BOSTON (AP) — After four decades as an assistant coach and coordinator, Frank Spaziani is finally in charge at Boston College.

For real, this time.

Spaziani, who was promoted from defensive coordinator after Jeff Jagodzinski was fired, actually coached BC in a 2006 bowl game after Tom O’Brien left for North Carolina State. With the Eagles’ victory, Spaziani has been holding onto a 1-0 record.

“That interim deal, which is a distant memory, was a very rewarding 30 days. But that’s what it was,” Spaziani said this week as he prepared for Saturday’s game against Northeastern, which competes in the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Div. I-AA). “Dress up and go to the prom and that was it.

“I was a pinch hitter, I got a base hit. Now I’m in the starting lineup. I’ve got to field, I’ve got to get base hits, I’ve got to be a five-tool guy and that’s what is needed, so it’s a big deal.”

Spaziani, 62, has not had the best of luck since getting the job when Jagodzinski was fired for interviewing for the New York Jets head coaching job. (Jagodzinski later was hired as the offensive coordinator in Tampa Bay, but was fired Thursday before the NFL opener.)

Spaziani lost linebacker Mark Herzlich, the Atlantic Coast Conference defensive player of the year, who was diagnosed with cancer but is recovering. Linebacker Mike McLaughlin has an Achilles tendon injury that should have him out the first two games. Dominique Davis, the only quarterback on the roster with any experience, transferred after academic problems.

Defensive tackles B.J. Raji and Ron Brace are both in the NFL. And injuries on both the offensive and defensive lines during camp have forced him to mix and match.

Boston College has gone to the conference championship game two years in a row and made 10 consecutive bowl games, a streak that could end this year unless Spaziani can pull things together.

Nowhere is the problem bigger than at quarterback.

Redshirt freshman Justin Tuggle and 25-year-old David Shinskie, a former Toronto Blue Jays minor leaguer who is technically a freshman, are both scheduled to play Saturday. Spaziani hasn’t announced who will start, with true freshman Mike Marscovetra also in the picture.

After Northeastern, the Eagles host Kent State before opening the ACC schedule at Clemson.

“The whole idea is to go into every game believing that you can win every game,” Spaziani said. “If we get to that point, then we’ll probably be OK. … All indications are we’ve worked real hard. I haven’t had a problem with our work ethic.”

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