[4] Part of the rivalry's intensity stems from the school's shared tradition as Roman Catholic, Jesuit colleges—in fact, both were founded by the same bishop, Benedict Joseph Fenwick.

[7] This left Boston College as the only remaining Division I-A school in New England, granting it a recruiting tool to attract prospective athletes wishing to play at the highest level and hoping to get noticed by National Football League scouts.

As a I-A school, Boston College was increasingly out of place on Holy Cross' schedule, which consisted largely of I-AA Ivy League and Yankee Conference members.

[9] By 1980, the Holy Cross rivalry game was no longer part of Boston College's student ticket package, and was mostly attended by alumni.

"[10] Boston College outscored Holy Cross in the final five 1980s games, 221–60, but BC head coach Jack Bicknell said he didn't take them for granted.

Brooks said the change was "to provide Holy Cross coaches and players with an opportunity to compete in an environment that encourages balance and fair competition.

"[10] Holy Cross' withdrawal from the rivalry was effective immediately, leaving Boston College with only half a year to plug a hole in its 1987 fall schedule.

Coach Jack Bicknell hoped to pick up another Division I-AA opponent, but with most schools planning their schedules years—even decades—in advance, finding a matchup was difficult.

[8] As part of its commitment to the Colonial League, Holy Cross stopped offering athletic scholarships for football in the late 1980s.

[12] "The main reason was that we have two institutions that have a long and storied rivalry," said BC athletic director Brad Bates, announcing that his team would host Holy Cross in 2018 and 2020.

[8] In 1940, Boston College went into Fenway Park and shut out the Crusaders 7–0 en route to a perfect season and a victory in the Sugar Bowl over No.

[16] In the first rivalry game to be played at Worcester since 1932, the underdog Crusaders beat the Eagles, 14–0, ruining BC's bid for a Gator Bowl berth.

[16] Having lost the rivalry game for the previous nine consecutive meetings, Holy Cross reeled off its last two wins, 35–20 in 1977 in Worcester, and 30–29 in 1978 in Chestnut Hill.

[18] Holy Cross records the Braves Field, Fenway Park and Harvard Stadium meetings as neutral-site games.