BC NOTEBOOK;Shinskie to start for BC

By foxsports
Published

Dave Shinskie will start at quarterback for Boston College tomorrow against North Carolina State.

Still limping noticeably from the sprained left ankle he suffered last Saturday against Notre Dame, BC freshman quarterback Chase Rettig is listed as doubtful for the Atlantic Coast Conference football game at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, N.C.

In the brief portion of practice open to the media yesterday, Mike Marscovetra was the first QB to take snaps with the first-team offense. Shinskie, however, did get some first-team snaps later.

Shinskie started most of last year and the first three games this season. He was pulled in the 19-0 loss to Virginia Tech and later dropped to third string.

Marscovetra, a sophomore, came in last week when Rettig was hurt, but has yet to start for the Eagles.

Wide receiver Bobby Swigert showed he can be a playmaker for the Eagles during the 31-13 loss to Notre Dame. The true freshman delivered a seven-catch, 137-yard, one touchdown performance against the Irish.

Still, it was a tough night overall for the Eagles, and especially so for the BC receiving corps, which had far too many drops. Even the surehanded Swigert had one, despite his solid night. That performance has dictated how this week's practices have gone for the receivers.

''(Receivers coach Ryan) Day is definitely emphasizing catching the ball. Even in this rain, he shows no mercy with us dropping any passes,'' said Swigert on Wednesday. ''There's been a lot of work on the JUGS machine and catching the ball in traffic is a huge deal.''

He projects to be possession receiver, but made the big play against Notre Dame when he got behind his coverage and caught a Rettig pass for a 58-yard touchdown pass.

''They ran man coverage on me and I just ran 15 yards, gave him a little head fake like I was running a comeback and just exploded out. Chase saw me and threw a perfect pass,'' said Swigert. ''I didn't have to slow up at all.'' . . .

Linebacker Mark Herzlich had a heavier wrap on his broken left hand, but is listed as probable. Receiver Clyde Lee (leg) is doubtful, guard Emmett Cleary (leg) is questionable and center Nathan Richman (lower leg) is probable.

- sconroy@bostonherald.com