A History of Football Rivalry: Boston College vs. Other Teams
Introduction
The Boston College Eagles football team has a long and storied history, dating back to its formation in 1892. As a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), the Eagles compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). While the team claims one national championship in 1940, it is not recognized by the NCAA. Nevertheless, Boston College stands out as one of only two Catholic universities in the FBS, the other being Notre Dame, and the sole FBS school in New England within the Power Four conferences. This article delves into the Eagles' football history, highlighting significant moments, rivalries, and achievements.
Early Years and the Rise of the Eagles
In 1892, Boston College President Edward Ignatius Devitt, S.J., approved the establishment of a varsity football team, thanks to the persistence of undergraduates Joseph F. O'Connell and Joseph Drum. Drum served as the team's first unpaid head coach, with O'Connell as captain. The Eagles played their inaugural game on October 26, 1893, defeating the St. John's Literary Institute of Cambridge 4-0, followed by their first intercollegiate match against MIT, which resulted in a 6-0 loss. By 1920, the team officially adopted the nickname "Eagles," celebrating an undefeated 8-0 season marked by a 14-0 victory over Holy Cross at Braves Field. Coach Frank Cavanaugh, who led the team from 1919 to 1926, was later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
The Golden Era: 1939-1942
The 1939 season saw the Eagles, under first-year head coach Frank Leahy, achieve a 9-1 record and a No. 11 ranking in the AP Poll. However, the 1940 season is arguably the pinnacle of Boston College football history. The team completed an undefeated regular season at 10-0, earning the moniker "Team of Destiny" and capturing the 1941 Sugar Bowl championship. One of the standout games of that year was a 19-18 victory over No. 9 Georgetown, hailed as one of the greatest games ever by sportswriter Grantland Rice. In the Sugar Bowl, the Eagles triumphed over No. 4 Tennessee with a score of 19-13. Five members of the 1940 team have been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame: Gene Goodreault, George Kerr, Chet Gladchuk, Mike Holovak, and Charlie O'Rourke.
Despite the team's success, Boston College was not awarded a national championship in the contemporary 1940 college football rankings, which concluded before the bowl games. In 1942, the Eagles continued their dominance, winning their first eight games and reaching the No. 1 spot in the AP Poll. However, a shocking 55-12 loss to rival Holy Cross in the final game of the regular season derailed their championship hopes. The team's planned post-game celebration at the Cocoanut Grove nightclub was canceled, inadvertently saving them from the tragic Cocoanut Grove fire that claimed 492 lives. Despite the loss, the Eagles finished No. 8 in the AP rankings and played in the Orange Bowl, where they lost to No. 3 Alabama.
Coaching Changes and Key Figures (1950s-1980s)
Mike Holovak took over as head coach in 1951, leading the Eagles to a 49-29-3 record. He was named Coach of the Year in 1954 by New England football writers. Ernie Hefferle and Joe Yukica followed as head coaches, with Yukica compiling a 68-37 record and leading the team to eight winning seasons. Jack Bicknell's tenure saw the rise of quarterback Doug Flutie, who played for Boston College from 1981 to 1984. Flutie won the Heisman Trophy in his senior year and set the NCAA record for passing yardage with 10,579 yards. The 1984 season culminated in a 10-2 record, a No. 5 ranking in the AP Poll, and a 45-28 victory over the Houston Cougars in the 1985 Cotton Bowl, where Steve Strachan was named MVP.
Read also: Explore CFK
The "Hail Flutie" Game
One of the most memorable moments in Boston College football history occurred on November 23, 1984, against defending national champion No. 12 Miami. With only seconds remaining, Doug Flutie launched a "Hail Mary" pass that was caught in the end zone by Gerard Phelan, securing a 47-45 victory. This play remains one of the most iconic in college football history, though it did not influence Flutie's Heisman Trophy win, as voting had already concluded.
The Coughlin and O'Brien Eras (1990s-2000s)
After Bicknell's departure, Tom Coughlin, former BC quarterbacks coach, took over as head coach, leading the Eagles to a 21-13-1 record. A significant highlight was a 41-39 victory over No. 1 Notre Dame in 1993, marking the first time the Eagles had defeated the Fighting Irish. Dan Henning followed Coughlin, but his tenure was marred by a gambling scandal in 1996.
In December 1996, Tom O'Brien was hired, transforming the program into a consistent top-25 team. The 2001 season was particularly successful, with an 8-4 record and a top-25 ranking, capped by a 20-16 win over Georgia in the Music City Bowl. Other highlights included a 21-17 victory over Notre Dame and a close loss to eventual national champion Miami. The 2004 season, Boston College's last in the Big East, ended in a four-way tie atop the league.
Recent History and Coaching Changes (2000s-Present)
Jeff Jagodzinski replaced O'Brien, leading the Eagles to an 11-3 record and an ACC Atlantic Division Championship in 2007. However, he was fired after interviewing for the New York Jets head coaching job against the athletic director's wishes. Frank Spaziani took over in 2009, followed by Steve Addazio, who was hired after a dismal 2-10 season under Spaziani. Addazio made an immediate impact in his first year as head coach. Boston College fired Addazio on December 1, 2019, after a 6-6 season and a 44-44 record over 7 seasons.
Rivalries
Clemson Tigers
The Eagles and Clemson Tigers first met in the 1940 Cotton Bowl, which Clemson won. They played 11 more times until 1960. Since Boston College joined the ACC in 2005, games between the two teams have been particularly memorable. The O'Rourke-McFadden Trophy, named after Charlie O'Rourke of BC and Banks McFadden of Clemson, is awarded to the MVP of the game each year.
Read also: NCAA Tournament: Florida Gators
Holy Cross
Boston College and Holy Cross have a long-standing rivalry dating back to 1896, with 83 meetings on the field. The series was an annual home-and-home affair until 1986, with the Eagles dominating the last two decades of the annual series.
Conference Affiliations and Bowl Games
For much of its history, Boston College played as an independent. In 1991, the majority of football independents in the East aligned themselves in the Big East Football Conference, which first crowned an official champion in 1993. Divisional play began in the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2005, following BC's inclusion in the conference. Boston College has been to 27 bowl games, holding a 14-12 record. They had an 8-game bowl winning streak from 2000 to 2007 and went to 12 consecutive bowl games from 1999 to 2010. An invitation to the 2021 Military Bowl was accepted, but the game was canceled due to COVID-19 cases.
Stadium
Since 1957, Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, has been the home of the Eagles, with a capacity of 44,500. In 2005, the Yawkey Athletics Center, housing the football offices and weight room, was constructed at the north end-zone side of the stadium.
Read also: Florida Atlantic University Dates
tags: #florida #state #versus #boston #college #history
