Everyone’s favorite walk-on at Boston University graduated last year. Curry tried out for the team and made it without having been recruited. Little did he know, and little did coach Jack Parker know, he would go on to help the team win three Beanpots and make two appearances in the NCAA tournament.
The hockey team didn’t take on any walk-ons this year. Surprising? Not really, for a team that pretty much has one of the best-recruited classes in the land.
There is a team, though, that takes walk-ons consistently. This year the team took 10 walk-ons and might take even more. You’re probably asking: What team is made up completely of walk-ons, and how can I join?
The team that I’m talking about is track and field. Let me tell you, they shouldn’t be called the track and field “team,” they should be the track and field “family.”
Seriously, I’ve never ever seen anything like them. Not only is this group of people a family without any blood relation, they have a cast of characters that rivals the Ocean’s 11 series — so deep, and such personality.
The bonds they have with each other are borderline remarkable. I’m shocked and awed by the spirit, tenacity and most profoundly, the personality of each of team member.
I sat in on a practice, spoke to the players and experienced some major aspects of the team, minus an actual meet. How many people have been to a BU track and field event?
First off, that needs to change. But I will get to that. I want to familiarize you with some of the more interesting individuals competing every weekend. This team’s like the crew from Entourage, except with nine times as many people.
I approached The Daily Free Press about writing a book, simply based on the personalities, characters and variety of athletes on the team. They seemed interested until I told them I anticipated the book would total more than 1,000 pages, with roughly a chapter on each member. They sanctioned me and told me to just write one column instead.
David Barth
Since 5,111 of you went, do you remember seeing that really crazy kid at the Terrier Tailgate? I’m talking really crazy, like cape crazy. Well, that’s David, and he runs the 55m and the 200m. David has been on “The Price is Right,” he attends as many BU sporting events as humanly possible while sporting a cape, and if the weather permits, goes shirtless underneath. If David had his way he said the Track and Field uniform would consist of a BU cape and headband. That is all. He is often paired with another runner on the team, Max Esposito, who runs the 200m and the 400m. Max sports the Viking cap and cheers just as much as David.
Mike Salem
If BU did superlatives, Mike Salem would win year after year after year. Here’s a brief list of what he does: He plays trombone in the BU band, has an internship at the State House, coaches little league baseball at Mission Hill and is an active member of the Dog Pound. Talk about the complete package. He competes in the shot put.
Kodjo Wilder
Basically equals Van Wilder of BU, minus seven years of enrollment and hailing from the suburbs. So what, Kodjo once lost to a guy with one leg at a race at Duke University? He is fast and he has the best smile I have ever witnessed. It gives me butterflies just thinking about it. He runs the 55m as well as soaring through the air in the long jump.
David Proctor
Who would win in a race? Chad Johnson, a horse or BU runner David Proctor?
Well, the horse was outrun by “Ocho Cinco” earlier in the summer but my new computer running simulation program has confirmed that David Proctor would beat Chad Johnson. I’m also factoring in Proctor’s record-setting sub four-minute mile time into all of this. Proctor is the real deal. If he was about 100 pounds heavier and was trained in football, he would probably be drafted to the NFL. He’s just that fast.
Have you ever heard of gymcraftics? It definitely rivals foxy boxing in its eroticism and ability to hold my attention. Basically gymcraftics is movement that incorporates balance, cooperation, strength and performance, which come together to show people in amazing body contortions and positions. It’s hot. Pole vaulters on the team specialize in this hobby, including Mimi Maritz, Fiona Romeri, Gregg Dagget and Jordan Crumper.
There are so many members of this team, I’m upset I could only highlight a few of them. At practice, all of them seem to cheer each other on as hard as they run. It’s funny to watch a sport where there is nothing but running, the faces a person makes when focusing on just running.
As Barth puts it: “We run in circles. We are crazy. Our sport is other sports’ punishment. The way we have fun is that we are outgoing, weird, crazy individuals. I wouldn’t trade that for anything. Nothing.”
Track and field is a unique sport and the characters on the team are just as unique as the team itself. The women’s indoor team is looking to repeat as America East champions and I know there is nothing they would like more, along with the men’s team, to race in front of a packed house of spectators just watching some people run in circles. Let’s show some support and show off our Terrier pride for a team that takes more walk-ons than almost any other every year.
Brian Fadem, a sophomore in the College of Communication, is a weekly columnist for The Daily Free Press. He can be reached at bfadem@bu.edu.
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