Holy Cross Needs to Embrace Catholic Schools in the NEC
Stonehill's rumored move to the Northeast Conference may necessitate more Holy Wars in the Bay State.
For years, one of the watermark rivalries of the Northeast college football season was Holy Cross-Boston College. New England’s two preeminent Catholic institutions battled nearly every year at Fenway Park and Braves Field for not only bragging rights but for national honors at times. For instance, in 1942 a Holy Cross victory spoiled Boston College’s Orange Bowl bid but saved their life as they avoided the tragic fire at the Cocoanut Grove Night Club.
However, times changed and the schools went in different directions with the rivalry ceasing in 1986. Since then, there has only been one meeting, a 62-14 win for the Eagles in 2018, with another meeting scheduled in 2023. Needless to say, Holy Cross-Boston College is now just another piece of forgotten Northeastern college football lore.
Yet, conference realignment has given hope for Holy Cross in the strangest of ways. No, another football member is not adding to the already stable base of the Patriot League, but Holy Cross has a chance to start a new Holy War with their NEC counterparts.
Yesterday, Stonehill joined the NEC. They joined Merrimack, Sacred Heart, and Duquesne as Catholic-football-playing institutions in the Northeast Conference.
Outside of the Patriot League, Holy Cross has lacked rivalries with Catholic opponents, as they have only met Sacred Heart three times with the last regular season meeting occurring in 2009 and Duquesne once since 1950.
Last season, Holy Cross hosted Merrimack in the first-ever meeting between the two schools. The schools meet again this year, but that is the last scheduled meeting as of now.
Stonehill and Merrimack need to have a permanent spot on Holy Cross’ schedule. Holy Cross has five non-conference games a year, and after their yearly games with Harvard and Yale, there is space for both NEC schools.
All three schools benefit from this arrangement. Holy Cross gets two natural in-state rivals, while Stonehill and Merrimack get yearly games with a storied program in the state who appeared in the Orange Bowl.
As we all know, rivalries make college football fun. Yet, schools such as Bryant are giving up regional rivalries as the conference realignment tides flow. A rivalry like Stonehill/Merrimack vs. Holy Cross would be a welcome throwback to the days of yore in Northeast college football.