hoyer rolled left and threw a 14-yard TD pass to Deon Curry. The Spartans' 2-point conversion was good and suddenly it was 24-21.
Michigan State seemed to be making all the plays necessary to end BC's bowl streak. The Spartans caused fumbles, forced turnovers, and sacked Ryan three times.
"I thought we did an outstanding job," said Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio, referring to a Spartan defense that seemed to have BC out of synch most of the evening. "Our coaching staff knew exactly what BC was doing. But we got beat over the top."
But then defense, experience, and all the factors that have characterized the majority of the last four years kicked in for BC. Johnny Ayers, who had a 12-yard punt in the first half, boomed a 55-yarder that put the Spartans at their 4-yard line with 2:29 left.
On the next play, Hoyer's pass was picked off by strong safety Paul Anderson, and the clock and the season again turned in the Eagles' favor.
"We had a great time, and to finish with a win and to have 11 wins is something special," said Silva. "We wanted to be considered one of the best teams to go through here and we might be on that level."
Ryan, who seemed reluctant to take his BC uniform off for the final time, put it simply: "It's been a hell of a ride."
Mark Blaudschun can be reached at blaudschun@globe.com.
