Top 12 Boston College Sports Figures in 2012
By Joe Micik
Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Over the course of the year, dozens, if not hundreds of names of those associated with Boston College sports arise. It could be for any number of reasons, good or bad, but these are the faces we saw associated with the program in a big or otherwise meaningful way. These are the people we rooted for, on the field or on a personal level, or couldn’t wait to see go away.
Ladies and gentlemen, the top twelve Boston College sports figures of 2012.
12. Alex Amidon | Wide receiver, football
Prior to the 2012 football season, Alex Amidon was regarded as a reliable target of quarterback Chase Rettig, but perhaps not the main target. Circumstance forced him into that role in 2012, and all he did was break two team receiving records. Rettig has one more year with him in 2013, so while another record-breaking season can’t be counted on, Amidon could give the new BC offense some needed yardage.
11. Steve Donahue | Head coach, men’s basketball
Donahue has gotten quite a bit of personal attention during the course of this calendar year. His team is deep into a rebuild but there is a growing desire to see some results (and one way or another, BC will get a chance to prove themselves as ACC play begins in January). The coach has been under fire as the Eagles got off to another slow start, but their recent win streak may finally be indicative of a turnaround. With the core of the basketball team getting older, Donahue will have to continue winning with this team in the years to come.
10. Pete Frates | Former player, baseball
Frates reentered the consciousness of Boston College fans this year for a reason for which none of us wished. This former Eagle was diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, and ever since has been one of the leading faces in the sports world in ALS research. Boston College athletes past and present have joined with him in his cause, which is a sincerely worthy one for alumni.
9. Chris Kreider | Former player, men’s hockey
Mr. Kreider had a pretty good 2012 by all accounts. He started it by winning another Beanpot, then another Hockey East title, and then another national championship. Just weeks after donning the maroon and gold for one final team, he went directly to the NHL and was scoring playoff goals for the New York Rangers. Had the Blueshirts won the cup, he would have been the first player to win a college national championship and a Stanley Cup in the same calendar year, but alas.
8. Chase Rettig | Quarterback, football
The final statistics don’t necessarily do justice to the sort of season Chase Rettig had, but whatever one’s view on his performance, he was most certainly one of the more talked-about personalities in BC sports this year. Every year he has been here, he has had a new offensive coordinator and a new system to learn, but even if he doesn’t have his great days, he unquestionably gives his best. All will look to him to get this thing going in his senior year.
7. Steve Addazio | Head coach, football
#7 on the list is pretty good for someone who just arrived this month. Addazio’s hiring came as a shock to most as BC Athletics kept his presence in the process a total secret, but as soon as he arrived, things began to experience needed change. New coaches cycled in and there is some cautious optimism about recruiting and the general path forward for this program.