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Don Currivan played for Boston College as a stalwart defensive end. He first broke into the sports headlines when he recovered a Holy Cross fumble in 1940, and then scored the touchdown which gave the Eagles a 7-0 victory over the Crusaders. This completed an unbeaten untied season for the Eagles, and they then received an invitation to play in the Sugar Bowl. In 1942 he received All-America acclaim for his work and was one of the factors that led to B.C.'s being chosen to play in the Orange Bowl game that year.
He was drafted by the Chicago Cardinals and served for a short time in the
Army during World War II, but a trick knee saved him from seeing combat, and
finally, he was given an honorable discharge.
After he was discharged, in the fall of 1945, he signed to play with the Boston Yanks. Because of a shortage of players caused by the war the Yanks were temporarily merged with the Brooklyn Tigers, for the 1945 season, and styled as just the Yanks with no home city named. The merged team played four home games in Boston and one in New York and finished with a 3𤖫 record. Don had 16 receptions good for 397 yards with the Yanks. In 1946, the Tigers folded, giving way for the Yanks to fully consume themselves in all things Boston. After training camp at St. John's Prep in Danvers, Massachusetts, the Yanks failed to win a game until late November when they beat the newly-minted Los Angeles Rams. The Yanks would end the year with a dismal 2-8-1 record. Don had 11 receptions for 262 yards and in 1947 he had career high 24 receptions good for 782 yards. In 1948 and 1949 he played for the Los Angeles Rams where he finished his pro career. Don Currivan died suddenly on May 16, 1956 of a cerebral hemorrhage, while playing golf at Oyster Harbors Golf Club in Osterville, Mass. at age 36. He was inducted into the Boston College Varsity Club Athletic Hall of Fame 14 years after he died, in 1970. |
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