Men's Crew Defeats Northeastern To Win Arlett Cup
April 15, 2000 | Men's Rowing
Using a new lineup with a new attitude, the Terriers' men's varsity heavyweight crew "took it to the line," according to head coach Rodney Pratt and defeated Northeastern on Saturday (April 15th) on the Charles River to win the Arlett Cup.
B.U.'s margin of victory was seven seconds as it covered the 2,000-meter course in 7:05.3. Northeastern, in the meantime, was timed in 7:12.3.
It was the Terriers' first win of the spring campaign as they had lost to Syracuse by less than three seconds in the season opener two weeks ago (April 1st) and then dropped a decision to Brown the following
week (April 8th), while rowing in "nightmarish conditions," according to Pratt. For Pratt, it marked the fifth time in his 10-year career at B.U. that his varsity boat had won the Arlett Cup.
"This ranks right up there with the others," beamed Pratt. "This was a real good win for us. We really needed it after the last two weekends."
After the loss to Brown, Pratt decided to make a couple of changes in his lineup and inserted seniors Gilbert Reese (Newport Beach, CA) into the stroke seat and Robert Rogers (Haverford, PA) into the seven seat.
"I wanted to put more experience in the stern pair," said Pratt. "That's why I put two seniors there."
The results paid dividends for the crew.
"I thought everyone rowed well," said Pratt. "They were comfortable out there and they all made it happen."
It appeared the weather might have a bearing on the race as the winds gusted between 20 and 25 miles an hour and it alternated between a straight head wind and a quarter wind coming from the Boston side of the Charles to the Cambridge side.
In fact, the second varsity race was 25 minutes late getting off the starting line as the Northeastern boat had problems getting on the stake boat.
"These are rough conditions," said Pratt at the starting line. It's not quite as bad as it was at Brown last week because we don't have the tide problems today that we had last Saturday. But, these are still tough conditions."
The varsity race began approximately 10 minutes late. Despite the potential distractions, the Terriers remained focused throughout.
Through the first 500 meters, the two crews were even. At that point, the Terriers made their move and opened a three-seat lead at the 750-meter mark of the race.
"Come on, Brian. Pull me through," pleaded Pratt from his launch on the course.
The coach was referring to senior bowman Brian Barrett (Buffalo, NY), who was doing exactly what Pratt was asking of him.
By the 1000-meter mark, the Terriers had opened their lead to four seats.
Then came the critical point at the Massachusetts Avenue Bridge.
Would the Terriers maintain their lead or give up a couple of seats to their cross-town rivals?
As the two boats came under the bridge and out of sight of Pratt, B.U. made an additional move and had a six-seat lead as it came back into view.
"C,mon boys, give me a bow ball," said Pratt, who was looking for his crew to establish open water.
That's exactly what happened by the time the two crews had reached the MIT boathouse and there were only about 500 meters left in the race.
The Terriers increased their lead to approximately a length and a half by the finish line leaving nothing left but to accept the Arlett Cup on their DeWolfe Boathouse dock and accept Northeastern's black shirts.
Earlier in the day, the B.U. first freshman and second varsity boats lost to Northeastern.
In each case, the Terriers were very much in the race until they reached the Mass. Ave Bridge. At that point, the Huskies made their move, and the Terriers could not respond.
In the second varsity, Northeastern was timed in 7:08.0, while B.U. turned in a 7:17.0.
Finally, in the first freshmen matchup, Northeastern had a 7:17.0, while B.U. was clocked in 7:34.0.
