No one is too young to be a Superfan, especially now that Michael Should, BC '92, has written and published My Daddy Loves Boston College Football, a bedtime story for even the youngest Eagles. The alumnus was inspired to write a children's book in an effort to share his love of college football with his two young children. He is donating the profits to the Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism and the Boston College Campus School.
"The inspiration [for the book] was the birth of our first child Nathaniel in 2007," Should said. He began reading to his son nightly but became weary of reading "the same book over and over every night about Sheep in a Jeep or all these different books about animals going to parties and stuff like that," Should said. While attending his 15-year reunion on the Heights in April 2007, Should went to the BC Bookstore looking for a book for his infant son, but was unsuccessful.
"So as I was driving back from the reunion to New York, I was thinking how it would be really nice if they had some kind of kid's book," Should said. "And so I came up with the idea … about a father sharing his love of college football with his son or daughter."
With a background in licensing and sales and a connection to a book printing company, Should realized that he had the resources necessary to make the book a reality. He finished writing the story and found a freelance artist to do the illustrations.
"He did such a great job," Should said of the illustrator, Arnel Reynon. "He has four kids of his own, and it really was a perfect match." About a year later, My Daddy Loves Boston College Football was headed to the BC Bookstore.
Should chose to donate the profits to the Doug Floutie Jr. Foundation and the Campus School. "Volunteering [at the Campus School] for the summer between junior and senior year really made me understand what they do there," he said. The Campus School provides educational and therapeutic services to severely disabled children. Doug Flutie, former BC quarterback and BC '85, established the Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism after his son was diagnosed with autism. After his close friend and former roommate's son was diagnosed with autism a few years ago, Should saw the effects of autism first-hand and hopes his book will raise awareness about the disorder.
"You learn that at BC, you want to give back any way you can whether it's your time or your money," Should said. My Daddy Loves Boston College Football has already sold out at both bookstores on campus, evidence of the connection that alumni feel toward the University
"There's a big loyalty that parents have to their alma mater, but at BC, I think it's even greater because of the sense the school instills in you of what it means to be a BC grad," Should said. "The BC bond is always there."
Should, a season ticket holder, said he believes he already has two SuperFans on his hands. "They go crazy for the games," Should said of Nathaniel and his 1-year-old daughter Emma, who have been to two BC football games this season.
However, Should is not stopping at football. "I hope to write My Mommy Loves Boston College, not geared to football or a particular sport, but just the aspect of being a graduate of a particular college," he said.
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