Jonathan Papelbon had barely thrown the final strike in Game Four of the 2007 World Series to give the Red Sox their second title in four years before hundreds of Northeastern Sox fans poured into the streets, traveling en masse to the corner of Boylston Street and Ipswich Avenue, the Mecca for our generation of Red Sox Nation.
The wee hours of the morning of Oct. 29, 2007 were filled with students jumping from lampposts into mosh pits below in the shadow of a pitch black Fenway Park. They overturned innocent vehicles on Boylston and dodged throngs of police officers wearing riot gear or riding horseback after the Sox’s swept the Colorado Rockies.
As pepper spray filled the air and news choppers hovered above, Northeastern students joined others from neighboring schools like Boston University, Wentworth and Emmanuel to celebrate. Although the school rivalries are intense when it comes to collegiate sports, this was one celebratory event everyone participated in with expressions of sheer joy.
Although it was the central gathering spot for fans, Fenway wasn’t the only spot for celebration. On campus, Hemenway Street and Huntington Avenue were filled with students, most of whom were decked out in Sox apparel, hooting and hollering.
Despite the rowdiness, Northeastern students stayed clear of trouble for the most part. Out of 37 Red Sox-related arrests that night, only one was from Northeastern. James Ferrier, associate director of public safety, said the university was “absolutely” ready to handle the excess of students celebrating the win.
“The university had a very effective plan in working with the student body through ResLife, the athletic department, SGA (Student Government Association) and the community,” he said. “They said ‘Let’s celebrate but let’s do it safely and peacefully.'”
Whether or not a similar scene will take place on campus next fall remains to be seen, but judging from Boston’s recent track record in championships and the excitement of Northeastern’s students, the odds are good.
– Mike Devine, News Staff