Terriers Lose to Orange in First Conlan Cup
March 31, 2001 | Men's Rowing
BOSTON -- The Terrier men's crew continued a long-standing tradition and began a new one on Saturday (March 31st), as it opened its spring season on The Charles River against Syracuse.
The two programs have rowed against each other for almost a quarter century, but there had never been a cup presented to the winning crew.
That all changed on Saturday when the Terriers' young alumni--rowers who competed during the nineties, raised the money to name the cup in honor of the gentleman who is recognized as the "Father of Boston University Crew"--Jim Conlan.
Unfortunately, the Terriers were not able to keep the Cup at home, as Syracuse rowed to a 7.41-second victory. The Orangemen were timed in 6:08.85 over the 2000-meter course, while the Terriers finished in 6:16.26.
"First of all, I want to thank the young alumni for coming forward and raising the money for this Cup," said Terrier head coach Rodney Pratt. "The Syracuse rivalry is the longest running one we have that did not have a Cup until today."
A 1940 graduate of Boston University, Conlan founded the Boston University Independents in 1937, as crew was not yet a varsity sport at the University. After a winning season in 1938, crew was elevated to varsity status for the 1939 campaign. Fittingly, Conlan was elected captain of the crew.
Now living in Texas, Conlan was elected to the Boston University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1993.
In commenting about Saturday's race against Syracuse, Pratt said: "I thought we rowed well today. One of our varsity rowers--Mike Strielsky--is out with compartment syndrome in his right arm, and we had to make some lineup changes. Hopefully, Mike will be back in two weeks."
"We are very proud to have won the Conlan Cup," said Syracuse head coach Bill Sanford. "I was out on the water during the race, and I had a chance to watch how the B.U. boat was rowing.
"Even though they were trailing, they kept fighting and pulling and scrapping, and that's what crew is all about. I was proud that we were in a race with a boat that competed like B.U. It is a great tribute to Rodney and the B.U. program that they kept fighting to the end."
Syracuse also won the second varsity race, 6:11.36 to 6:18.65.
In the first freshman race, Harvard entered a boat that won in 6:16.03. The Terriers were second in 6:25.44, while Syracuse was third in 6:27.33.
MEN'S CREW BOSTON UNIVERSITY VS SYRACUSE RESULTS The Charles River March 31, 2001
First Varsity 1. Syracuse, 6:08.85 2. Boston University, 6:16.26 Second Varsity 1. Syracuse, 6:11.36 2. Boston University, 6:18.65 First Freshmen 1. Harvard, 6:16.03 2. Boston U., 6:25.44 3. Syracuse, 6:27.33
