Eagles Flying Together

Abstract

Every college basketball team competes at the highest level, and has goals both on and off the court. But how often do those goals align themselves with the university that the team is affiliated with? This thesis examines the relationship that the Boston College men’s basketball team has with the University through the lens of social identity. Through library research, participant observation, and one-on-one interviews with individuals around the team and the university, a pattern of the relationship emerged. By focusing on doing things the Boston College way, recruiting a “BC type of kid,” keeping sports in its place, and by creating relationships with different publics outside of the team, the men’s basketball team strives to align itself with the university’s social identity. This thesis will map out what this unique interaction entails and attempt to provide a comprehensive look of the social identity of the men’s basketball team and how it relates to the social identity of Boston College.