Boston College Athletics
Senior Day: An Annual Football Tradition
November 25, 2014 | Football
At Saturday's football game against Syracuse, Boston College will say thank you to 22 seniors who will be playing their final game at Alumni Stadium (12:30 p.m. TV: NESN/RSN. Radio: WEEI 93.7 FM).
Many of the seniors have been at The Heights since at least 2011 - with some here since 2010, and others only for about a year - and have served as cornerstones on second-year head coach Steve Addazio's young squad.
"This group has really had to come out of their shells to develop, form and galvanize. It's been a real work in progress"
But Saturday will be the beginning of the end for the seniors. With finals looming after Thanksgiving and a still-yet-to-be-determined bowl game for late December or early January on the horizon, the seniors are headed into the dusk of their Eagle careers.
Prior to the `Cuse game, the 22 seniors will be recognized and walked on to the field by their families. Always an emotional experience, even Addazio understands the weight of the moment.
"You watch those guys coming at you and you process what they have been through and you see their parents. And they were just so young and now it's like, wow, that athletic journey is over," Addazio said. "I get all that. I'm a sentimental person to begin with. It's a big thing for all involved."
"It hasn't hit me yet and I'm hoping it won't until real late. But I know once we sing that fight song after the win, it's going to crush me a little bit," graduate offensive lineman Bobby Vardaro admitted. "I've been trying not to think about it as much as possible, but it's coming. The season's gone by fast and it's a weird feeling."
The Eagles will have four to five weeks of football activities still on the docket after Saturday's game, but soon they will start to realize their collegiate careers are ending. And Addazio says that's all part of the process ... and part of the team's motivation for Saturday.
"I think kids don't usually realize that it's all coming to an end until now and it happens. They come back three months later and they're overwhelmed by how much they miss it. I hope they can use the emotion as a motivation and not a distraction."
Vardaro added, "[We have to have] a strong focus on the game. I know I won't be able to keep [my emotions] in check after the game, but I have to not think about my last game and just think about beating Syracuse and getting a little payback for last year."
This week, Addazio plans to have his seniors say a few words to the rest of the team. It's their chance to say what BC football - and their teammates - have meant to them.
"It's one of my favorite times of the year in a sad way," Addazio admitted. "I have the seniors to get up and talk to the team before their last regular-season game. It's interesting to hear them talk a little bit. Those are those cool moments that games like this produce."
Addazio came to Chestnut Hill in the spring of 2013, taking over a program that went 2-10 the season before. His senior class has seen the highs and lows, and been there as Addazio and his staff have started to turn around the BC program.
"[The seniors] have been rewarded, they've played in two bowl games. They are able to walk out of here being able to say that they helped turn around the program. Those are big positives, and it wasn't easy ...
"I hope our fans and alumni are proud of our team," Addazio said.
And for the seniors on Saturday, the entire Boston College football community should be proud of their efforts on behalf of the program and the school.
