December 15, 1940 ... After two weeks of tributes and parties, the Eagles got back to work.  Beyond doing some physical conditioning, the field conditions made scrimmaging against the freshmen an impossibility.  The varsity did little more than review assignments in a dummy scrimmage.  The team will leave Wednesday and reach their destination in New Orleans on Friday.  Gene Goodreault's knee is still questionable, but his replacement, sophomore Don Currivan proved to be an able replacement.  Mike Holovak still has his leg wrapped and Joe Zabilski is still nursing his elbow injury.

December 18, 1940 ... 5000 well wishers showed up at South Station to send off the 42 Eagle players on their trip down south.  Despite the huge throng, the railroad folks got the train off on time at 6PM.  James Murray, head of the B.C. Student Athletic Association and Ted Mulvihill, a cheerleader, led the crowd in singing Boston College songs and cheering for each player as they boarded the train.  Most of the players arrived at 5PM and therefore boarded the train before the cheerleaders arrived.  Prior to the departure about 300 students gathered at the Parkman Bandstand on the Boston Common for a pep rally.  Mayor Tobin had to push his way through the crowd to board the train and wish the team a fond farewell.  Governor Saltonstall sent a letter congratulating the team.  The train will head directly to Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, where Coach Leahy plans 10 good workouts before the game.

December 21, 1940 ... The Eagles settled down to business with two great workouts at St. Stanislaus College Field in Bay St. Louis.  The highlight was the sensational punting of Charlie O'Rourke and the great improvement in Gene Goodreault's knee.  The fire and dash was still there in the squad after five hours of hard drilling, including stationary scrimmaging on punting, running and passing, with plenty of hard physical contact.  O'Rourke, Connolly, and Holovak all kicked under the pressure, aiming for the sidelines in preparation of keeping the ball away from the Tennessee returners.  At least three times, O'Rourke dropped the ball within a yard of the sideline.  In the evening the boys went sightseeing in New Orleans and left the city by 10PM.

December 22, 1940 ... The B.C. football players were scattered all over Hancock County on a holiday from playing football.  No player was lacking for entertainment as the local citizens arranged for fishing, sailing and golf outings for all the boys.  Charlie O'Rourke and Gene Goodreault opted for a drive up to Mobile, Alabama to go sightseeing.  The golf contingent went over to Pine Hills Golf Club.  Chet Gladchuck considered his golf outing the toughest workout he's had in a week.  20 players went on a boating trip up the Jordan River.  Those who had the most to show for the day were those who went fishing who brought back red snappers.  Coach Leahy, nursing a sore throat spent the day relaxing at the hotel.

December 23, 1940 ... The team went through a casual practice today with rain postponing the scheduled scrimmage.  The assistant coaches supervised the workout because Coach Leahy was still in bed with his bad cold.  The team was full of zip and vigor and settled in for their work.  The coaches went over the Tennessee offense at the St. Stanislaus gym with the team.  Teddy Williams has been moved back to right halfback replacing Lou Montgomery.  Gene Goodreault worked hard and thinks his knee will be fine.  In the afternoon, many of  the players took part in the annual St. Stanislaus Christmas Party for local kids.  In the evening the local movie theatre was full of football players.  Mickey Connolly has been a hit with the local teenagers as the good looking boy socializes with the locals on the main street.

December 24, 1940 ... In the morning scrimmage Coach Leahy worked the first stringers with Dowdy Kissell at fullback and Mickey Connolly at left halfback.  Gene Goodreault worked at end easily, as the team had a dummy scrimmage against the third team.  At midafternoon, the boys donned their Sunday suits at left at 6PM for a party.  Christmas carols with a southern drawl, food and gifts were enjoyed by the football team today at a Christmas party held for the guests from Boston, at the home of Joe and Jewel David, who displayed the ultimate in southern hospitality.  The Davids arranged for a number of local young ladies to also come to their home, called Metaire Ridge, where the players and ladies were paired up and formed a grand march into a dance arranged for them, in a grand celebration.

December 25, 1940 ... A two hour workout was held today before the players settled down for a turkey Christmas dinner.  The practice session was strictly a grunt and groan affair as the squad did not get home from their party until 4AM. It was ragged but Coach Leahy wanted the team to work out and stay sharp.  Charlie O'Rourke was still impressive in his kicking a booted one 55 yards that hit one foot from the goal line and bounced right out-of-bounds to the oohs and ahhs of his teammates.  After the dinner the coaches gathered the team to show them the films of the Holy Cross game, making academic criticisms and pointing out areas of omission.

December 26, 1940 ... A thunderstorm at dawn washed out Frank Leahy's plans for a hard two-hour scrimmage.  Instead the squad had a long scull session in the morning and went through the afternoon workout in the gym.  Not much was accomplished as the team only was able to go through a dummy scrimmage signal drill.  At lunch time the team gathered in the dining room to hear broadcast greeting from their families back home.  A large contingent of B.C. fans and alumni left South Station today for the game.

December 27, 1940 ... Gene Goodreault emerged for a two hour scrimmage today and declared himself fit to play.  He was outstanding and had Coach Leahy nodding in approval on every play.  When the team realized their defensive standout was buzzing around easily it gave them a psychological boost that became evident in their speed and spirit.  It was an excellent day for football and the team had the best workout since they arrived.  The morning session was a dummy scrimmage, but the afternoon produced a real dose of hard hitting football.

December 28, 1940 ... The third stringers or the "Chowder Boys" as they've been nicknamed, who have served as human fodder for the varsity have voiced the opinion that the team is as sharp as they have been all season.  Frank Leahy was impressed with the scrimmage but laid off on hitting on account of a number of injuries sustained yesterday.  Mike Holovak twisted an ankle, Chet Gladchuck had a sore shoulder and Joe Manzo's knee was tender.  Today's work was academic with the "Chowder Boys" running the Tennessee offense, with the first and second stringers went up against the Tennessee passing formations.  The coaches had come up with a unique defense for this game and spent a lot of time polishing it up. Everyone but Justin McGowan and John Yauckoes was dressed and on the field.  A contingent of B.C. students arrived today after driving 37 hours to get here.

December 29, 1940 ... Lou Montgomery, the black running back, who isn't allowed to play in the Sugar Bowl game, led his team of New Orleans All, Stars to a 12-6 victory over the Baton Rogue Patriots in the third annual "Chocolate Bowl" at Xavier Stadium.  It drew 4000 fans and officials said it was the largest crowd to ever watch a negro football game in New Orleans.  With the day off, many of Lou's teammates were in the stand to watch him.   Others were scattered throughout the are on boat trips and golf outings or to just go see a movie.  The heavy work was over and many of the newspapermen and visitors packed up and headed to New Orleans that was decked out with signs and colors of both the Tennessee team and the Eagles.

December 30, 1940 ... Nerves were taught as the Eagles were fast gathering an emotional head of steam.  Before driving down to address the Quarterback Club in New Orleans, Coach Leahy gave his boys a hard workout.  Contact was reduced to the minimum, but there was the maximum amount of calisthenics and running, before doing a comprehensive review of the offense and defensive assignments.  For the seniors, they all know that this would be the biggest game of their careers not only in football, but in their future hunt for scarce jobs after graduation.  With visitors arriving here, at the Hotel Reed, in droves, the players were not allowed to have visitors in their rooms after 8PM.