Pigskin at Polar Park? It's happening this fall between Holy Cross and Harvard football

WORCESTER — Patrick Haughney and Pat McMurtrie grew up playing baseball together in New Jersey.

The pair of Pats will trade in a baseball for a pigskin, however, on Sept. 30 when the two seniors suit up for the Holy Cross football team as the Crusaders take on Harvard at Polar Park in the third annual EBW Football Classic.

“I’ve always loved playing baseball, and getting to play on a Triple-A baseball field with Pat and the rest of my close friends in front of thousands of people is an experience and a story that not many get the opportunity to say that they’ve had,” Haughney said. “And to do it all in Worcester is pretty special.”

Polar Park will transform into a football field for a third straight fall with Holy Cross having served as gridiron host each time. But this year marks the first time that two Massachusetts schools — separated by just 37 miles — will battle at the home of the WooSox.   

“We’re grateful to our friends from Holy Cross and Harvard for their partnership in bringing the third annual EBW Football Classic to fruition,” said Dan Rea, Worcester Red Sox executive vice president and general manager. “After strong games to start this series the last two years, we’re looking forward to continuing the momentum and seeing 10,000 men and women from both schools turning out for an unforgettable matchup.”

When Holy Cross hosts Harvard in September at Polar Park, the Crusaders will put their undefeated streak at the home of the WooSox on the line. On Oct. 23, 2021, Holy Cross made its Polar Park debut and cruised over Colgate University, 42-10, in front of a sellout crowd of 9,508. Last year on Oct. 8, the nationally ranked Crusaders blanked Bucknell University, 57-0, before 7,658 at the home of the WooSox.

“It’s a very cool atmosphere,” said McMurtrie, a 6-foot-6 senior offensive lineman who has been a part of the first two games at Polar Park. “It’s cool to get the city of Worcester involved and get all the people involved with the game. I always have a lot of fun, it’s a cool playing under the lights.”

Holy Cross and Harvard have met 73 times since first facing each other back in 1904, and the Crimson hold the all-time series lead 45-26-2. The Crusaders did knock off the Crimson, 30-21, last year at Harvard Stadium for their first win over Harvard since 2016.

Now the two college football teams separated by less than 40 miles get to square off at Polar Park in two months.

“It’s pretty cool. Our locker room is the WooSox home locker room. We come in through the street and come in all the back tunnels, it’s cool to see the stadium from that aspect, too,” said Haughney, a 6-foot-3 placekicker/punter. “When you score or when you make a big play, it’s pretty cool to hear the roars and echoes throughout the stadium.”

Tickets for the EBW Football Classic, which is named after late Holy Cross alum Edward Bennett Williams, officially went on sale last week.

WooSox use Holy Cross football helmet as home run celebration

Last fall, WooSox clubhouse manager Mario Oliveira was asked by a member of the Holy Cross football equipment staff if they could take a WooSox batting helmet back with them to Fitton Field as a memento.

Oliveira obliged. But when he was asked if he wanted anything in return, he opted for a similar keepsake.

“We did a helmet-for-helmet trade,” Oliveira said.

On March 31, Jarren Duran walked into Oliveira’s office at Polar Park and noticed a Holy Cross football helmet sitting on the shelf. The now Red Sox player asked Oliveira if he was doing anything with it. 

“I said, ‘No, it’s kind of just sitting there’” Oliveira recalled, “and (Duran) was like ‘Can I take it so we can use it for a home run helmet?’ ”

Oliveira obliged. But when Duran tried to place the Holy Cross football helmet over his head, it didn’t fit.

“So he took all of the padding out of the helmet,” Oliveira said.

Since then, the WooSox have celebrated round-trippers at Polar Park by placing the helmet on the home-run hitter as soon as they return to the dugout. With a few missed opportunities here and there.

“It’s cool to celebrate a home run, but it’s super big, so you can’t see anything when you’re going down the dugout,” said Bobby Dalbec, who leads the team with 25 home runs. “But it’s cool, it’s just another way to celebrate a hit.”

“I’m glad that they’re putting it to a good use,” Oliveira said.

— Contact Tommy Cassell at tcassell@telegram.com. Follow him on Twitter @tommycassell44. 

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Holy Cross set to host Harvard for EBW Football Classic at Polar Park