Green Line Rivalry

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Green Line Rivalry, also known as the B-Line Rivalry[1] [2], the Battle of Boston[3] and Battle of Commonwealth Avenue[4], is the name for the sports rivalry between Boston College and Boston University. [5] The rivalry is named after the trolley line that runs along Commonwealth Avenue and links the two schools as part of the MBTA, Boston's subway system. The two campuses lie less than five miles apart.

The Green Line Rivalry is considered one of the top rivalries in college sports [6] [7] and first among college hockey rivalries.[8] [9] In 2005, Sports Illustrated went as far as calling it "the greatest rivalry in all of sports."[10]

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[edit] In Ice Hockey

With 17 national championship game appearances between them [11], including a matchup in the 1978 championship game, Boston College and Boston University both field perennially competitive collegiate ice hockey teams and compete in the same league, Hockey East. The two teams meet at least three times annually as part of their regular Hockey East season schedule and often also meet in the Hockey East and NCAA postseason tournaments. Additionally, each first and second Monday in February, BC and BU, along with Harvard and Northeastern, take part in the annual Beanpot Tournament where the Eagles and Terriers usually square off in the championship game. BC has won the national championship twice (1949 & 2001); BU has won four times (1971, 1972, 1978, 1995). Since BU eliminated its football program (see below), hockey has been the main rivalry between the two schools. Begun in 1918, BU leads the series 120-106-16.

[edit] In other sports

The Green Line Rivalry has also come to refer to the rivalry between BC and BU in other sports.[12] In soccer, the two schools regularly open the season against each other with the expectation of large freshman-filled crowds.[13] In previous times, it was also used to designate the football rivalry between the schools, though BU terminated its football program in 1997.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Men's tennis has tough time at BC Invitational - Sports
  2. ^ Terriers take Hockey East title in OT - Sports
  3. ^ Battle of Boston ends in sweep - NCAA.com
  4. ^ The Brandeis Hoot
  5. ^ College Hockey
  6. ^ "Presenting the Nation's Top Ten Rivalries", The Miami Student, November 10, 2006. 
  7. ^ "Rivalry Renewed", The Concord Monitor, November 30, 2007. 
  8. ^ "College Hockey's Top 10 Rivalries", College Hockey News, February 8, 2006. 
  9. ^ "BC-BU Rivalry Hits the Ice Friday Night", New England Sports Network (NESN), November 30, 2007. 
  10. ^ "BU-BC? B-eautiful!", Sports Illustrated, January 18, 2005. 
  11. ^ Schools with the Most NCAA Championships
  12. ^ The Daily Free Press
  13. ^ "BU-BC Back in Swing: Green Line Rivalry resumes Saturday", Soccer New England magazine, August 31, 2007.