2004 Boston College Eagles Football: A Lambert Trophy Season

Season Overview

The 2004 Boston College Eagles football team earned the Lambert Trophy during a season filled with disciplined play and critical victories. Under the guidance of Head Coach Tom O’Brien, the Eagles concluded their final year in the Big East Conference with a 9–3 overall record and a share of the conference championship. They were recognized as the best team in Eastern college football on January 6, 2005, and celebrated at the Eastern College Football Awards Banquet on February 8, 2005. This marked Boston College’s fifth Lambert Trophy win and first since 1984.

Regular Season Success

Boston College’s campaign was defined by their balanced approach and signature victories. While the Eagles won a share of the Big East title, they lacked true star power, landing just one player on the First Team All Big East. Rather than having individual contributors, Boston College succeeded as a team, with their most impressive win coming against No. 13 West Virginia on the road (36–17), knocking the Mountaineers out of a BCS Bowl. While the Eagles didn’t land the Big East’s automatic tie-in, they did achieve a decisive 37–24 triumph over North Carolina in the Continental Tire Bowl to conclude their season. With West Virginia, Pitt, and Syracuse all losing their bowl games, it may have been Boston College’s 24-23 win over Notre Dame that landed them the Lambert Trophy in 2004, with their main competition (10-2 Navy) having lost to the Fighting Irish during the season. The Eagles finished ranked No. 21 in both the AP and Coaches polls.

Game-by-Game Recap

  • September 2, 2004: Boston College 19, Ball State 11 – The Eagles opened the season with a road win in Muncie, Indiana, overcoming a tough Ball State defense.

  • September 11, 2004: Boston College 21, Penn State 7 – In front of 44,500 fans at Alumni Stadium, the Eagles defeated the Nittany Lions with a solid defensive performance in a marquee Eastern football matchup.

  • September 17, 2004: Boston College 27, Connecticut 7 – Under the lights on ESPN2, BC dominated the Huskies, extending their strong start to the season.

  • September 25, 2004: Wake Forest 17, Boston College 14 – The Eagles suffered their first loss of the season in a hard-fought battle on the road to future conference opponent Wake Forest.

  • October 2, 2004: Boston College 29, UMass 7 – In what would become a rivalry game (UMass was FCS in 2004), the Eagles cruised past UMass at Alumni Stadium.

  • October 16, 2004: Pittsburgh 20, Boston College 17 (OT) – A heartbreaking overtime loss at Heinz Field marked another setback in conference play This would later be crucial in Pittsburgh earning the Fiesta Bowl bid, sending Boston College to the Continental Tire Bowl.

  • October 23, 2004: Boston College 24, Notre Dame 23 – The Eagles secured a thrilling win in the "Holy War" rivalry game at Notre Dame Stadium. This game may have been what earned Boston College the Lambert Trophy.

  • November 6, 2004: Boston College 21, Rutgers 10 – BC continued to their winning ways with a methodical victory over Rutgers at Alumni Stadium.

  • November 13, 2004: Boston College 36, West Virginia 17 – A dominant road win against the No. 13 Mountaineers underscored BC’s Lambert Trophy credentials in one of the great upsets in Eastern football history.

  • November 20, 2004: Boston College 34, Temple 17 – The Eagles handled business on the road against the Owls to continue their strong finish.

  • November 27, 2004: Syracuse 43, Boston College 17 – A disappointing home loss to Syracuse marred the end of the regular season.

  • December 30, 2004: Boston College 37, North Carolina 24 – The Eagles capped off their season with a victory in the Continental Tire Bowl, securing their fifth consecutive bowl win. Quarterback Paul Peterson broke his leg during the game, but not even the change at quarterback was enough to prevent Boston College from defeating their future conference opponent.

Legacy

Boston College’s 2004 Lambert Trophy win bridged a 64-year gap since their first victory in 1940. Their final year in the Big East marked a triumphant conclusion to an era, setting the stage for their transition to the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2005. The season remains a defining chapter in Boston College’s football history and a return to glory years 20 seasons prior.

Coach Tom O’Brien reflected on the team’s accomplishments, stating: “We’re very proud that our 2004 team is being recognized as the best in Eastern college football. It was very gratifying to win a share of the Big East championship in our last year in the league, then go on to win our fifth straight bowl game. We have a fine group of young men who excel on the field and in the classroom.”

Media

Globe Staff Photo / George Rizer Copyright 2004

Quarterback Paul Peterson practices prior to Boston College’s bowl game against North Carolina, a team they would be conference foes with the next season.