'Terrier Curse': Big, Smelly--and Real

BOSTON--It's beginning to look a lot like a curse.

After senior forward Steve Flomenhoft tipped in a blistering Brian Farrell slapshot from the blueline with 1:08 left here last night, Harvard moved within one goal of tying eighth-ranked Boston University. More importantly, it moved within just flick of the puck closer to ridding itself of the Terrier Curse.

Harvard hasn't beaten the Terriers since the 1989 Beanpot Championship (the NCAA title year--hint, hint) and even that one--a 9-6 nailbiter--scared the hairs off even he most rugged Crimson faithful.

Before that, the last time the Terriers fell to the Crimson was in the '83-'84 season.

In the last 12 meetings, Harvard has won only twice. Now that's scary.

So with just 68 seconds left here in Walter Brown Rink, with Harvard's bench in an uproar and BU Coach Jack Parker in a frenzy, the Crimson tried to cast off the curse with every eye of new, tongue of bat and magic wand it had. But with Captain Ted Drury panting and heaving from exhaustion--along with the rest of the top line--the Crimson had only smoke and mirrors.

And it found itself with a big fat "L" firmly in its glove. "It wasn't a typical Harvard-BU game," a relieved Parker said after the game.

Sure: it was uncharacteristically sluggish and sloppy. But there was nothing new in Harvard's defeat.

This team may talk about "not playing [BU] too much" (Coach Tomassoni), "not thinking about past issues" (junior forward Chris Baird) and "always expecting the same things from [BU]" but the fact remains that the Crimson, whether it was dog-tired from the road trips or held back by the mushy ice, should take a long hard look at itself while it sits in the pound for letting this one race away.

But these troubles are mechanical. The Crimson no doubt has the talent to fix them. The true dilemma, the thing Harvard needs to start sweating, fretting and regretting is the Terrier Curse. It's real. It's here. It's big, ugly and smelly.

In truth, though, there's voodoo afoot, black magic in the air and an ominous sense of doom hanging over Harvard. This team may win every conference game it plays, it may overwhelm Boston College, it may even get a trip to Madison, Wisc. for the Final Four.

But come the Beanpot Championships in mid-February, if the Crimson lines up against the Terriers for the pride of the Bay State, be wary of black cats and broken mirrors. Harvard will need all the luck it can get.

Jay K. Varma is a Crimson staff writer.