The Top 5 Best Boston College Sports Moments of 2014
By Joe Micik
Feb 19, 2014; Syracuse, NY, USA; The Boston College Eagles bench celebrates after beating the Syracuse Orange at the Carrier Dome 62-59 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
2014 Top 5 Best Boston College Sports Moments — #1
Boston College basketball beats #1 Syracuse; February 19
Boston College sports’ top moment of 2014 literally came out of nowhere.
The Eagles took a trip to Syracuse to face the nation’s number one team in the middle of February. At the time, Boston College had lost five in a row and was a dismal 6-19 overall. In the midst of one of their worst seasons in program history, the Eagles had a tough task.
Perhaps there were some signs that favor was smiling on the Eagles. First, Boston College had just lost Dick Kelley, their former Sports Information Director, who passed away after a brave fight with ALS. With the team very emotional after losing such a great Eagle lifer, their cheering section from above was set.
Second, Syracuse, though 25-0 entering the game, was starting to show cracks. In several of the previous games, they struggled to put away Notre Dame, Pitt, and NC State and were starting to win by the skin of their teeth.
Boston College Eagles
Syracuse losing eventually seemed a given, but to a 6-19 Boston College team?
With 12:40 to play, Syracuse led the Eagles by 11, 37 to 26. An Olivier Hanlan three started the comeback, which saw Ryan Anderson tie the game minutes later. Boston College would go on to take the lead prior to the end of regulation, but a bit of a back and forth ensued. The two teams were destined to go to overtime.
The extra period saw more see-sawing, but Patrick Heckmann’s layup with 46 seconds left put the Eagles ahead for good, and Lonnie Jackson sealed it at the free throw line. Boston College went on the road and had their first win over #1 in five years.
Given the sort of year Boston College had, nobody saw this coming, but even if for a night, the program was back on the map. They did it for Dick Kelley, and they did it for the pride of our school.