Last fall, Boston College athletic director Gene DeFilippo admitted that the school played a non-trivial role in keeping UConn out of the ACC. Instead, Pitt and Syracuse got the nod and the Huskies were left to figure out what happened. For now, they seem content to bid their time in the Big East.
In the meantime, Connecticut governor Dannel Mallory would like to bury the proverbial hatchet and resume the BC-UConn rivalry. The schools have been the college version of the Hatfield and McCoys after BC bolted the Big East for the ACC in 2005. (The state of Connecticut led a lawsuit to prevent BC's departure and that, played a role in the Eagles' turning the tables last fall when the Huskies were in the discussion to join the ACC.) Also not helping: when Boston College announced it was leaving for the ACC, basketball coach Jim Calhoun said that his team would never play the Eagles.
"The reality is that time has the ability to heal all wounds, and hopefully we move forward," Malloy said according to the Associated Press. "Economically, it makes great sense. The schools are 80 miles apart. Instead of a plane trip, it's a bus ride. We should be doing more of that, not less."
More via the AP:
The two schools last played football in 2004 and last played a men's basketball game in January 2005. Boston College is 10-0-2 against the Huskies in football, while UConn leads the basketball series, 54-35.
Malloy said that whatever happens with the ACC, the two schools should realize that playing each other, as they already do in many other sports, would benefit both schools and the entire region. UMass, which recently upgraded its football program, is the only other BCS school in New England.
"Both schools have done and said things that need to be left in the past, and both schools need to move forward," Malloy added. "They need to move forward in what is the best interest of their schools, their student body and their athletic programs."
And perhaps it's time. DeFilippo apologized for his remarks regarding the Huskies and, it turns out, he's friends with new UConn athletic director Warde Manuel.
"I come in with a mindset that it would be good for us and good for them if we can get back to having a solid relationship between the two institutions," said Manuel via the AP.
