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School Name: Boston College
Team Name: Eagles
Captains: Chuck McBride and Jim Kearney
Coaches: Micah Flynn, Tim O’Brien, Yuhei Kasetani, Chris Fitzpatrick, Brendan Nichols
Year Founded: 1977
Jersey Colors: Maroon, Gold, White
Website: www.bcmensultimate.com
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Tell us a little about yourself. How did you get involved with Ultimate at Boston College?
Brian Beaulieu: I’m a senior studying Political Science and Philosophy. I played ultimate for four years in high school so I knew coming into college that I wanted to continue with the sport. As a freshman I joined right away with some friends and never looked back. This year I’ve served as the team’s president.
How did your team do last year? What was the highlight of your season?
Brian: Our team qualified for NE Regionals for the 4th time in 5 years last season. We finished tied for 11th after somewhat of a down year for our program. The team lost a lot of experience and featured a lot of new, younger players making it difficult to develop a rhythm throughout much of the season. We finished out the fall season with a strong showing at CUFF in Maryland, finishing in 3rd place against some tough competition. The highlight of the season had to be at Metro Boston Sectionals, where only the top 5 teams would advance. We were seeded 6th but came out strong on Saturday, beating MIT in an exciting game to win our pool. On Sunday, we went on to play close games with Tufts and rival Bentley, beat BU, and earn the right to play with New England’s best several weeks later. Everyone got to contribute that weekend, making the team effort that much sweeter.
Who is your favorite team to play against? Tell us about a memorable game.
Boston College's Chuck McBridge ('12) (yellow shorts, left) was named to the All-Region second team last season.
Brian: Northeastern is a great team to play against. They’re another Boston-area rival and all of our games are fun, spirited, and well-matched. We look forward to every chance we get to see them on the field. At Yale Cup two years ago we played NEU on Saturday during pool play. It was a back and forth game that they would eventually take on double game point, but I remember it most because I got to watch Spittle and Casey, two of their best players, will their team to a win by playing hard and not giving in to the pressure of the game.
Tell us about your coaches. What do they bring to the team?
Brian: Micah Flynn, our head coach, is one of the biggest keys to our success as a team. His dedication, experience, and appreciation for the sport make everyone around him better both as teammates as well as individual players. He expects a lot out of us but is always willing to put in the time to help us improve. Micah is a great leader and friend and I can think of nobody I would rather have on my side. Tim, Yuhei, Chris, and Brendan are all alumni of the team who have volunteered to give back to the Eagles by helping to run practices, develop skills and new players, and offer their years of experience to the next generation of BC Ultimate players.
Are there players on your team who deserve consideration for Callahan, All-Region, or Freshman of the Year?
Brian: Look for #13 Chuck McBride and #6 Dylan Kellachan this season. Chuck was named to the NE All-Region second team last year and deserves to be named amongst the best players in the country. Easily one of the top two players in the region, Chuck is able to take over a game unlike any player I’ve ever seen. His value to the team cannot be described. Dylan is a third year player on the team with lightning speed both on offense and defense. He is also a very strong athlete who has stepped his game up every year he has been with the team, especially in the biggest games when we need him most. I believe he too should give All-Region honors. We have a great team from top to bottom, but you can expect these guys to make the big plays
How do you bring new players up to speed?
Brian: Our team likes to take athletes and turn them into Ultimate players. Everyone practices hard, works out on their own time, and has to earn every opportunity. We have a great core group of experienced leaders who are always willing to teach the new guys about the game.
What do you guys like to do on offense and defense?
Brian: We practice both vertical and split looks on offense where we rely on our cutters to drive the offense and open up the field for big gains. Our handlers work very well together at attacking both sides of the field. On defense our man defense is fast and capable. We key in on shutting down the other team’s cutting lanes and disrupting their resets to get turnovers and turn them into breaks. In zone we have several different sets that utilize our speed and height, making it very difficult for the other team to generate a lot of offense.
Has your team set any goals for this season? What are they?
Brian: Every year we want to make sure we play our best ultimate at the end of the season. This year specifically we are focused on winning games on Sunday at Regionals. We are working very-hard to prepare ourselves for just that by practicing hard, getting to the gym, and building a roster where everyone understands their role and how to be successful at it.
What tournaments do you plan to attend in the spring? Which are you most looking forward to?
David Chou ('13) gets air.
Brian: This spring we already plan on attending the ACC Ultimate Championship, Tally Classic, and the New England Open. We try to set up individual games with local teams in and around Boston too.
What does your team do to get pumped up for a big game?
Brian: Micah always has some hot jams ready to go.
What song would you pick for the soundtrack to your team’s 2011 highlight video?
Brian: Captain Ahab – Girls Gone Wild. Chuck’s Callahan video would have to be set to “Me Against The World” by Simple Plan.
What do you think of the new USA Ultimate college restructuring?
Brian: It’s a great move. An even better move if we end up with extra bids to Nationals.
Who’s your pick to win the 2011 College Open National Championship?
Brian: Carleton, but don’t count out Harvard. They’re loaded and we look forward to seeing them this season.
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