June 11 — It’s the first Saturday of the fall semester. You come running out of your dorm, face painted scarlet and white, ready to head down to Nickerson Field to cheer the Terriers on to victory.
Just don’t be surprised when it’s a different kind of football being played.
So maybe the Terriers don’t have the traditional sort of college football program (if you weren’t aware, BU hasn’t had a team since 1997). But that doesn’t condemn you to four years without the excitement and passion of college sports. You just have to know where to look.
Men’s hockey is the Terriers’ flagship team. With four national championships (the most recent was in 1995), famous alumni including Chris Drury and Mike Eruzione, long-tenured coach Jack Parker and the state-of-the-art Agganis Arena serving as its home, hockey is an integral part of Terrier athletics. No student’s BU experience is complete without attending at least one hockey game.
The hockey team, like many others on campus, has a heated rivalry with nearby Boston College, with three regular season games against the Eagles each year. The Terriers and Eagles also meet frequently in the famous Beanpot Tournament held in early February, along with fellow Boston rivals Northeastern and Harvard. While Terrier teams of previous years have enjoyed great success (BU has won half of the 56 Beanpots and boasts six Hockey East Tournament titles), last year saw BC win the Beanpot, Hockey East Tournament and a national championship.
Not far from Agganis Arena is Walter Brown Arena, home to the women’s ice hockey team. Unlike its male counterpart, the women’s program is a recent addition to the BU sports landscape, with only three years of Division-I competition under its belt. With former BU goalie-turned-head coach Brian Durocher at the helm, the Terriers have quickly ascended through the ranks of Hockey East. Last season, BU earned its first-ever conference tournament berth and finished ahead of BC in the regular season standings. While the team still has a long way to go before competing for a national title, things are certainly looking up for the Terriers.
Above Walter Brown Arena is Case Gymnasium, also known as “The Roof,” home to Terrier basketball. Although Case Gym is barely larger than most high school gymnasiums (The Roof seats only 1,800 fans), the venue offers its own unique advantages. Coach Kelly Greenberg and the women’s basketball team won all 11 games played in Case last season, including a victory over NCAA Tournament qualifier Hartford on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer.
The women’s team plays an up-tempo style of basketball. By comparison, men’s basketball coach Dennis Wolff favors a more controlled, defense-oriented approach. Despite the slower style of play, the men’s team offers a great deal of excitement to interested fans.
Star guard Corey Lowe and reigning America East Rookie of the Year John Holland have skill sets rarely seen in players at the America East level. When one or both of them are their game, it can be a long night for the opposition. Take the final home game of last season against Hartford, when Holland dropped 38 points on the Hawks en route to a 97-66 thrashing. With every key player returning this season, the Terriers will be clear favorites to advance to the NCAA Tournament.
While many are familiar with BU’s winter sports, plenty of other offerings abound. The fall sports landscape is particularly diverse. Men’s soccer recently announced a fall schedule featuring six NCAA Tournament qualifiers and five defending conference champions. While the team does not enjoy strong home attendance, rivalry games occasionally draw large crowds. A “Terrier Tailgate” prior to last year’s season opener against BC brought more than 5,000 fans to Nickerson Field.
Men’s soccer might have enjoyed the early-season crowds, but by season’s end the women’s team was the one enjoying success, capturing an America East title before falling to Wake Forest in the national tournament. Men’s soccer also qualified for the NCAAs with an at-large berth, while field hockey reached the national stage with a conference title.
In the spring, most Boston-area sports fans look forward to the beginning of another Red Sox season, but the Terriers have strong softball and lacrosse teams deserving of attention as well. The lacrosse program has evolved into a regional powerhouse. The Terriers won an incredible 15 consecutive games last season before succumbing in the NCAA quarterfinals. Although Liz Robertshaw’s team may not receive the attention garnered by the men’s hockey program, lacrosse has been arguably BU’s best sport in recent years, with conference titles and moderate success in the NCAA Tournament occurring on a regular basis.
Consider this but a brief overview of Terrier athletics. The complete spectrum of offerings is far too broad to detail here. Not every program has the same acclaim or recognition as those at major-conference schools, but that doesn’t mean the BU sports landscape is hockey and a whole bunch of filler. See for yourself. If you can look beyond the generally small crowds and lack of major media attention, you’ll find talented players and a passion for college athletics — and you’ll be glad you did.
Matt Whitrock is a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences.