Gionta, Kiwanuka, Smith, Snee, Stack Headline Blockbuster BC Varsity Club Hall of Fame Class

The Boston College Varsity Club announced on Tuesday the inductees for its Hall of Fame class of 2019. Eight former Eagles were been selected, with several being some of the most recognizable names in this history of Boston College Athletics.

The eight inductees are:

Ted Basset ‘74 (Men’s Tennis) — two time team MVP, vaulted the team into a conference tournament contender, went undefeated at 16-0 in 1973 and set the team record for wins in 1974 with 17.

Brian Gionta ‘01 (Men’s Ice Hockey) — The greatest four-year men’s hockey player to ever play at Boston College. Three time Hobey Baker finalist. Captained the 2001 team that finally broke through for a national championship. Arguably on the Mount Rushmore of Boston College Athletes.

Mathias Kiwanuka ‘05 (Football) — Known simply as “Kiwi” on the Heights, a two-time first-team All-American. Generally an absolute monster on the defensive line. Beyond his eye-popping college career, also ended up with two Super Bowl rings for the New York Giants.

Owen Murphy ‘26 (deceased – Baseball, Football, Men’s Track & Men’s Basketball) — Veteran’s Inductee for the 2019 class. A four sport (!) student-athlete while at the Heights. Played punter, running back, defensive guard on the hardwood, threw shot put, discus, did the broad jump, ran sprints on the track, was a pitcher, catcher, and infielder. Good grief, could you imagine? What an absolute boss.

Lou Papadellis ‘81 (Men’s Soccer) — Helped transform the BC Men’s Soccer program from .500 team to ECAC Champions. Three-time All New England. Two-time College All Star. Held eight program records by the time he graduated.

Craig Smith ‘06 (Men’s Basketball) — If you know Boston College Basketball, you know Craig Smith. Possibly the greatest men’s player to ever play on the hardwood at BC. One of the program’s leaders in most statistical categories. Led the Eagles to the ACC Championship game in 2005, and was first team all-ACC as a senior in 2006. Another BC legend.

Chris Snee ‘04 (Football) — Three year starter at offensive guard. All Big-East First Team and All-American Second Team in 2003. One of the best offensive linemen in the program’s history. Tremendous pro career as well — a three-time All-Pro and two-time Super Bowl champion with the New York Giants.

Kelli Stack (Jachym) ‘11 (Women’s Ice Hockey) — As the women’s hockey writer putting this write-up together, I will take the full opportunity to express my appreciation to Kelli Stack for what she did to build the BC women’s hockey program that means so much to me. Before Stack came to the Heights, the Eagles had never made the NCAA tournament. In her four years on the Heights, BC made it all four times and advanced to two Frozen Fours. Her decision to come to BC as a freshman almost single-handedly transformed the Eagles from a middling program to an annual Frozen Four contender. She was my inductee into the BCI Hall Of Fame in 2017, and you can read all about how she transformed the program here.

BCEagles.com gave excellent blurbs on each athlete, which I highly recommend that you peruse here,

Congratulations to all eight Eagles on their induction to the Boston College Varsity Club Hall of Fame!