FSU’s bowl streak is alive at 30; Boston College’s ends at 12

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Florida State is going to a bowl game -- nothing shocking about that. The Seminoles became bowl-eligible for the 30th straight year with a 38-7 dismantling of Boston College on Thursday night in Boston.

But it’s still a very big deal, FSU Coach Jimbo Fisher says.

‘Thirty years in a row. There’s something about that,’ said Fisher, whose Seminoles (6-3, 4-2 ACC) have the longest active streak of bowl appearances and are creeping up on Nebraska’s all-time record of 35. ‘Everybody says it’s no big deal, but don’t do it and see what happens.’

Actually, all Fisher had to do was look across the field to see what might happen. BC’s not-too-shabby streak of 12 straight bowl appearances came to an end with Thursday’s loss, which dropped the Eagles to 2-7 overall and out of bowl eligibility.

New Orleans Saints lineman Matt Tennant, whose senior season at BC in 2009 was Frank Spaziani’s first as the Eagles’ head coach, tweeted during the game: ‘Spaz is defeated. Going to a low-tier bowl is not acceptable. And this year they get nothing. Things need to change.’

After winning the Meineke Car Care Bowl as interim coach in 2006, Spaziani has gone 17-17 in his three seasons as head coach with BC, including losses in the Emerald Bowl and the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl. The loss to FSU guarantees his first losing season with the Eagles and the team’s first since 1998.

But Spaziani had plenty of other things to worry about Thursday night. The Eagles had one yard to show for their first 11 offensive plays and had been outgained 214 yards to 16 by the time they fell behind, 28-0, in the second quarter.

“We got licked,” Spaziani said. “Couldn’t get a first down; couldn’t get out of our own way for a little bit there.”

But one streak did not end for BC -- linebacker Luke Kuechly had 20 tackles (12 solo) for his 31st straight game with 10 or more. And unlike a certain ex-BC player, Kuechly is still keeping a positive attitude going forward -- and he says his teammates are, too.

“I don’t think with this team, with this BC team, anybody’s going to quit,” Kuechly said. “I’m going to come out and win against N.C. State” next week.

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-- Chuck Schilken

The Associated Press contributed to this report.