Page 10 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, January 15, 2021 A wild night indeed: the time BC football beat Alabama at Sullivan Stadium A Forrest Gump-like remembrance of that Flutie Era win on Nov. 25, 1983 By Steve Freker W hen you look at Alabama Crimson Tide football these days, it is not simply a matter of the biblical David and Goliath matchup when an opponent ventures onto its path in most years. Nick Saban has transformed ’Bama back into a college football National Championship factory, with its modest recent title just a few days old after the 2020-21 Tide annihilated an exceptionally good Ohio State team Monday night in New Orleans, a 52-24 wipeout win. No, they don’t win it every year, it just seems that way. We do know they are always the favorite, and they have been for probably every single game they’ve stepped on the field the past 11 or 12 seasons, at least since 2009 when they won their fi rst National Championship since the Bear Bryant days at ’Bama. The latest title Monday night got me to thinking, and a fantastic memory jogged back into the front of my mind. Does anyone recall the fi rst and only time Alabama football came north of the Mason-Dixon Line to play Boston College on Eagle home turf... and LOST?! I do. It was on the evening of November 25, 1983, a Friday night and the night after Thanksgiving... And I Was There! That’s right. In one of my many “Forrest Gump-like” appearances, I was in attendance at that windy, rain-swept, dreary weather matchup in good old Sullivan Stadium (where the practice bubble for Gillette Stadium now sits), the original home of the New England Patriots. A very memorable “I Was There” moment I’ve actually had many “I Was There” moments in Boston (and some national) sports history in terms of attendance. But those are stories for another day. Although, just for context, yes, “I Was There” in December 1982, just under a year earlier (when it was still called “Schaefer Stadium”) for the notorious Patriots-Dolphins 3-0 “snow plow” game, too!) This one certainly was up there in importance, for sure – with Cowboy Jack Bicknell’s BC Eagles on one side and future Patriots assistant coach Ray Perkins leading Alabama on the other sideline; this was a national level game at the time. CBS televised in nationally, a big deal in college in those days, nothing like it is today. Doug Flutie was in the midst of building his legend in his junior year when he led Boston College (BC) football to a comeback 20-13, upset win over visiting #13-ranked Alabama at then-Sullivan Stadium in Foxborough, one of the biggest wins in BC history. (Courtesy Photo) When #13-ranked Alabama came to Foxborough in 1983 to play #15-ranked Boston College, its fi rst-year head coach Ray Perkins, above, had mighty big shoes to fi ll since he was replacing the most iconic and winningest coach in Crimson Tide history, Bear Bryant. (Courtesy Photo) Here is Malden High School Hall of Famer quarterback Steve Monaco (12), the Golden Tornadoes’ all-time leading passer, making a handoff in the 1983 Thanksgiving Day Game, which was the 96th game in the Malden-Medford series. Just over 24 hours later, he was at Sullivan Stadium, taking in the BCAlabama showdown. (Courtesy/Maldonian) When the BC-Alabama game was played on November 25, ~ Home of the Week ~ STONEHAM - UPDATED CORNER UNIT Located at BROOKMEADOW CONDOS. Featuring 5 rooms, 2 bedrooms, 2 full baths, new kitchen with quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, new ceramic tile floor, new carpeting throughout, freshly painted and new light fixtures. Convenient, in-unit laundry, private balcony over looking quite side street. One deeded parking space (112) and visitor parking. Convenient location minutes from major routes, pet friendly complex. Offered at $365,000 335 Central Street, Saugus, MA 01906 (781) 233-7300 View all our listings at: CarpenitoRealEstate.com View the interior of this home right on your smartphone. 1983, the Patriots’ home fi eld in Foxborough had been renamed “Sullivan Stadium” just a few months earlier by its new sponsor, Anheuser Busch, in honor of its longtime owner, Billy Sullivan. When it opened in 1971, it was christened “Schaefer Stadium” by its original naming rights sponsor, Schaefer Beer. (Courtesy Photo) Talk about pressure and a target on his back – Perkins was in his fi rst year as Alabama head coach – succeeding to that point the most legendary college football head coach in history, Bear Bryant, who had won more national titles than any coach ever, six of them. Alabama had come out of the gate on fi re in 1983, winning four straight and rising as high as #3 in the national polls before a pair of tough losses to then #3 Penn State and #11 Tennessee knocked them back down them down to #18. But Perkins and the Tide roared back with three straight wins over three more Top 20 opponents to climb back to #13. Alabama that year was like many in the old-school collegiate days, playing at monster strength of schedule. How many teams these days play an entire season of ranked, Top 20 opponents as the Tide did in 1983? At 7-2 coming into the BC game, Alabama was a big favorite on the road “up North” over the Eagles. SPORTS | SEE PAGE 14
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