Frozen Four

 
Joseph McMillan
 
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Joseph McMillan
Total Posts:  7658
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12 April 2009 11:03
 

Congratulations to the Terriers of Boston University (my wife’s alma mater), who pulled out a miraculous 4-3 overtime victory in the national collegiate ice hockey championship final last night.  Heraldically relevant because BU has an excellent coat of arms, albeit seldom used these days.

http://www.jacobschapel.com/clientimages/28090/brass_shield.jpg

 

Argent a cross patonce Gules enfiled with three crowns in pale Or.

 

Oh, yeah, and congratulations to the champions of that other winter sport, too, who also have a coat of arms, if not as well-designed.

 

http://images.aboutus.org/images/9/9c/198px-UNC_SEAL.jpg

 
Marcus K
 
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Marcus K
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12 April 2009 12:17
 

The BU Arms are indeed very nice. The three Crowns are from the Arms of Boston in the United Kingdom I guess. But what is the symbolism of the Cross?

 
Joseph McMillan
 
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Joseph McMillan
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12 April 2009 13:40
 

Marcus K;68411 wrote:

The BU Arms are indeed very nice. The three Crowns are from the Arms of Boston in the United Kingdom I guess. But what is the symbolism of the Cross?


As to the crowns, yes, exactly.

 

The cross symbolizes… Christianity (surprise!).  BU was founded as a Methodist institution.  It is now a private nonsectarian university; the downplaying of the university’s historically Christian identity is apparently why the arms are less widely used than before, although the university seal also has a cross on it.

 

http://www.bu.edu/students/matriculation/graphics/photos/seal.jpg

 

(Note: the horizontal lines on the cross should not be taken as Pietrasancta hatching for azure.)

 
Hugh Brady
 
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Hugh Brady
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12 April 2009 15:18
 

True that the arms are not much used, the seal having displaced it, but there is a large flag bearing the shield and motto flying in front of Marsh Chapel everyday.

 
Marcus K
 
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Marcus K
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12 April 2009 18:29
 

Thanks Joseph and Hugh for your information.

 
David E. Cohen
 
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David E. Cohen
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12 April 2009 20:28
 

Two goals in the final minute of regulation, after pulling the goalie, and the winner in OT.  Oh yeah!

GO BU!