Nicholas Palamidis: Embodying FTT With BC Football
September 20, 2023 | Football, #ForBoston Files
Toughness through teamwork is exactly what the Eagles receive in their new Team Impact teammate.
Boston College prides itself on standing for something bigger than a person's individual accomplishment. Its entire university is built on the Jesuit mission of "men and women for others," and the athletics programs open the front door to the school's concept of toughness through teamwork. They live and breathe for each other beyond the wins and losses, and the mottos and attitudes are woven into the fabric of every brick at Conte Forum and Alumni Stadium.
Playing for the Eagles isn't for everybody, but the commitment to the maroon and gold is a lifelong bloodline for anyone willing to sign their letter of intent. On Monday afternoon, the football team received its latest and arguably its most important recruit when 12-year old Nicholas Palamidis and his family joined athletics director Blake James and head coach Jeff Hafley for a signing ceremony and jersey presentation conducted with Team IMPACT at BC's Yawkey Center.
"I love to bring the energy," Nicholas said during his first media scrum following the ceremony. "If you ever become my friend or a part of my life, you always have to have that type of excitement. I'm just excited to be around it [with BC], and it's going to be awesome."
Nick's ceremony brought BC's football team into the Barber Room for a special event decked fully in some of the Eagles' most elite company. Seated at the center of a table in the auditorium-shaped room, he flanked both Hafley and linebacker Joe Marinaro while his parents and James looked on from the ends. A video message from Los Angeles Charger and former Eagle Zion Johnson played, and he formally inked his name onto the letter of intent after hearing from the former Eagle and Los Angeles Chargers first round pick.
"The first time he came on his visit," Hafley said, "he sat in my office and had a huge smile on his face. He was just excited to be there, and it continued throughout practice. The first time he walked out onto the field, he was instructing our [defensive backs] on footwork, and I think he might have done it better than I could have taught them how to do it."
More directly to the newest member of his team, Hafley said, "You ran around and talked to the players with this endless energy and excitement. It kept on building to the point where now after and during our games, when I'm ready to go into the locker room and you give me that hug, I look forward to that as much as you could ever imagine. It makes me feel great to see that smile, and I feel that confidence."
Nick then received his own No. 10 jersey emblazoned with his name, and the rest of his new teammates joined him for a full picture at the front of the room. By receiving the uniform, he now shares a number with redshirt sophomore defensive back Jalen Cheek and freshman wide receiver Reed Harris, and he follows in the tradition of BC greats Mark Hartsell, Ty Schwab, Brandon Sebastian and Bobby Swigert.
"We're always looking for people who bring infectious energy," James said. "People who bring great analytics and a lot of thought, people who have a real pride and passion. We talk about excellence in academics, in athletics, and in life, and when we have an opportunity to sign someone who can elevate our program, it's always a huge win. For us as a program, this is our eighth team signing and 23rd overall [at BC], which puts us at the top of the country [with Team IMPACT], and [Nick is] going with one of the best teams in the country here as well."
Team IMPACT's mission is an incalculable resource for college programs and families throughout the country. It matches children with serious illnesses or disabilities with college sports teams while creating the long-term, life-changing experience for all parties involved. The multiyear program guides children and the teams into an empowering relationship while creating a transformational world built around the greater purpose. What started just over a decade ago is now a network of teams who help children and their families in their respective battles and fights.
For BC football, Nick is exactly that character, and the enthusiasm offered on Monday was evident from a young man fighting through a brain tumor. He was a natural behind the microphone and well-spoken to the media, and the light in the room got a little bit larger for Hafley and all those who have come to represent Boston College football and Team IMPACT.
"It's shocking in a way because BC is a big college and this is a very cool experience," Nick said. "I know what it's like to be in their position and what it's like to be them with hard work every single day. They have to do it with classes and football and stress, and I know what that's like."
For more information about how families and schools are matched through Team IMPACT, visit the organization's website at teamimpact.org.
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Playing for the Eagles isn't for everybody, but the commitment to the maroon and gold is a lifelong bloodline for anyone willing to sign their letter of intent. On Monday afternoon, the football team received its latest and arguably its most important recruit when 12-year old Nicholas Palamidis and his family joined athletics director Blake James and head coach Jeff Hafley for a signing ceremony and jersey presentation conducted with Team IMPACT at BC's Yawkey Center.
"I love to bring the energy," Nicholas said during his first media scrum following the ceremony. "If you ever become my friend or a part of my life, you always have to have that type of excitement. I'm just excited to be around it [with BC], and it's going to be awesome."
Nick's ceremony brought BC's football team into the Barber Room for a special event decked fully in some of the Eagles' most elite company. Seated at the center of a table in the auditorium-shaped room, he flanked both Hafley and linebacker Joe Marinaro while his parents and James looked on from the ends. A video message from Los Angeles Charger and former Eagle Zion Johnson played, and he formally inked his name onto the letter of intent after hearing from the former Eagle and Los Angeles Chargers first round pick.
"The first time he came on his visit," Hafley said, "he sat in my office and had a huge smile on his face. He was just excited to be there, and it continued throughout practice. The first time he walked out onto the field, he was instructing our [defensive backs] on footwork, and I think he might have done it better than I could have taught them how to do it."
More directly to the newest member of his team, Hafley said, "You ran around and talked to the players with this endless energy and excitement. It kept on building to the point where now after and during our games, when I'm ready to go into the locker room and you give me that hug, I look forward to that as much as you could ever imagine. It makes me feel great to see that smile, and I feel that confidence."
Nick then received his own No. 10 jersey emblazoned with his name, and the rest of his new teammates joined him for a full picture at the front of the room. By receiving the uniform, he now shares a number with redshirt sophomore defensive back Jalen Cheek and freshman wide receiver Reed Harris, and he follows in the tradition of BC greats Mark Hartsell, Ty Schwab, Brandon Sebastian and Bobby Swigert.
"We're always looking for people who bring infectious energy," James said. "People who bring great analytics and a lot of thought, people who have a real pride and passion. We talk about excellence in academics, in athletics, and in life, and when we have an opportunity to sign someone who can elevate our program, it's always a huge win. For us as a program, this is our eighth team signing and 23rd overall [at BC], which puts us at the top of the country [with Team IMPACT], and [Nick is] going with one of the best teams in the country here as well."
Team IMPACT's mission is an incalculable resource for college programs and families throughout the country. It matches children with serious illnesses or disabilities with college sports teams while creating the long-term, life-changing experience for all parties involved. The multiyear program guides children and the teams into an empowering relationship while creating a transformational world built around the greater purpose. What started just over a decade ago is now a network of teams who help children and their families in their respective battles and fights.
For BC football, Nick is exactly that character, and the enthusiasm offered on Monday was evident from a young man fighting through a brain tumor. He was a natural behind the microphone and well-spoken to the media, and the light in the room got a little bit larger for Hafley and all those who have come to represent Boston College football and Team IMPACT.
"It's shocking in a way because BC is a big college and this is a very cool experience," Nick said. "I know what it's like to be in their position and what it's like to be them with hard work every single day. They have to do it with classes and football and stress, and I know what that's like."
For more information about how families and schools are matched through Team IMPACT, visit the organization's website at teamimpact.org.
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