Sacred Cod Trophy Explained

Sacred Cod Trophy
Boston College EaglesHoly Cross CrusadersBoston University Terriers
Originated:
Ended:
Current Holder:Holy Cross (Defunct)
----
Boston College (3)
1954 1955 1958
Holy Cross (2)
1956 1961
Boston University (0)
Shared Awards (3)
1957   1958   1960  

The Sacred Cod Trophy was awarded to each season's winner of the American college football series between the teams of Boston University (Boston University Terriers), Boston College (Boston College Eagles), and College of the Holy Cross (Holy Cross Crusaders).

The Boston University-Boston College game was normally played in early to mid November, the Boston University-Holy Cross game normally played in mid October, and the Boston College–Holy Cross game played as the last game of the season.

At the end of the series, the Boston College Eagles holds the most trophy victories with 3, the Holy Cross Crusaders have won 2, and the teams have shared the trophy on 3 occasions.[1]

History of the trophy

The Sacred Cod Trophy was the idea of the Boston University chapter of the Delta Sigma Pi fraternity.[2] The trophy was first awarded in the 1954 season to Boston College. Boston College would dominate the BU-BC game during this span winning 8 of 9 games with Boston University's sole victory coming in 1959. Holy Cross would also dominate the BU-Holy Cross game winning 6 of 8. As a result, the BC-Holy Cross game would most often determine who wins the trophy. In 1962, the BU-Holy Cross game was not played due to the failure to find an available date, thus the trophy was not awarded. The series would end in 1963 when Boston College and Boston University decided to no longer schedule each other. The 1963 game would be postponed due to the death of John F. Kennedy and would never be rescheduled.[3]

The trophy

The trophy was a gold cup topped with a cod fish a symbol of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.[4] The name was inspired by the Sacred Cod, a wooden fish that has hung in the Massachusetts State House since the mid 1700s.

Game results and trophy winners

[5] [6]

Boston University victoriesBoston College victoriesHoly Cross victoriesShared trophies and tied gamesNo game played, no trophy awarded
SeasonTrophy WinnerBoston University – Holy Cross scoreBoston University – Boston College scoreBoston College – Holy Cross score
1954Boston College (1)Holy Cross 14–13Boston College 7–6Boston College 31–13
1955Boston College (2)Holy Cross 20–12Boston College 40–12Boston College 26–7
1956Holy Cross (1)Holy Cross 21–12Boston College 13–0Holy Cross 7–0
1957Shared (1)Boston University 35–28Boston College 27–2Holy Cross 14–0
1958Boston College (3)Holy Cross 16–8Boston College 18–13Boston College 26–8
1959Shared (2)Holy Cross 17–8Boston University 26–7Boston College 14–0
1960Shared (3)Boston University 20–14Boston College 23–14Holy Cross 16–12
1961Holy Cross (2)Holy Cross 20–7Boston College 10–7Holy Cross 38–26
1962N/ANot playedBoston College 41–25Boston College 48–12
All-time RecordsHoly Cross: 6–2 Boston College: 8–1 Boston College: 5–4

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Boston Globe 05 Apr 1961, page 43 . January 14, 2023 . Newspapers.com . en.
  2. Web site: The Boston Globe 08 Oct 1954, page 27 . January 14, 2023 . Newspapers.com . en.
  3. Web site: The Boston Globe 26 Nov 1963, page 51 . January 14, 2023 . Newspapers.com . en.
  4. Web site: The Boston Globe 30 Nov 1954, page 8 . January 14, 2023 . Newspapers.com . en.
  5. Web site: 2022 BC Football Media Guide (FINAL) (PDF) . January 14, 2023 . Boston College Athletics . en.
  6. Web site: All-Time Results (PDF) . January 14, 2023 . Holy Cross Athletics . en.