Boston University Terriers

Last updated
Boston University Terriers
Boston University Terriers logo.svg
UniversityBoston University
Conference Patriot League (primary)
Hockey East (ice hockey)
EARC (rowing)
NCAA Division I
Athletic directorDrew Marrochello [1]
Location Boston, Massachusetts
Varsity teams24 (10 men, 14 women)
Football stadium Nickerson Field (1953–97)
Basketball arena Case Gym
Ice hockey arena Agganis Arena
MascotRhett the Boston Terrier
NicknameTerriers
Fight song Go BU
ColorsScarlet and white [2]
   
Website goterriers.com
Boston terriers wordmark 2015.png

The Boston University Terriers are the ten men's and fourteen women's varsity athletic teams representing Boston University in NCAA Division I competition. Boston University's team nickname is the Terriers, and the official mascot is Rhett the Boston Terrier. The school colors are Scarlet and White. [3]

Contents

The majority of Boston University's teams compete as members of the Patriot League, with the ice hockey teams competing in Hockey East and rowing competing in the EARC.

Conference change

On July 1, 2013, Boston University left the America East Conference and joined the Patriot League. [4]

Sports sponsored

Men's sportsWomen's sports
Basketball Basketball
Cross countryCross country
Ice hockey Field hockey
Lacrosse Golf
Rowing Ice hockey
SoccerLacrosse
Swimming & divingLightweight rowing
TennisRowing
Track & fieldSoccer
Softball
Swimming & diving
Tennis
Track & field
† – Track and field includes both indoor and outdoor.

Boston University is one of 4 NCAA Division I schools to not sponsor at least one of women's volleyball or baseball (The other 3 being Detroit Mercy, Drexel, and Vermont).

Ice hockey

Boston University's ice hockey team is the most successful sports program at the school, with five national championships (1971, 1972, 1978, 1995, 2009) and 21 appearances in the Frozen Four. The Terriers have also been the national runners-up five times, and have won five ECAC tournament championships and seven Hockey East tournament championships. Many of Boston University's hockey players have gone on to successful careers in the NHL.

Since 1984 the Terriers have played in the Hockey East conference, along with crosstown arch-rivals Boston College (BC). The series with Boston College is known as the Green Line Rivalry or the Battle of Commonwealth Avenue. Under long-time coach and former player, Jack Parker, Boston University excelled in the 1990s, winning six Hockey East regular season titles, four Hockey East tournament titles, the 1995 National Championship and three National runner-up trophies. Boston University missed the Frozen Four for 11 consecutive seasons beginning in 1998 but returned to glory by winning the national championship in 2009.

Boston University has dominated the annual Beanpot tournament, which has been contested by the four Boston metro area-based collegiate teams – the others being BC, Northeastern and Harvard – since the 1952–53 season. The televised tourney is a local institution, played in front of annual sellouts at the TD Garden, and is a fierce battle for bragging rights. As of 2010, the Terriers have won 29 of 58 Beanpots and 12 of the last 16.

Other varsity sports

For most other sports, Boston University competes in the Patriot League. The men's basketball team earned post-season berths in the NCAA tournament or NIT four straight seasons between 2002 and 2005 and also in 2011. They are known to have a rivalry with the Albany Great Danes and the Vermont Catamounts. The program is notable for grooming big name college coaches such as Rick Pitino, Mike Jarvis, and Patrick Chambers.

The Terriers also have a history of national success in men's and women's soccer, women's tennis,field hockey, and women's lacrosse. The men's and women's rowing teams compete in the EARC and EAWRC respectively, the oldest and most competitive conference in collegiate rowing. The women's tennis team has won the most conference titles of any varsity sport at Boston University, holding 28 conference titles across the America East and Patriot League Conferences. In 1991 and 1992 the women's rowing team won back-to-back national championships. From 1884 to 1997, the Terriers also had an American football team.

Championships

National team championships

Conference championships

Men's conference championships

Women's conference championships

Facilities

In 2005, Boston University opened Agganis Arena for hockey and basketball, named after alumnus and Boston Red Sox first baseman Harry Agganis. The facility was designed as a hockey arena: a departure from Boston University's Walter Brown Arena which had the smallest playing ice in Division I. Depending on its configuration, Agganis Arena can seat up to 8,000 people, so it is sometimes utilized for events that would be too small for the 18,624-seat TD Garden.

Other facilities include the indoor Track and Tennis Center and the Fitness and Recreation Center ("FitRec"), which includes a pool and diving well for the swim teams. The 200-meter indoor track is modeled on the previous high-banked Armory track, which attracted programs looking to run fast times. The turns, banked up to 18.5 degrees help runners push through turns at normal speed and rhythm, and can produce many personal indoor bests. The Track and Tennis Center hosts the annual BU Invitational. At the 2018 BU Valentine Invitational, Edward Cheserek ran a 3:49.44 mile to become the second-fastest indoor mile runner of all time. [6]

Soccer and lacrosse are played on the artificial surface of Nickerson Field. Field hockey competes at New Balance Field.

Mascot

Boston University terrier.jpg
Rhett, an early incarnation of the unofficial mascot, being walked around inside the College of Arts and Sciences
R2 The Terrier.jpg
Rhett II "Artoo", a current incarnation of Rhett the Boston Terrier

Rhett the Boston Terrier is the official costumed mascot of Boston University and the Boston University Academy. In November 1922, the Boston Terrier dog breed was chosen as the university's mascot in a student vote, winning over the alternatives of a bull (male) moose or elephant. [7] Aside from the breed's longtime association with the city of Boston, the breed was first bred in the United States in 1869, the year of Boston University's chartering. [8]

In October 1925, the Boston University football team adopted a terrier pup named Pep to serve as its mascot, though it was referred to as "Kappa" by BU News, the university's newspaper, in an October 1927 issue. In 1933, Boston University students purchased another terrier named Danny to become the new mascot. Following Danny's death from drowning in the Charles River, another terrier named Danny II was purchased in November 1935. After Danny II ran away, a terrier pup was donated to Boston University Dean Atlee L. Percy in October 1949 and named Gulliver in a student vote. In 1956, Boston University acquired its next Boston Terrier mascot dog, which was initially named Fumbles before being renamed to Touchdown. [8]

In 1969, the current mascot dog, Terrier III, died without a replacement being purchased until 1980. When Boston University unveiled a costumed mascot at a home football game in November 1983, it was named Rhett, referencing Rhett Butler's affection for Scarlett O'Hara in Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind since Boston University's primary color is scarlet. The mascot costume has been changed in 1996, 2004, and 2008. [8]

In 2008, alumnus Calvin Iwanicki named his Boston Terrier pet dog Rhett, often showcasing him across campus buildings as the university's unofficial mascot. After Rhett's death in March 2020, Iwanicki purchased another Boston Terrier pup in August 2020, which he named Rhett the Second and nicknamed as Artoo. [9]

Rhett's nemesis is Baldwin, the Boston College eagle.[ citation needed ] Rhett has participated in several ESPN "This is SportsCenter" commercials [10] and competed three times in the Universal Cheerleading Association's mascot nationals, placing as high as fourth in 2002. He was also named an All-American in 1996 and "Boston's Top Mascot" in 1998.[ citation needed ]

During the 2020 George Floyd protests, Boston University President Robert A. Brown appointed a committee to consider renaming the mascot based on complaints that Rhett Butler's character associated with the Confederate States of America and sexual assault. [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patriot League</span> U.S. college athletic conference

The Patriot League is a collegiate athletic conference comprising private institutions of higher education and two United States service academies based in the Northeastern United States. Except for the Ivy League, it is the most selective group of higher education institutions in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I and has a very high student-athlete graduation rate for both the NCAA graduation success rate and the federal graduation rate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ECAC Hockey</span> American collegiate ice hockey conference

ECAC Hockey is one of the six conferences that compete in NCAA Division I ice hockey. The conference used to be affiliated with the Eastern College Athletic Conference, a consortium of over 300 colleges in the eastern United States. This relationship ended in 2004; however, the ECAC abbreviation was retained in the name of the hockey conference. ECAC Hockey is the only ice hockey conference with identical memberships in both its women's and men's divisions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agganis Arena</span> Arena in Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Agganis Arena is a 7,200-seat multi-purpose arena in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, on the campus of Boston University, built on the location of the former Commonwealth Armory. It is home to the five-time national champion Boston University Terriers men's ice hockey team. It is named after Harry Agganis, a football and baseball player for BU. The ice hockey rink is named Jack Parker Rink, after the legendary BU hockey player and coach. The arena is part of Boston University's John Hancock Student Village, which also includes dormitories and the university's five-story Fitness and Recreation Center.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boston College Eagles</span> Intercollegiate sports teams of Boston College

The Boston College Eagles are the athletic teams that represent Boston College, located in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. They compete as a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level, primarily competing in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cornell Big Red</span> Intercollegiate sports teams of Cornell University

The Cornell Big Red is the informal name of the sports and other competitive teams that represent Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. The university sponsors 37 varsity sports, and several intramural and club teams. Cornell participates in NCAA Division I as part of the Ivy League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Texas Longhorns</span> Intercollegiate sports teams of the University of Texas at Austin

The Texas Longhorns are the athletic teams representing the University of Texas at Austin. The teams are sometimes referred to as the Horns and take their name from Longhorn cattle that were an important part of the development of Texas, and are now the official "large animal" of the state of Texas. Generally, both the men's and women's teams are referred to as the Longhorns, and the mascot is a Texas Longhorn steer named Bevo. The Longhorns have consistently been ranked as the biggest brand in collegiate athletics, in both department size and breadth of appeal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Green Line Rivalry</span> American college sports rivalry

The Green Line Rivalry, also known as the B-Line Rivalry, the Battle of Boston and Battle of Commonwealth Avenue, is the name for the sports rivalry between Boston College and Boston University. The rivalry is named after the Green Line, a light rail line that runs along Commonwealth Avenue and links the two schools as part of the MBTA, Boston's public transit system. The two campuses lie less than five miles apart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arizona Wildcats</span> University of Arizona athletic teams

The Arizona Wildcats are the athletic teams that represent the University of Arizona, located in Tucson. The Wildcats compete at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level as a member of the Big 12 Conference. Arizona's chief intercollegiate rival is the Arizona State Sun Devils, and the two universities' athletic departments compete against each other in multiple sports via the State Farm Territorial Cup Series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walter Brown Arena</span> Sports arena in Boston, Massachusetts

Walter Brown Arena is a 3,806-seat multi-purpose arena in Boston, Massachusetts. It is home to the Boston University Terriers women's ice hockey team and hosted the men's team before they moved to Agganis Arena. It is named in honor of Walter A. Brown, the original owner of the Boston Celtics, former president of the Boston Bruins and second manager of the Boston Garden. The arena is part of the Harold Case Physical Education Center, which includes Case Gym directly above the arena, as well as the former home of student recreation before the opening of the John Hancock Student Village. The building lies in the general area of the left field pavilion seats at the former Braves Field, whose right field pavilion and a portion of the field have been converted to neighboring Nickerson Field.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California Golden Bears</span> Intercollegiate sports teams of the University of California, Berkeley

The California Golden Bears are the athletic teams that represent the University of California, Berkeley. Referred to in athletic competition as California or Cal, the university fields 30 varsity athletic programs and various club teams in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)'s Division I primarily as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), and for a limited number of sports as a member of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF). In 2014, Cal instituted a strict academic standard for an athlete's admission to the university. By the 2017 academic year 80 percent of incoming student athletes were required to comply with the University of California general student requirement of having a 3.0 or higher high school grade point average.

Jack Parker is an American ice hockey coach, who previously served as the head coach of the Boston University Terriers men's ice hockey team. The 2012–13 hockey season was Parker's 40th and final season as head coach of the Terriers, and his 47th overall at the school as a player or coach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kent State Golden Flashes</span> Intercollegiate sports teams of Kent State University

The Kent State Golden Flashes are the athletic teams that represent Kent State University. The university fields 19 varsity athletic teams in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division I level with football competing in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Kent State is a full member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) and has been part of the MAC East division since it was created in 1998. Official school colors are Kent State Blue and Kent State Gold.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northeastern Huskies</span> Intercollegiate sports teams of Northeastern University

The Northeastern Huskies are the athletic teams representing Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. They compete in thirteen varsity team sports: men's and women's hockey ; men's baseball, men's and women's basketball, women's field hockey and volleyball, swimming, and men's and women's soccer, and men's and women's rowing, track and cross-country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boston University Terriers men's ice hockey</span> Ice hockey team

The Boston University Terriers men’s ice hockey team is the college ice hockey team that represents Boston University. They played their first game in 1918 and have won five national championships, while making 24 appearances in the Frozen Four.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holy Cross Crusaders</span> Athletic teams representing the College of the Holy Cross

The Holy Cross Crusaders are the athletic teams representing the College of the Holy Cross. They compete in NCAA Division I, primarily as members of the Patriot League. In ice hockey, a sport not sponsored by the Patriot League for either sex, the Crusaders are members of two other leagues, with men competing in the Atlantic Hockey Association and women in Hockey East. The men's rowing team is part of the Eastern Association of Rowing Colleges. Of its 27 varsity teams, Holy Cross supports 13 men's and 14 women's sports, giving Holy Cross the largest ratio of teams-per-enrollment in the country. Holy Cross's athletic teams for both men and women are known as the Crusaders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Long Beach State athletics</span> Collegiate athletic teams of California State University, Long Beach

Long Beach State athletics, or simply Beach athletics, are the athletic teams that represent California State University, Long Beach. Teams compete in 19 sports at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level. Long Beach State is a founding member of the Big West Conference, and also competes in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation and the Golden Coast Conference for sports not sponsored by the Big West.

Kelly Greenberg was forced to resign as head coach at Boston University in 2014 amid multiple charges of abusing players, ending her coaching career. Allegations that she mistreated players first surfaced in 2007 when the coach admitted she made some serious mistakes that she deeply regretted. When four players left the team in 2014, an internal investigation concluded that "the manner in which Coach Greenberg interacted with many of her players was incompatible with the expectations and standards for university employees, including our coaches."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boston University Terriers women's ice hockey</span> College ice hockey team

The Boston University Terriers women's ice hockey represent Boston University. The Terriers play in the Hockey East conference. From 2010 to 2015, the Terriers won five Hockey East Championships and made six consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Merrimack Warriors</span> Athletic teams representing Merrimack College

The Merrimack Warriors are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent Merrimack College, located in North Andover, Massachusetts, in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) sporting competitions. All of the Warrior athletic teams compete at the Division I level. Men's and women's ice hockey compete in the Hockey East conference and football competes as an FCS Independent, while the remaining teams are members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bridgewater State Bears</span> Athletic teams representing Bridgewater State University

The Bridgewater State Bears are composed of 22 varsity teams representing Bridgewater State University in intercollegiate athletics. All teams compete at the NCAA Division III level and all teams compete in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC), except for field hockey, tennis and swimming & diving which plays in the Little East Conference (LEC).

References

  1. "GoTerriers.com - The Official Site of Boston University Athletics". www.goterriers.com. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  2. "Boston University Master Logo" . Retrieved April 7, 2015.
  3. "University Colors Become Official". www.bu.edu. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  4. "Boston University Officially Joins the Patriot League". Boston University.
  5. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2017-03-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. "Chris Chavez on Twitter". twitter.com. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  7. "Rhett the Terrier, Through the Years". Boston University . 2018-03-20. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
  8. 1 2 3 "BU Mascot: A Brief History" (PDF). Boston University . Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  9. "There's a New Rhett in Town". The Daily Free Press . 2020-08-29. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
  10. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine : "Rhett on SportsCenter". YouTube .
  11. Pedro, Portia (2024). "Resistance Proceduralism: A Prologue to Theorizing Procedural Subordination". Washington and Lee Law Review . 80 (5): 2039–2081 via Washington and Lee University.