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According to an official statement released yesterday by the Boston College administration, University President Rev. William P. Leahy, S.J., plans to suit up for the Eagles' 2007-2008 basketball season.
"I've had one more year of NCAA eligibility left since the '50s but I have been saving it for the right time," said the 5-10, 165-pound Leahy, while lifting in the Yawkey Center yesterday.
The BC basketball program has faced its fair share of challenges in the 2006-2007 season, primarily, a limited roster due to disciplinary dismissals. With three players graduating and one transferring, improving on this year's 20-11 record and No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament will be a daunting task for the Eagles. However, Leahy's announcement brings new hope to a program that seemed to be taking a step backward.
"The geezer can ball, yo!" said point guard and next year's captain Tyrese Rice. "He came to practice today and was lighting it up. He also has disgusting ups."
Center Tyrelle Blair also attested to the president's basketball ability. "He dropped 37 points in a team scrimmage yesterday … and we were only playing to 21."
When asked about his goals for his single-season return to NCAA basketball action, Leahy did not even hesitate with his response.
"I am going to be ACC player of the year, NCAA leader in points, steals and assist-to-turnover ratio, and our team is going to win the ACC and make it to the Final Four. Anything less than that I will consider a failure of a season." Strong words from the 59-year-old University president.
The players have faith in their new teammate. "I would follow 'Big Daddy' Leahy to hell and back," said junior forward John Oates.
Leahy's dominance on the parquet comes as a surprise to some within the program. "He is always so busy raising money for the school, I don't know where he gets the time to hit the gym," said coach Al Skinner "but hey, you don't see me complaining, we just filled a roster spot with an impact player without spending any scholarship money."
A reliable source close to Leahy was able to shed some light on this mystery of the ballin' Jesuit. "We usually don't disclose these figures, but approximately 63 percent of BC's endowment consists of money Father Leahy earned hustling guys on public courts in Boston," said the anonymous source. "His skills have literally been paying the bills."
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