Boston College - Sub Turri Yearbook (Boston, MA)

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All manner of things medical, from Ace bandage to Zino-pad, are the province of BC Trainer Fritz Massman. Fritz is a specialist in a general way: he specializes in curing everything from hangnails to de- pression when such afflictions strike B.C. ' s athletes. Fritz maintains a stoic, humorous attitude toward the failings and foibles of the athletic psyche. A cast, a bandage or a heat treatment is dispensed with a side order of humor. Fritz operates the athletes ' sanctuary, the training table from which healthy bodies are sent out to the contest and to which injuries, sprains, and pains are returned. Aided and abetted by a flock of mischievous mon- sters, the Massman boys, Fritz adds a touch of levity with purpose to h is daily routine of practice. His skill at his healing art, all levity aside, is a professionalism of the first rate. A good coach can teach a player to perform better; it has been only through Fritz ' s skills however, that some of Boston College ' s players have been able to perform at all. A broken bone here or there, a ham- string, a sprain or strain — all can be healed with Fritz ' s concerned supervision. Jack Tighc Fritz Massman Jack Tighe ' s base of operations is McHugh Forum, the home in successive seasons of BC ' s hockey and baseball teams. Jack outfits the hockey Eagles all through the course of a long season, stretching from October through March, and then shifts to baseball for its spring season. In recent years, Jack ' s had the pleasant problem of equipping both teams for travel to NCAA tourna- ments. His attitude with champions is the attitude he takes toward all athletes, a blend of cynicism and warmth that sparks a humorous rapport between him- self and the players. Jack Tighe ' s measure of an athlete is his conduct on and off the field; the best athlete, if he proves too much of a showboat, can ' t earn Jack ' s respect. Hard work and character are still valuable in the Tighe estimate of quality. All three men are valuable to BC athletics; each of the three adds to the success of the Eagles on field, on court, and on ice. Each gives himself to the Boston College athlete, in a role of service but a relationship of respect. Each man, then, has earned Bostpn College ' s thanks. 223

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Trainers Managers An athlete spends a few hours during his season in the color and excitement of intercollegiate compe- tition. He is drilled, tested, coached, outfitted, and trained for one end: to win athletic contests. The athlete must, however, spend many more hours in the tedium and occasional pain of practice, without a screaming crowd or a scoreboard to attest to the results. Behind the scenes at Boston College, players have the assistance and guidance of Jim Cronin, Fritz Mass- man, and Jack Tighe to make practice more meaningful and competition more rewarding. These valuable, self- effacing men, perform a service to BC athletes which makes them an integral and vital part of the athletic program. Jim Cronin has a little bit of everything, in sizes to fit everyone, stashed away in small quarters at Rob- erts Center ' s varsity locker room. The supply may never be enough — especially with football, track, bas- ketball, wrestling, soccer, skiing, and tennis competing for equipment — but the service is always good. Advice is always in stock. Jim Cronin specializes in everything from encouragement to chastisement, pro- viding sermons as they are needed. Cronin ' s stocks have all sorts of pads, cleats, sneakers, jerseys, and every ball imaginable; but more than equipment, his empo- rium dispenses spirit. Jim Cronin, now in his late 60 ' s, retired from business six years ago and has been working at BC ever since. His boys have gone out of Roberts well- dressed and well-equipped, but most important, ready to play. The details of traveling to New Orleans, Annapolis, New York, and points west are his respon- sibility with the aid of a staff of student athletic man- agers. Jim Cronin 222

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