2009 INDUCTESS hall of fame inductees

In Picture: Kenneth Jasper, William Anderson, Paul Giunta, Nichols Hathaway, Steven Drew, Michael Graham, Sean Spaulding


Second Babson Rugby Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. Held at the 30th Anniversary of BURC on October 17th, 2009.

William Anderson

Class of 1983

Bill ‘Lugger’ Anderson ’83

Flanker, Lock, Fierce Competitor, Equalizer and the Original Intimidator.

Year #2, H.O.F. #9

Bill (left) receives his plaque from Dave Mackay.

Bill ‘Lugger’ Anderson ’83

Flanker, Lock, Fierce Competitor, Equalizer and the Original Intimidator.

Year #2, H.O.F. #9

Bill Anderson was a four-year starter for BURC and was a big man among other big men. When BURC first took the field in 1979, Bill was a freshman making an impact on campus and an even bigger impact on the pitch. Bill’s tenacity, helped contribute to the 1983 team ranking of 5th New England, all schools. He was an imposing figure and an enforcer for the club that other teams learned to respect quickly. Bill would occasionally run with the ball but was best at tearing down line outs, flattening opposing backs and delivering the ball to BURC’s backs.

Nichols Hathaway

Class of 1984

Nick ‘Noise’ Hathaway ‘84

Inside & Outside Center, Fullback President, Captain, Spiritual Leader and Biff Bocaroba.

Year #2, H.O.F. #10

Nick (left) receives his plaque from Steve Libbey.

Nick ‘Noise’ Hathaway ‘84

Inside & Outside Center, Fullback President, Captain, Spiritual Leader and Biff Bocaroba.

Year #2, H.O.F. #10

Nick helped continue to build BURC as president, developing A,B & C squads along Babson’s competitive skills and spirit following the graduation of founding members. During Nick’s tenure, Babson defeated Notre Dame to win the Holy Cross invitation cup during the ’83-’84 season. Nick was a leader on and off the pitch including road trips, attending the first two Bermuda Rugby Spring Breaks. Nick’s play could be defined as “tenacious, even if only a back” Nick wrote weekly Rugby updates in the Babson Free Press for Club P.R. under the pen name Biff Bocaroba over multiple years at Babson.

Steven Drew

Class of 1986

Steve ‘Drewski’ Drew ‘86

Fullback, Inside & Outside Center, Officer, Captain and Prolific Scorer. Smart with Ball – Dumb with Body.

Year #2, H.O.F. #11

Steve (right) receives his plaque from Andy Dimitri.

Steve ‘Drewski’ Drew ‘86

Fullback, Inside & Outside Center, Officer, Captain and Prolific Scorer. Smart with Ball – Dumb with Body.

Year #2, H.O.F. #11

Steve was a prolific scorer in his four years with Babson Rugby. He originally came to Babson for Soccer and discovered his love for Rugby with our “Play if you Practice” philosophy. A great athlete, Steve saw “A” team playing time as a freshmen, participated in Club leadership as Secretary in 1984 and Backs Captain in 1985. Steve was known to be aggressive (for a back), smart with the ball, and dumb with his body (included in his plaque inscription). He started as fullback freshman year then moved to inside center sophomore, junior and some outside center senior year. Steve played 95% of the 2006 Alumni Game helping Alumni win the match 19-12.

Paul Giunta

Class of 1991

Paul ‘Paulie’ Giunta ‘91

Inside & Outside Center, Captain, All-Purpose Back. Dedication, Leadership and Commitment.

Year #2, H.O.F. #12

Paul (left) receives his plaque from Jon Kizner.

Paul ‘Paulie’ Giunta ‘91

Inside & Outside Center, Captain, All-Purpose Back. Dedication, Leadership and Commitment.

Year #2, H.O.F. #12

Paul was an inspirational force when he played for Babson and continues to show the strength and determination that inspires everyone who knows him. Paul was Backs Captain in 1990 and he was a bull of an inside center or outside center, or anywhere you needed him. He was an atypical Babson Back because he liked to mix it up and get himself dirty. We won or kept it close many times because of Paul. He was usually the first one at practice and the last one to leave the pitch. After college, Paul went on to play with the Babson Old Boys Rugby Club and returned each year for Alumni Games. He miraculously survived an automobile accident in 2006 and defied all odds to regain his ability to walk and return home by tapping his inner strength once again.

Sean Spaulding

Class of 1998

Sean ‘Rootbeer’ Spaulding ‘98

Inside & Outside Center, President, Officer, Manager, Diplomat and Esteemed Bermuda Stroller.

Year #2, H.O.F. #13

Sean (left) receives his plaque from Karni Baghdikian.

Sean ‘Rootbeer’ Spaulding ‘98

Inside & Outside Center, President, Officer, Manager, Diplomat and Esteemed Bermuda Stroller.

Year #2, H.O.F. #13

In his sophomore year, Sean took over a struggling program that had graduated nearly all of its seniors, seen the rest of its upperclassmen drop out or transfer, and which had been decimated after a disciplinary period. In addition to rebuilding the program into a first-class collegiate program, Sean played harder, ran faster, and scored more tries than anyone on the team. He was originally an outside center, and happily played flanker, lock, or 8-man…and better than pretty much anybody in DII rugby, at that. Sean played for the NERFU select side and was among the only DII athletes on that DI team. He continued playing while earning his Master’s degree at Northwestern University and played in Spain while studying abroad beyond that. Sean has been a fixture at Alumni games in recent years and continues to show the form that earns him the HOF distinction.

Michael Graham

Class of 2003

Michael ‘Biggie’ Graham ‘03

Prop, President, Beast and Big Man with Speed.

Year #2, H.O.F. #14

Mike (left) receives his plaque from Doug Kopcso.

Michael ‘Biggie’ Graham ‘03

Prop, President, Beast and Big Man with Speed.

Year #2, H.O.F. #14

Michael ‘Biggie’ Graham came from Needham and its American Football program. He made a smooth transition from tackle to prop, where he joined the Kopcso brothers, fellow Needhamites, to form the most unbalanced front row that BURC has had in its first 30 years. According to one of his teammates, “Biggie” stood out in every game by providing the ball to his club’s backs and occasionally scoring tries himself. During the fall of 2002 in which BURC went 11-2, losing only to national powerhouse Middlebury, he scored two tries. “Biggie” was also a leader off the field. He served as the club’s president in 2002.

Kenneth Jasper

Class of 1982

Ken ‘KJ’ Jasper ‘82

Fullback, President, Captain, Founding Father, Godfather and Keeper of the Flame.

Year #2, H.O.F. #15

Ken (on shoulders) receives his plaque from teammates.

Ken ‘KJ’ Jasper ‘82

Fullback, President, Captain, Founding Father, Godfather and Keeper of the Flame.

Year #2, H.O.F. #15

Ken Jasper, B’82 was on the field with Tim DeMello and others when BURC first began. He started at Wing then moved to Center and finished at Fullback. He was the Club’s second President and passed control to Charlie Harrington as the third President. Ken played in Alumni Games into the mid 1990’s and upon the tragic passing of Charlie Harrington in 1996 he began documenting the club history for future generations. With other dedicated Alumni, Ken started the Babson Rugby Alumni Advisory Council (RAAC) at the end of 2003. Through these efforts and the help of others he orchestrated 25th, 30th, 35th and 40th Anniversary Celebrations and instituted the Hall of Fame. Through RAAC, he works with both clubs, faculty advisors, and alumni to build upon the clubs traditions and success.

Team of 2002-2003

Class of 2003

Sweet 16

Year #2, Team #3

Sweet 16

Year #2, Team #3

BURC went undefeated in their All Division 2 Fall schedule, then beat Bowdoin in the NERFU Semifinal and lost to Middlebury in the Final. BURC traveled to beat SUNY Fredonia for the Northeast Championship qualifier but fell again to Middlebury in the Northeast Championship. BURC crushed SUNY Siena in the consolation match 91-15 in an effort to receive an invitation to Nationals but were unable to advance further.