The Red Bandana Game: How College Football and Boston College Honour a Hero

The eeriness of the silence surrounding the World Trade Center Memorial site is palpable, especially in a city that produces so much noise. 1,574 names, carved into granite of the South Pool, each tell their own story. Among these, I am eager to search for Welles Crowther, the man with the red bandana, whose selfless act of extraordinary courage established one of college football's newer but more poignant traditions.

I have no connection with any of the victims of the 9/11 tragedy, yet walking quietly through the footprints of the North and South Tower on a warm July morning this year, I felt like I did. Walking past the name of Todd M. Beamer, etched in bronze. His infamous “Let’s roll” call inspired the passengers to thwart the terrorist threat on Flight 93.

Thanks to the millions of words reported or heard across the news and on television and film which have helped keep the memories of these heroes alive, I feel a numbness and pull on my stomach recognising these names as if they were close acquaintances or members of the family.

I continued walking around the corner of this extraordinary monument as I wanted, especially, to find Welles Crowther. He was posthumously known as “the man with the red bandana”, whose heroic actions on that fateful morning of September 11, 2001, are commemorated annually at his alma mater, Boston College, in the annual Red Bandana game, one of college football’s greatest traditions.

Crowther, a 24-year old equities trader and volunteer firefighter, reportedly saved 18 lives before losing his own on that tragic morning. He used a red bandana to shield his face from the smoke, something he was recognised for wearing since childhood and during his lacrosse days at BC. This garment helped identify his heroics. Survivors talked about the man leading people down 17 floors to safety wearing a red bandana, which has become a symbol of this young man’s heroism, and now of a wonderful addition to college football's great traditions.

Drew Gallagher's 2013 "The Man in the Red Bandanna" documentary. highlighted Crowther's story and shared how his parents found out the reality of their son's bravery. It's a moving thirteen-minute film and well worth watching.

Welles Crowther's red bandana is woven into the Boston College uniforms (Image credit: si.com)

The Welles Crowther Red Bandanna 5K Run was subsequently set up and in 2014, Boston College wore specially designed uniforms for their nationally-televised game against USC. The game began, and continues to be, an annual event celebrating the life of a fallen alumnus. Boston College wear a special uniform for this annual fixture, the pattern of the red bandana blended into the design.

The 12th edition of this famous game kicks off this Saturday at Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, Boston, as the Eagles host conference rival SMU.

(Image credit: africa.espn.com)

The significance of this occasion is not lost on Eagles coach Bill O’Brien.

"Red Bandana week is huge,” said O’Brien. “What Welles Crowther meant to this university and what he did, he’s a great example of what BC is all about."

“We understand very much what the Red Bandana game is all about. Last year was my first experience in a Red Bandana game and it went pretty well. The kids all understand it. We talked about it this morning and we will talk about it again on Thursday. We owe a lot to Welles Crowther and what he meant to the school as well.”