Terrier Football News

A Campus Life Without Football—No More

Mackenzie Lachey

September 18, 2010

BOSTON—On most college campuses the start of the new school year also marks the start of college football—cool fall nights spent in bleachers with classmates, tailgates, and face paint.  But since 1997, students at Boston University have lived out their college years without this common college ritual—what some might call an American college rite.  While some college students could never imagine a school year without football, BU seniors have lived out the majority of their “college experience” without the “football experience.”  Until now.

Although the Boston Terriers Football Club is BU’s unofficial football team, its inaugural season will mark the first time since 1997 that the BU community can watch a regulation football game played by BU students.

The team’s sentiment surrounding BU’s lack of a football program can be summed up in one word—disappointment.  Although BU’s absence of football did not deter any of these players from choosing BU, it was a major downside. 

Most of the team played football in high school.  Although most high schoolers never go on to play football in college, the transition from playing football to not having a team at all was strange for some team members.          

BU seniors Robbie Harrison, Dave Melchiorri, and Marcus Gray played four years of pigskin in high school.  After three years of no rumble and tumble, they are ready to take the field again.     

When Robbie Harrison came to BU, he not only knew he would not be playing football for his school, he knew he would not be able to cheer for his school’s team because no such team existed. 

“When I came to BU and they didn’t have a football team, obviously it’s a little disappointing,” Harrison said.  “I knew it coming in, but at the same time, you don’t realize how much you miss it until it’s gone.”        

Harrison played defensive tackle and right guard in high school.  Wearing number 58, Harrison will play both sides of the ball for the Terriers this season.  He believes he can bring “strong leadership” to the team as well as an “overall desire to play football.”   

Dave Melchiorri, a local product from Waltham, Mass., had an easy time choosing BU.  His father works for the university, so the decision was made for him, he said.  But “fate gave [him] a wink” when the Terrier Football Club was established. 

Melchiorri played running back and linebacker in high school and, wearing number 11, he will play defense for the Terriers this year.  He hopes he can “bring the heat from the outside.” 

Marcus Gray played four years of receiver in high school.  Knowing there would be no football at BU was a big let down, he said.  “Football is an awesome sport, and probably one of the best as far as school spirit.”  Gray believes that football can help unify BU by bolstering a little more school spirit.

Gray will be donning number 88 for the Terriers and thinks he can be a power to the offense by summoning his many years of football experience.       

BU freshmen Eric Adamschick, Knut Kirchoff, Collin McNamara and Joel Owusu may never have to experience the disappointment felt by the team’s seniors.  For McNamara and Owusu, the Terrier Football Club means they can continue to participate in a sport they love.  For Adamschick and Kirchoff, the club gives them a chance to try something new; a chance for them to experience a sport that one year ago would not have been possible at BU. 

McNamara played cornerback and receiver in high school.  He, like the other freshmen, will be able to have a gapless transition from playing in high school to playing in college, something senior team members couldn’t experience.  Wearing number 25 for the Terriers, he believes he can bring speed to the team. 

“There are like 25 guys out here who want to play,” he said.  “Giving kids the opportunity to play football is great.  It should be like that.”       

Kirchoff and Adamschick are two such “kids.”  Neither played football in high school, but are eager to try something new in college.

Kirchoff is from Norway, a country better known for futbol than football.  At 6-foot-7, Kirchoff will bring “height, good speed, and the willingness to learn,” he said.  Kirchoff will wear number 99 and play offense for the Terriers.

“It’s a shame,” Kirchoff said about BU not having a football team.  “It’s a part of the college experience and they lost a great part of the school when they shut down BU football.”

Adamschick came to BU for cello performance, but he is eager to expand his skill set with a new hobby.  “I’m going to bring work ethic and size,” he said.  Wearing number 63, Adamschick will play offense for the scarlet and white. 

Owusu is from Houston, Texas.  Coming from football country, Owusu was “upset, [he] was crying, and [he] was sad” when he heard BU did not have a football team. 

Owusu is eager to start a new BU tradition.  “BU is going to be the best school in the state of Massachusetts now that we have a football team,” he said. 

Owusu, number 22, played running back in high school and will play offense this year for the Terriers.

Terrier Football Club seniors are excited they can leave BU with a new tradition.  Terrier Football Club freshmen are eager to keep the tradition strong.

 

“As the football program develops here at BU, it will definitely bring the school closer together, and I’m really excited to see how this program grows,” Harrison said.  “Hopefully one day we will have our games played on Nickerson for all the school to see.”   

“It’s going to be a force that tries to get the entire BU community together as a school,” Kirchoff said.

  

“We’re bringing [football] back, and I’m excited,” Adamschick said.