The 2021 Military Bowl football game between Boston College and East Carolina University, scheduled for Monday, December 27, has been canceled.
“Unfortunately,” said BC Athletic Director Pat Kraft, “due to cases of COVID-19 rising within our program since our arrival, along with season-ending injuries, opt-outs, and transfers, we just do not have enough players to field a team.”
BC reported that more than 40 players were unavailable to play.
Nice view from Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, Point Loma. SD Eagles, from left, Lori Mahler; Joe Mahler ’74; Caitlin Mahler ’11, CGSOM’17; Ray Berube ’78; Brian Tsu ’00; Lissa Tsu ’00; Bill McDonald ’68; Mary-Lou Kiley MSW’77; Maria DeSantis ’75.
The chapter once again participated in Wreaths Across America on Saturday, December 18, honoring military veterans and their families buried or inurned at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery on Point Loma. And once again, the pandemic made things complicated.
There was no offsite parking, so traffic seeking to enter the cemetery was backed up considerably. That made meeting up with chapter colleagues difficult. While nearly two dozen members registered, nine were able to find each other at the site.
There are three Boston College alumni interred in Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery. We were able to honor LT William Kelleher ’58 virtually last year in a video prepared by the Boston College Veteran Alumni Network.
This year, we sought to recognize Edward Marikle ’51, an Army veteran who served in World War II. Marikle and his wife are inurned at Fort Rosecrans. Wreaths are not permitted at the urns. We were able to locate the plaque identifying the Marikle urns and gathered there. Brian Tsu ’00 led us in prayer to honor Edward and Dora Marikle.
TSGT Marikle was a native of Greater Boston. Following Army service, he graduated from then A&S as a math major. We have identified whom we believe to be his daughter as a resident of La Mesa, but have been unable to contact her. One could assume Marikle and his wife spent their later years in the San Diego area, hence their inurnment at Fort Rosecrans.
BC alumni participate in Wreaths Across America at several locations across the country, most significantly at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, as well as at national cemeteries in Bourne, Mass., and other locations.
I like wasabi with sushi, but I was not a fan of BC being projected to play in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl in Boston. It was nice, then, to learn today that the Eagles will instead play in the Military Bowl in Annapolis, Maryland.
The Fenway Bowl also featured an 8 am kickoff on Wednesday, December 29, a day/time that indubitably would not have been conducive to attracting attendance. The Military Bowl starts at 11:30 am our time on Monday, December 27. It’s a minor bowl, so it is not provided a prime viewing slot. Late morning, though, is much more attractive.
BC will meet East Carolina of the American Athletic Conference, the champion of which — #4 Cincinnati — is one of four teams to play in the College Football Playoff. East Carolina finished with a 7-5 record, 5-3 in the conference.
The Eagles and Pirates played one common opponent — Temple. Each team allowed Temple only three points, but East Carolina scored 45 against them and BC scored 28.
We’ll have a gamewatch at The Corner Drafthouse, 495 Laurel St., San Diego, for those who will be still on holiday routine.