Boston University's magical 1993 Season

[blur2005]

So I was looking at some clips of JMU football on YouTube and while looking at the video of Cortez Thompson's fabulous return for a TD (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8fqhHE5zaE) to win against Delaware in 2004 (I was at the game; still get chills watching the clip...I'm also mentioning this to cause pain for Delaware fans by bringing the game up), I ran into a link to a five part video about Boston University's undefeated season in 1993. Despite the relatively poor quality of the actual video, I enjoyed watching the storybook season, one made more tragic in hindsight by the 1997 decision to discontinue the team.

Here are the links to the video:

Part I (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4KkOYskbzA)
Part II (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lDTYxp6kXQ&feature=related)
Part III (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4f7qKv2PJ8&feature=related)
Part IV (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8TwI9IvJtA&feature=related) (This part will cause pain for UNI fans)
Part V (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCG4g6m88Tk&feature=related)

Also for the enjoyment of everyone, here's the record book (http://www.nmnathletics.com/fls/8500/supportfiles/Records/Records_FBwebpage.pdf) for the Yankee/A-10/CAA, the first part being the standings from every year through 2007.

[smcwildcat]

thats pretty amazing.... but in 94 unh had arguable their best win ever.... in OT for the yankee con.

[PantherRob82]

stupid terriers.

[Cobblestone]

BU had one heck of a program in the 80's. Too bad they dropped football. I hope someday they bring it back.

[Cobblestone]

Part II - vs. Richmond. "It was like Grant taking Richmond once again".

God I hope Citdog watches this.

[Tim James]

I remember watching the playoff game vs Idaho from the Kibbie Dome on WBZ channel 4 in Boston. Bob Lobel was doing the play by play and I thought that was a big deal at the time for a I-AA school like BU to be on a major channel(CBS affiliate) and have the biggest sportscaster in Boston(Lobel) calling the game. I cant remember who the color guy was though. Nowadays we dont even get any Boston tv channels on our local cable here in RI.

[UNIFanSince1983]

I remember watching that Boston vs UNI game on TV. I think we may still have it on tape. I was a sad sad 9 year old that day.

[Dukie95]

I shoud probably remember this, because I was a student at JMU at the time. But why did Maine forfeit those games?

[Jackman]

BU and Northeastern should have been like the Jets and Giants and built a joint use stadium. They're less than a mile apart. Unfortunately, the best spot between them is occupied by Fenway Park.

[Husky Alum]

BU and Northeastern should have been like the Jets and Giants and built a joint use stadium. They're less than a mile apart. Unfortunately, the best spot between them is occupied by Fenway Park.

BU HAS the perfect on campus stadium. They don't need to build anything.

Nickerson Field is more than a I-AA program needs, and it's right in the middle of their campus. With the new dorms they're building right behind Nickerson, and the increased number of students living near there, it's perfect.

Now, NU approached the Red Sox a few years ago about playing UMass or UNH at Fenway.

The Sox said no because of the damage that would be done to the field. The cost to import a portable field on trays is prohibitive. The only chance to do a game at Fenway would be in a year where the Sox decide to re-sod their infield and outfield - which rarely happens.

However, a game at Fenway would be amazing, and would probably sell out in minutes.

[Anovafan]

I saw that 93 team in person, they were excellent. They whupped Nova, but then again so did a lot of people. Nova stunk in 93. BU had a great QB who threw the ball all over the place. Stupid idea to drop football.

[Tim James]

They dropped baseball too.

[Dane96]

Herr Silber....

[Cobblestone]

Herr Silber....

Silber = Biggest (M)ASSHOLE in history.

[Cobblestone]

I shoud probably remember this, because I was a student at JMU at the time. But why did Maine forfeit those games?


It had been determined that Maine had used a few ineligible players during the season.

[Husky Alum]

They dropped baseball too.

BU dropped baseball because of the way the NCAA treated two sport athletes, and because they didn't have a field - ironically since Braves Field (Where the Boston Braves used to play) is now Nickerson Field.

BU hockey coach Jack Parker would always have 6-8 "baseball players" on his hockey team. And consequently, BU's baseball team would stink, but he had depth on the ice because he had an additional 1/3 roster playing baseball.

When the NCAA changed the rules on counting scholarships for 2-sport athletes, BU dropped baseball a few years later.

[Minuteman87]

There was a group of alumni trying to bring football back to BU at www.btuff.org

But judging from the unsophisticated web site, they have not sent a newsletter for almost 4 years, so who knows what's going on.

The Boston Globe did a story last year on the 10-year anniverasry of the program's demise, saying the university was spending $3 mill a year on the team, which was bringing in $100,000.

I think as long as hockey is successful at BU, no one will give a damn about football.

[Franks Tanks]

BU HAS the perfect on campus stadium. They don't need to build anything.

Nickerson Field is more than a I-AA program needs, and it's right in the middle of their campus. With the new dorms they're building right behind Nickerson, and the increased number of students living near there, it's perfect.

Now, NU approached the Red Sox a few years ago about playing UMass or UNH at Fenway.

The Sox said no because of the damage that would be done to the field. The cost to import a portable field on trays is prohibitive. The only chance to do a game at Fenway would be in a year where the Sox decide to re-sod their infield and outfield - which rarely happens.

However, a game at Fenway would be amazing, and would probably sell out in minutes.

Absolutely, BU already has a fine stadium

http://football.ballparks.com/NCAA/Atlantic10/Boston/aerial.jpg

It really is a shame the Terriers dropped football.

[89Hen]

So I was looking at some clips of JMU football on YouTube and while looking at the video of Cortez Thompson's fabulous return for a TD to win against Delaware in 2004 (I was at the game; still get chills watching the clip...I'm also mentioning this to cause pain for Delaware fans by bringing the game up)
Just to be nice, I'll bite. I was at that game too and the return wasn't the sore spot for Hen fans. It was the fact that JMU couldn't stop Omar Cuff and the Hens had it first and goal from the 5 and spiked the ball and then threw three incomplete passes with an EMPTY BACKFIELD on 2nd, 3rd and 4th downs. xoopsx xnonono2x xbangx xbawlingx

[89Hen]

BU HAS the perfect on campus stadium. They don't need to build anything.

Nickerson Field is more than a I-AA program needs, and it's right in the middle of their campus. With the new dorms they're building right behind Nickerson, and the increased number of students living near there, it's perfect.


Absolutely, BU already has a fine stadium

http://football.ballparks.com/NCAA/Atlantic10/Boston/aerial.jpg

It really is a shame the Terriers dropped football.
I have a picture of old Nickerson when it was a baseball stadium, but alas, I still can't attach pictures. It's quite an interesting transformation. The big stands you see in Frank's picture were the original stands from the first base side of the field with sideline almost representing the foul line going into right field.

[Husky Alum]

I thought that the stands that still exist were the right field grandstand, as shown in the black and white picture on the wikipedia link.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nickerson_Field

The son of one of the original owners of the Braves (Judge Emil Fuchs) was NU's head sports medicine for years and years (Job Fuchs).

[89Hen]

I thought that the stands that still exist were the right field grandstand, as shown in the black and white picture on the wikipedia link.
Yes, damn, you are right. xbowx They are the section at the right field foul pole. It's been a while since I looked at the photo. :o

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/ae/Braves_Field_and_Nickerson_Field.JPG

[89Hen]

I had a better picture somewhere that showed football being played on Braves Field, but here's a smaller one...

http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nfl/nengalnd/NickersonNe.JPG

[89Hen]

http://www.ballparktour.com/Braves_Field_903.jpghttp://www.ballparktour.com/braves.jpg

[GeeWiz]

They dropped baseball too.

No big loss there. They were awful.

What I remember about that '93 BU season was their 17-14 win over NU at Parsons.

NU should have won that game ... then again NU finds ways to lose a lot of games. xoopsx

[89Hen]

BTW, BU was lucky they missed the Hens that year. 1993 was in the middle of a 9 game win streak of the Hens over BU, that was the same year the Hens won in the first round in Montana, and the Hens love beating undefeated teams late in the year (right Colgate?) xsmiley_wix .

[Franks Tanks]

http://www.ballparktour.com/Braves_Field_903.jpghttp://www.ballparktour.com/braves.jpg

Thats really cool that the facade remains.

[URMite]

Part II - vs. Richmond. "It was like Grant taking Richmond once again".

God I hope Citdog watches this.

Hey, wait a minute! That was round two (or more)...I remember a 35-33 playoff against BU in '84 before heading up your way.

[Cobblestone]

Hey, wait a minute! That was round two (or more)...I remember a 35-33 playoff against BU in '84 before heading up your way.

Fond memories for me xnodx

Montana State the following week...not so fond. xnonono2x

[jpincince]

The current URI OC, my brother Chris Pincince, was the third string QB on that BU team, and when the first two QBs (Rob Daugherty and Greg Moore, I think?) got hurt in the Idaho game Chris came in and threw two TDs to bring BU to within 21-14. I don't think he had played all season before that, other than end-of-game type minutes. Given the momentum BU had then, Idaho was lucky BU didn't recover its last onside kick. Go here (http://journals.aol.com/capecoddersbl/TwoMinuteWarning/entries/2005/09/14/small-state-big-agony/365) and scroll down to December 1993 for a brief description of the game.

[yorkcountyUNHfan]

Absolutely, BU already has a fine stadium

http://football.ballparks.com/NCAA/Atlantic10/Boston/aerial.jpg

It really is a shame the Terriers dropped football.

I like how the visitors stands are in between the track and the field.xthumbsupx

[jpincince]

Also, in Part V you see a guy talk about how it could get better only by winning the national championship - that's Mike Pedone, an OLineman on that BU team and the current OC at Holy Cross.

[jpincince]

More from the Dan Allen (R.I.P.) and Tony Sparano (current Miami Dolphins HC) coaching trees - another player from that team, Pete Rossomando, is the new HC at the revived New Haven.

[Cobblestone]

More from the Dan Allen (R.I.P.) and Tony Sparano (current Miami Dolphins HC) coaching trees - another player from that team, Pete Rossomando, is the new HC at the revived New Haven.

Good to see New Haven has football again. Of course we both know who once coached there. xwhistlex xthumbsupx

[Cobblestone]

The current URI OC, my brother Chris Pincince, was the third string QB on that BU team, and when the first two QBs (Rob Daugherty and Greg Moore, I think?) got hurt in the Idaho game Chris came in and threw two TDs to bring BU to within 21-14. I don't think he had played all season before that, other than end-of-game type minutes. Given the momentum BU had then, Idaho was lucky BU didn't recover its last onside kick. Go here (http://journals.aol.com/capecoddersbl/TwoMinuteWarning/entries/2005/09/14/small-state-big-agony/365) and scroll down to December 1993 for a brief description of the game.

I like the job your brother is doing. xthumbsupx

Our DC needs to start doing just as good a job and Coach Rizzi's quote will start coming true.

[crunifan]

Eww...

Thank god I was only 7 and didn't care about football then. I don't think I could have handled that result. UNI sure knows how to give them away.

[URMite]

Fond memories for me xnodx

Montana State the following week...not so fond. xnonono2x

Not so much with me. xsmhx It seemed like we kept scoring the go ahead TD but to an ineligible receiver because the TE wouldn't line up right. xoopsx

Fond memories of the team (my JR yr) but not the game...

[Wmbgskip]

So....can NU ask BU to use their football field?:P

--Skip

[apaladin]

I remember Furman's only meeting with Boston U. in the '83 playoffs. Hard to believe it's been that long. I beleive BU was undefeated? I remember at that time BU had 33,000 students and FU had app. 2,500. Final score Fu 35 BU 16. Just goes to show you student body size has nothing to do with the football team.

[Mountain Panther]

That UNI team that lost in Boston had soooo much talent, only to lose to that midget quarterback.

[Husky Alum]

Thats really cool that the facade remains.

That's not the facade. That was the Braves' ticket office - it's now BU's Campus Police, I believe.