2008 Woodie Awards
Column: The ultimate NU bracket
Issue date: 3/20/08 Section: Sports
Break out the highlighters and pencils, call friends and bother your co-workers - March Madness starts today!
It also marks the end of the best Husky season - winter. Every weekend there was something to look forward to, particularly this past winter, when the men's hockey team surprised all of Hockey East with a hot November.
Now it's over. What can a Husky fan possibly do? Of course, there are the baseball and track seasons, and spring football is just around the corner. But for those yearning for more, I've devised a new type of tournament - the all-time greatest Huskies. Four regions with four competitors per region. Factors considered are Husky career and life post-Huntington Avenue.
Parsons Field Region
Reggie Lewis (1) vs. Tim Gale (4)
As can be expected of all top-seed against lowest-seed matchups, this one is no contest from the start. Give Gale credit, his hard-nosed running and leadership was more valuable to the football team than his statistics (third all time with 2,860 rushing yards, second in rushing touchdowns with 36). But Lewis may possibly be the best Husky athlete ever, and his icon status in nearby Roxbury makes him invaluable to the community. That, and being the all-time leader in points, first-round draft pick of the Celtics and subsequent captain of the Celts' make for a strong resume.
Bruce Racine (2) vs. Jim Calhoun (3)
Yes, Calhoun was never a player, but he did lead the Huskies to five NCAA tournament appearances in his 14 years as coach of the men's basketball team. Not to be outdone, Racine's legacy as the last Husky to earn Beanpot MVP honors makes him a sentimental choice in Northeastern's current Beanpot Championship drought. The verdict? I choose Racine over Calhoun, simply because Calhoun will be remembered for what he did after leaving Huntington Avenue at UConn, but Racine will be a legend forever.
Matthews Arena Region
Carlos Pena (1) vs. Liam Ezekial (4)
It also marks the end of the best Husky season - winter. Every weekend there was something to look forward to, particularly this past winter, when the men's hockey team surprised all of Hockey East with a hot November.
Now it's over. What can a Husky fan possibly do? Of course, there are the baseball and track seasons, and spring football is just around the corner. But for those yearning for more, I've devised a new type of tournament - the all-time greatest Huskies. Four regions with four competitors per region. Factors considered are Husky career and life post-Huntington Avenue.
Parsons Field Region
Reggie Lewis (1) vs. Tim Gale (4)
As can be expected of all top-seed against lowest-seed matchups, this one is no contest from the start. Give Gale credit, his hard-nosed running and leadership was more valuable to the football team than his statistics (third all time with 2,860 rushing yards, second in rushing touchdowns with 36). But Lewis may possibly be the best Husky athlete ever, and his icon status in nearby Roxbury makes him invaluable to the community. That, and being the all-time leader in points, first-round draft pick of the Celtics and subsequent captain of the Celts' make for a strong resume.
Bruce Racine (2) vs. Jim Calhoun (3)
Yes, Calhoun was never a player, but he did lead the Huskies to five NCAA tournament appearances in his 14 years as coach of the men's basketball team. Not to be outdone, Racine's legacy as the last Husky to earn Beanpot MVP honors makes him a sentimental choice in Northeastern's current Beanpot Championship drought. The verdict? I choose Racine over Calhoun, simply because Calhoun will be remembered for what he did after leaving Huntington Avenue at UConn, but Racine will be a legend forever.
Matthews Arena Region
Carlos Pena (1) vs. Liam Ezekial (4)
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