Column: A Game Through The Eyes Of Robo

Thirty minutes before game time, he's shooting around on the shiny hardwood of Conte Forum. Fans are filing in slowly, getting ready to take in an ACC matchup. But the boy on the court is in his own world.

He's decked out in Boston College gear: a gold Eagles long sleeved shirt, maroon BC shorts, even the Under Armour sneakers. His apparel is nearly identical to the 16 players who will soon be on that court, trying to take down the No. 15 team in the country, Florida State.

Minutes later, the Eagles storm out of the locker room, and Robo Arcand begins to beam. It's a smile he won't be able to wipe off any time in the near future. And why would he? He's in his element—an integral part of the 2011-2012 BC basketball team. His smile will remain throughout the whole night, lighting up Conte Forum.

The national anthem is played, and Robo and his family stand right behind the Eagles' bench. He's there with his mom, Anne, his dad, Roland, and his sister, Caitlin. They, too, are sporting BC apparel.

It's game time, and Robo takes a seat just a few feet behind the rest of the Eagles on the sideline. Dennis Clifford goes to take the tip, and Robo's legs are bouncing up and down. He's ready to see his team pull off the win.

Two minutes and 36 seconds into the game, Jordan Daniels swishes a three to make it 4-2 and Robo raises up his white BC towel in full support.

With 5:01 remaining in the half, Lonnie Jackson drains a three while getting fouled, giving BC its first lead since Daniels hit his early trey. Robo jumps out of his seat and fist pumps with the towel. His team is up 27-26, and the crowd is starting to sense a possible upset.

This comes in the midst of a 23-5 run the Eagles had before the end of the half, and Robo is pumped. He constantly gets out of his seat to cheer on his teammates. If one subs in, he picks up the towel that had ended up over the back of their seat and goes to give it to the manager. During timeouts, Robo chats it up with the nearest security guard, likely giving his analysis of how the game is going. Then as the game resumes again, he finds his seat back next to his mom.

At halftime, I wander over to see Robo and his family, but he is already consumed, talking it up with Donahue's Disciples and the rest of the Superfans. They take pictures with him and cheer on their favorite 13-year-old.

I make my way over to talk to Mrs. Arcand for the feature I am writing on her son. She tells me all about how they got involved with Team IMPACT and BC, and what an amazing experience it has been for Robo, and the whole family as well.

A few minutes before the teams are set to take the court again, Robo comes over to our conversation and shares some vital information.

"If we're winning with four seconds left, I'm going to sit over there," he says, pointing to the student section. "We‘re going to rush the court."

I finish up the interview with his mom, and then get to talk to Robo himself. At the end of our talk, I ask him if he thinks the Eagles will pull off the upset tonight. Without even taking a second to think about it, he tells me yes with a big smile on his face. There was never a doubt in his mind that the game would end up any other way.

Just over 10 minutes are left in the game, and Daniels comes through with another huge 3-pointer. Robo springs out of his seat, waving his towel. Then he checks with his mom, and quickly moves over to the student section. There is a celebration beginning to boil.

During the next five minutes, Robo switches back and forth between watching the game with his family and with the Superfans. His changing of location coincides with the anxious seconds ticking away on the clock with BC trying to hold onto the lead.

The game goes under two minutes, and Matt Humphrey calmly sinks two free throws for the 60-53 lead. Robo jumps up and down with his towel, pumping up the student section and everyone else in Conte.

The clock soon hits the one-minute mark, and the Seminoles are within three points. This is when the Eagles need Robo most. He does not disappoint, waving his towel to the crowd, inciting them to get just as loud and excited as he is. It works flawlessly, and Conte comes alive.

The security guards begin to line up ten feet behind the baseline, with the possibility of students rushing the court like Robo had said. He continues to change his location, but ends up in the student section during a timeout with 3.1 seconds left. The Eagles have a 64-60 lead, and they are seconds from completing the upset. Just like Robo had predicted.

The final seconds tick off the clock. Game over. BC pulls off the stunner.

After the team shakes hands with its opponents, it's off to hear the playing of the alma mater. And Robo is right there with them, in between Steve Donahue and Patrick Heckmann. Donahue puts his arm around Robo's shoulder, like he would with any of his players.

Then it's off to the locker room, where Robo will hang out with his team. They'll sit on the couches, tell jokes, talk about the win, and share laughs. At some point, his parents will finally have to drag him out of the locker room—he has to be at school in less than nine hours.

But those moments in the locker room will get him out of bed that next morning. He'll go to school like any other normal kid, but when the bell rings in the afternoon, he'll soon be rushing home to start his homework. After all, he needs to get it done if he wants to go back to Chestnut Hill to help out with practice that night. There are more games to be played, and Donahue and the Eagles will be waiting for him.