Boston College turned a routine in-game passing contest into something far bigger Saturday, giving 18-year-old Daelan Gallagher of Norton, Mass. a surprise trip to the College Football Playoff National Championship in Las Vegas.
Gallagher was selected to take part in the promotion near the start of the second quarter at Alumni Stadium during BC’s game against Virginia Tech. With under nine minutes left in the period, he went onto the field in front of the student section and tried to complete a couple of passes as part of the usual contest, where each successful throw brings a fan closer to a prize.
But this time, the setup was part of a Make-A-Wish reveal. After the contest ended, a recorded message from head coach Bill O'Brien appeared on the stadium video board and announced that Gallagher was headed to the January, 2027 game at Allegiant Stadium.
"That's what Boston College is all about: giving back," said O'Brien after the Eagles finished their game against Virginia Tech. "We do a lot with Team Impact and the Campus School, and I've been involved with Make-A-Wish for a long time. It's a great organization."
The surprise fit neatly with the mission of Make-A-Wish, which grants wishes to children with critical illnesses and aims to create joy while reinforcing strength and resiliency. Since the organization began granting wishes in Arizona in 1980, more than 11,000 children in Massachusetts and Rhode Island have received wishes, and Gallagher’s is one of 400 that Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island will grant during this program year.
Across the globe, more than 650,000 wishes have been granted, supported by more than 27,000 volunteers.
O'Brien tied the moment back to Boston College’s larger purpose after the game, linking it to the school’s “men and women for others” message.
"Those are important things to us here at BC football and BC Athletics," said O'Brien. "It's one of the greatest things about this school. We definitely walk the walk on giving back, and I think [today] was a fantastic one."
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