The Red Bandana Tradition: Honoring Welles Crowther at Boston College Football
For over two decades, the story of Welles Crowther, a Boston College alumnus who saved approximately a dozen lives during the September 11 attacks, has resonated deeply within the BC community and across the nation. This legacy is particularly honored through the annual Red Bandana Game, a tradition that serves as a poignant tribute to Crowther's courage and selflessness.
The Man Behind the Bandana: Welles Crowther's Story
Welles Crowther, a former Boston College lacrosse player, was known for always wearing a red bandana given to him by his father when he was six years old. After graduating from BC, Crowther worked as an equities trader at the World Trade Center.
During the 9/11 attacks, Crowther's actions exemplified extraordinary courage. He risked his life to guide people to safety through the smoke-filled, debris-strewn stairwells of the South Tower, wearing his signature red bandana to identify himself. Survivors recounted how the man in the red bandana led them down 17 floors to safety. Despite having the opportunity to escape, Crowther continued to help others until the building collapsed, ultimately losing his own life. His red bandana has since become a powerful symbol of his heroism.
The Red Bandana Game: A Tradition Begins
The Red Bandana Game is an annual event at Boston College that celebrates the life and legacy of Welles Crowther. The tradition began with the Welles Crowther Red Bandanna 5K Run and was followed by the introduction of special uniforms for the football team's nationally televised game against USC in 2014.
In the inaugural Red Bandanna Game on Sept. 14, 2014, BC achieved a memorable victory against No. 9 Southern California, winning 37-31. BC quarterback Tyler Murphy rushed for 191 yards, including the game-winning score on a 66-yard run with 3:30 to play. Then-head coach Steve Addazio emphasized the significance of the game, stating, “The Red Bandanna Game meant a lot. We talked a lot about Welles Crowther. We talked a lot about who he was and what it takes to be a BC man. Our guys dug deep on this."
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Boston College players will wear special red bandana-themed uniforms with the words “For Welles" written across the back.
Red Bandana Games: A History of Triumph and Heartbreak
Since its inception, the Red Bandana Game has been a fixture in Boston College's football season, marked by moments of triumph and heartbreak.
Sept. 18, 2015: Following the high of the 2014 win against USC, expectations were high. However, the Eagles lost 14-0 to No. 9 Florida State. BC posted just 195 total yards, compared to Florida State’s 217, and only one of the Seminoles’ touchdowns came on offense. BC allowed a game-opening, 83-yard touchdown drive, and the only other score of the game came on a fumble recovery that Florida State took to the house.
Oct. 7, 2016: BC’s 2016 Red Bandanna Game loss was equally painful as the year prior, but for different reasons. No. 3 Clemson dominated BC, and Michael Sullivan, wrote, “[BC’s] dreams never came. Neither did the roar of the crowd. Two-time Heisman Trophy finalist Deshaun Watson and the Clemson offense totaled 499 yards, and BC lost 56-10, the most points BC had allowed to that point in the Addazio era.
Oct. 27, 2017: After two straight years of heartbreak in the Red Bandanna Game, BC bounced back in a big way, beating FSU for the first time in eight years with a 35-3 rout. The win marked the largest margin of victory for BC over FSU in program history.
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Oct. 26, 2018: The Eagles earned a second straight Red Bandanna win, taking down Miami 27-14 thanks to some aggressive play calling. Double moves and trick plays abounded for offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler. BC went for 223 yards on the ground and 210 through the air, while the Eagles’ defense held Miami to 305 total yards.
Nov. 9, 2019: BC dropped its second game in two years to Florida State in the 2019 iteration of the Red Bandanna Game. With quarterback Anthony Brown out due to injury, Dennis Grosel threw for 227 yards on 20-for-29 passing, tossing one interception and no scores. Dillon became the first player in BC history to surpass 4,000 career yards with his 19th career 100-yard game.
Nov. 14, 2020: With no fans in the stadium, BC still donned its Red Bandanna uniforms to take on No. 2 Notre Dame. The parallels to a 1993 miracle, in which the then-No. 12 Eagles beat Notre Dame one week after the Irish had toppled the No. 1 team in the country, lined up for BC, and Phil Jurkovec looked to get his revenge on his former team. “It was a game circled on the schedule,” Jurkovec said in the postgame press conference. “To be able to play against all my former teammates, it was a special game.
Beyond the Game: A Legacy of Giving Back
The Red Bandana tradition extends beyond the football field. It serves as a reminder of the importance of giving back and honoring those who have made a difference.
Hannah Greer, a shortstop on the MSU softball team, has an NIL deal with Charitable Gift America and chose to support the Welles Remy Crowther fund. “The Red Bandana game between Boston College and MSU means so much to me,” Greer said. “It's really full circle because of my connection to 9/11 and my route to MSU. I just transferred here, and now MSU is playing Boston College for their red bandana game.
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“It is so important as athletes, to give back,” Greer said. “9/11 is so important to me as a New Yorker, so any chance to give back to those whose lives were lost is one that I am going to take.
The significance of this occasion is not lost on Eagles coach Bill O’Brien."Red Bandana week is huge,” said O’Brien. “What Welles Crowther meant to this university and what he did, he’s a great example of what BC is all about."“We understand very much what the Red Bandana game is all about. Last year was my first experience in a Red Bandana game and it went pretty well. The kids all understand it. We talked about it this morning and we will talk about it again on Thursday.
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