A History of Boston College Football Uniforms
The Boston College Eagles football team has a long and storied history, dating back to its formation in 1892. Throughout the years, the team's uniforms have undergone various changes, reflecting different eras and trends in college football. From classic designs to modern innovations, the evolution of Boston College's football uniforms tells a visual story of the program's rich heritage.
Early Years and the "Team of Destiny" (1892-1940s)
In 1892, Boston College President Edward Ignatius Devitt, S.J., approved the request to start a varsity football team. The team played its first official game in 1893. In 1920, the Boston College football team adopted the nickname "Eagles."
The 1940 season stands out as arguably the greatest in the history of Boston College football. The team finished the regular season with a perfect 10-0 record and went on to win the 1941 Sugar Bowl, earning the moniker "Team of Destiny." While a banner on campus commemorates the team as "national champions," the NCAA does not recognize this claim.
Mid-Century Styles (1950s-1970s)
Mike Holovak, a former All-American fullback, took over as head coach in 1951. Joe Yukica became head coach in 1978, leading the Eagles to eight winning seasons.
The Doug Flutie Era and the "Miracle in Miami" (1980s)
The 1980s brought significant changes to the Boston College football program, most notably with the arrival of quarterback Doug Flutie. Flutie, who played for Boston College from 1981 to 1984, became a legendary figure, winning the Heisman Trophy in his senior year. He left school as the NCAA's all-time passing yardage leader.
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The 1984 season was particularly memorable. On November 23, 1984, Boston College faced defending national champion Miami in a game that would become known as the "Miracle in Miami." With only seconds remaining, Flutie threw a Hail Mary pass that was caught in the end zone by Gerard Phelan, securing a 47-45 victory for Boston College.
To commemorate the "Miracle in Miami," Boston College wore throwback uniforms inspired by the game when they played Notre Dame at Fenway Park. The uniforms featured:
- Solid gold helmet
- Vintage BC logo placed on the shoulder to mimic the placement of the Cotton Bowl logo as worn during the 1985 Cotton Bowl victory
- The gold of the pants, helmet and jersey details reflective of the gold uniform color worn in the 1980’s
- Stripe detail on the pants and baselayer are exact replicas of the stripes on the jersey and pants of the 1984-85 team
Transition and Modernization (1990s-2000s)
Tom Coughlin took over as head coach after Bicknell's departure. In 1993, the Eagles achieved a significant victory over No. 1 Notre Dame.
The 1990s Boston College uniform represents a transition between the Flutie-era look and the modern uniform: It has the Champion-style numbers from the 1980s, but the darker red and, er, golder gold from the modern uniform. The uniform also featured a teeny-tiny Big East logo at the bottom of the V-neck on each jersey. In '95, BC also wore a patch for the Kickoff Classic game against Ohio State at Giants Stadium.
In December 1996, BC hired Tom O'Brien. In 2004, Boston College's final campaign in the Big East, the team finished the season in a four-way tie atop the league. O'Brien was replaced by Jeff Jagodzinski.
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Recent Years and the New Balance Era (2010s-Present)
Frank Spaziani became head coach in January 2009. Steve Addazio was hired in 2011, but was fired on December 1, 2019.
Although it hasn’t officially been announced, Boston College head football coach Bill O’Brien recently revealed the Eagles will be moving on from their football-only deal with adidas and unveiling new New Balance uniforms ahead of this season.
New Balance replaced Under Armour as the official provider of 30 of Boston College’s 31 varsity programs in 2021, with football being the lone holdout from the 10-year, $45 million deal that also granted student-athletes access to the apparel company’s state-of-the-art training facility at Boston Landing.
While Boston College’s adidas uniforms featured the vintage “BC” logo on the collar and sleeves, the logo’s placement and lack of sleeve and pants stripes truly separated them from the Flutie-era design.
Rivalry Games and Special Uniforms
Boston College has a number of significant rivalries, including games against Clemson and Holy Cross. The Eagles and Clemson Tigers first played each other in the Cotton Bowl at the end of the 1939 season. Starting in 2008, the Boston College Gridiron Club created the O'Rourke-McFadden Trophy to honor the friendly rivalry between the Eagles and the Tigers. Boston College and Holy Cross have a dormant rivalry dating back to 1896, and have met 83 times on the field.
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