Father's Day recommendation

I've read "My Daddy Loves Boston College Football" approximately 3,918,547 times. Like all good kids books, it never gets older for the parent or child. With Father's Day just around the corner, I highly recommend getting it for any dad who loves BC and has young children. It's available on Amazon and was written by fellow Eagles.

Share your BC story with Mike Shoule

Mike Shoule, the author of My Daddy Loves Boston College Football, has a new project that enables other BC fans to contribute. His company ReadTogetherBooks.com is taking submissions from BC fans regarding their BC memories. As you can see, many parents of BC football players have already posted. Shoule welcomes you to post too. It is a cool feature and a great way to share what is special about BC.

BC fans are not teaching our children well

I've read "My Dad Loves Boston College Football" hundreds of times. Any time my son brings it over, I am helpless to resist. Yet today was the first time I realized what a dangerous book it was and how it captures all that is wrong with BC fandom. This cute little children's book is proof that BC's fan issues are "nurture" not nature. Don't believe me? It is right there on the pages. Take a look:

For those who can see the text, it reads: "Before the game starts we set up the tailgate. When I'm cooking with Daddy everything is just great." Harmless, right? Now look closer. If you look at the Upper Deck in the background, you will see that the Alumni is full (or nearly full). And this dad is still out at his tailgate throwing the football around and eating. He doesn't care if he is in the stadium at kickoff and he is teaching his son the same thing.

Now if you think I am overthinking this, check out the next page:

This time the text reads: "We look for our seats with the rest of the crowd. Inside Alumni Stadium it gets really loud." Once again look at the picture. Does it look like most of the crowd is looking for their seats? No, the stadium is full and this Father of the Year is just getting inside. Plus, look at the food and drinks he picked up. That easily delayed him getting to his seats. I am betting it is the Second Quarter by the time he finally sits down. And little Junior is going to think this is how BC fans support their team.

I've been preaching that if we are ever going to change the fan culture around BC it will start with the young SuperFans. Now I've lost hope. If this is what we are reading to them now, I don't know if they will ever learn.

Supporting other Eagles

Just wanted to raise awareness for these two different BC folks looking for a little support.

Mike Shoule '92 wrote a kids book with a BC focus -- "My Daddy Loves BC Football." He self published and put this together after growing tired of some of the same old same old kids stories he was reading. As someone who tried to get a manuscript published, I have respect for what Mike did. As father, I can also tell you any respite from some of these kids books is welcome. Best of luck to him.

Ed Meyerthole '76 is another BC grad who is battling Kennedy's Disease. The disease and his battle to fight its progressive effects inspired him to take up marathons. He ran Boston in 2004 and will run San Antonio next month. He's hoping his cause will help inspire fund raising efforts for the disease. You can learn more and give here.