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Meet Kenyatta Watson, a onetime receiver who’s been named the first general manager in Boston College football history – The Boston Globe

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Meet Kenyatta Watson, a onetime receiver who’s been named the first general manager in Boston College football history – The Boston Globe


When he interviewed with Boston College coach Steve Addazio and didn’t get the job, Watson never relented. He interviewed again with Jeff Hafley and was in the running, before landing a position at Florida State.

Recently, after stops at FSU, Georgia Tech, and Auburn, Watson interviewed once more at BC. This time, everything fell into place with Bill O’Brien at the helm. Watson is now the first general manager in Boston College football history.

“Third time’s the charm,” Watson said. “Once the interaction began, it was a natural fit. It wasn’t like, ‘Oh my God, they finished 2-10. I’m afraid of that.’ No, I love the challenge. It’s an honor to have the opportunity.”

Watson first played competitive football at age 7 and immediately fell in love with the game. His mother ran track at Simon Gratz High School in Philadelphia, which explains Watson’s blazing speed.

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Scarlett, a single mother, worked multiple jobs to provide for her family. Watson said he never went a day without thinking they were the richest people in the world. His mother always ensured he had the best cleats and bike helmet to keep up with his peers.

“Amazing woman. Just amazing,” Watson said. “She taught me discipline. She instilled that hard work will always win. She taught me to never give up.”

Watson starred at Deerfield Beach High and garnered heavy national interest. BC entered the picture relatively late, and Watson always smiles when he thinks about his first interaction with coach Tom Coughlin.

When Coughlin and assistant coach Randy Edsall entered Watson’s living room, before they could get a word in, Scarlett turned to them and addressed the elephant in the room.

“You’re not going to make him turn Catholic, are you?” Watson recalls his mother asking.

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Coughlin clarified that they were not, and a conversation flowed naturally from there. Watson helped the Eagles to a 9-3 season as a freshman in 1993, highlighted by wins over No. 13 Syracuse, No. 25 Virginia Tech, and No. 1 Notre Dame.

Watson gravitated toward the gritty nature of the program under Coughlin. The Eagles couldn’t wear earrings or have facial hair below the bottom lip. There was no indoor facility, so practices were outdoors in the cold. Games were won in the trenches, and opposing players left battered and bruised.

“Tom Coughlin taught me discipline,” Watson said. “He taught hard work. He taught me to always have a plan, and then if that plan didn’t work, make sure you had another plan.”

The Eagles finished 7-4-1 the next year under Dan Henning. Watson, a wide receiver and returner, teamed up with quarterback Glenn Foley for one season, Mark Hartsell for two, and Matt Hasselbeck for one.

Watson finished his career with 93 catches for 1,215 yards and five touchdowns, along with a rushing TD and two punt returns for scores.

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Watson dreamed of a long and fruitful career in the NFL. After a brief stint with the Cowboys in 1997, he realized that wasn’t feasible and pivoted to helping the next generation.

When BC football coach Bill O’Brien blows the whistle to open preseason camp next summer, he’ll have spent a full offseason working alongside new Eagles general manager Kenyatta Watson.Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe

Watson spearheaded the creation of a highly successful travel football program in Georgia, the Gwinnett Chargers, that has since sent dozens of players to Division 1 college programs and several to the NFL.

He then worked for a company called 3Step Sports that helps young prospects gain exposure, and Grayson High School in Loganville, Ga., as a college recruiting liaison. Mentoring and inspiring kids was fulfilling, yet he knew he was capable of even more.

Eventually, that opportunity came at Florida State under Mike Norvell as director of player relations and a pro scout liaison. Watson was later the director of scouting at Georgia Tech for two seasons, followed by assistant general manager/recruiting at Auburn for two years.

BC was far away geographically, yet very much on his mind and in his heart. When everything finally aligned, it felt serendipitous.

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“I tell kids all the time, if you look at my story and you look at my journey, anything is possible, as long as you keep working hard and keep believing in you,” Watson said.

When Watson speaks with parents, they rarely discuss football. Watson, whose sons, Kenyatta and Jett, have been highly recruited, tells them what to expect.

He prides himself on his ability to build and maintain relationships, which he believes pays dividends initially and when players transfer.

“One of the things that we needed to do was do a great job of upgrading how we acquire talent,” O’Brien said in a BC Athletics video. “Kenyatta has an unbelievable track record.”

Watson referenced Vanderbilt, Virginia, Georgia Tech, and Duke as prestigious academic institutions that have revitalized their football programs. If they can do it, Watson said, so can BC.

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Director of athletics Blake James called the hiring a “huge win,” referring to Watson as someone who can help the Eagles compete on a national level.

“He’s someone who understands what it means to be a Boston College student-athlete and how that’s different from other places,” James said.

As Watson got off the plane Dec. 7, and arrived for work the following day, it felt surreal to complete a dream nearly 30 years later.

With notes from grateful alumni on his desk, and a warm welcome from O’Brien and Co., it immediately felt like home again.

Then, it was time to work.

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“Let’s build this thing back up,” Watson said.

Ben Volin and Chris Price cover the Patriots’ loss to the Bills, what losing out on Pete Alonso means for the Red Sox, and ESPN’s Chris Berman joins the show.

Trevor Hass can be reached at trevor.hass@globe.com. Follow him on X @TrevorHass.





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Boston Police Blotter: Southie pub brawl leads to alleged stabbing

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Boston Police Blotter: Southie pub brawl leads to alleged stabbing


Two people were stabbed following an alleged bar brawl in Southie over the weekend.

According to a police report, officers arrived at Tom English’s around 10:30 p.m., Friday for a report of a fight. When they arrived on the scene, a victim told police that he was sucker punched during a fight and pointed out a person who was the “main aggressor” throughout the incident.

The suspect was pat frisked by police, but the report said they did not find any weapons. “The suspect stated that he was jumped [by the party of the victim,” the report said. “The suspect refused to cooperate any further after repeated attempts by officers to get his version of events.”

Both the suspect and victim declined EMS.

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Then about an hour later, three more victims arrived at a nearby police station to report that two of them had been stabbed in the fight at Tom English. One of the unnamed victims said that the fight started after the suspect kept moving coins he put down to play pool. The suspect, according to one of the other victims, told them to meet him outside.

All parties were kicked out by a bouncer and “a large brawl ensued,” the report said. The victims told police that that suspect brandished a knife and the victims said they “fled the scene on foot fearing for their lives.”

In the report, police noted that they saw wounds on two of the victims. EMS was called to treat them.

BPD did not confirm whether the suspect was arrested.

Fireworks call leads to firearm recovery in Mattapan

Reports of fireworks led Boston Police to recover a firearm Monday night in Mattapan.

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Officers responded to the area around Callender Street at about 10 p.m. for a call of shots fire, but a supervisor alerted them that individuals were shooting off fireworks.

When police got to the scene, they said they saw a group of people standing near a car that had several packages of fireworks. As officers approached, one man started to sprint towards Blue Hill Ave., throwing a jacket off as he ran, according to BPD.

Multiple officers responded to detain the suspect and a pat frisk of the jacket uncovered a ghost gun with 7 rounds in the magazine, police said.

Kahnari White, 24, of Mattapan was charged with carrying a loaded firearm without a license, carrying a firearm without a license, possession of a firearm without an FID card, and possession of a large capacity feeding device.

While the foot pursuit and arrest of White unfolded, police said the group standing with the fireworks began to become “hostile and threatening to an officer who remained with them on scene.”

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One person allegedly continued to threaten an officer and bumped him on the chest as more officers arrived.

“Multiple de-escalation tactics were attempted, but the suspect continued to threaten officers,” Boston police said in a statement.

Eventually, officers were able to detain Sean Galvez, 40, of Quincy. Galvez was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and assault and battery on a police officer.

Both suspects are expected to be arraigned at Dorchester District Court.

Gun recovered after foot chase in Dorchester

A 22-year-old from Dorchester was arrested on gun charges after police said they approached the suspect for drinking in public Monday night.

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Officers saw a group on Draper St. drinking publicly around 8:30 p.m., and when they approached them, one individual started to walk away.

“When officers advised the male that he could not be drinking alcohol in public, he fled on foot,” Boston Police said in a statement. “A foot pursuit ensued, and officers stopped the suspect.”

Police recovered a Smith and Wesson M&P Bodyguard .380 with nine rounds in the magazine during a pat frisk and said that the serial number on the gun was defaced.

Denilson Pires was arrested and charged with carrying a firearm without a license, possession of ammunition without an FID card, and defacing a firearm serial number.

He is expected to be arraigned at Dorchester District Court.

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‘More than just a game’: Free chess classes aim to reduce youth violence in Boston – The Boston Globe

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‘More than just a game’: Free chess classes aim to reduce youth violence in Boston – The Boston Globe


“I know we’re used to rushing, but this is a mind game. So we want to slow down and think,” Shaheed said. “Don’t move off of impulse.”

It’s a message that extends far beyond the chess board.

Organizers of Boston’s new Chess for Peace program are using one of history’s oldest board games to teach kids important life skills, including strategic thinking and conflict resolution. Their goals are to reduce youth violence and address the negative impacts of technology.

The program offers free chess classes Sunday afternoons in the basement of the Madison Park High School gym in Roxbury. It’s affiliated with a Boston Public Schools initiative that also includes basketball, boxing, yoga, rugby, and more, an effort to support families and keep students engaged throughout the week.

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Kids, including Jacquami Pierre, 7, participate in the Chess for Peace program at Madison Park High School.
Pat Greenhouse/Globe Staff

The 6-WON-7 program, which has grown significantly over the past couple years, is about to mark its 100th Sunday, said Cory McCarthy, director of student support at Boston Public Schools. School administrators launched the program partly in response to reports about unruly teenagers causing chaos at the South Bay shopping center and elsewhere on weekends, McCarthy said.

“School should feel like a community,” he said. “It’s the forgotten piece in the academic journey. It’s a safety issue. It’s violence prevention, it’s youth development, it’s all part of student wellness.”

While violent crime has decreased overall, youth violence remains a concern in Boston, largely concentrated among small groups of teenagers and sometimes fueled by gang affiliations. Social media often plays a role, experts say, with kids posting threats or bragging about crimes they’ve committed.

As technology shortens our attention spans, encourages rash decision-making and limits in-person interactions, playing chess can be a robust kind of antidote, said Renee Callender, a retired Boston police detective who spearheaded the program.

“It’s more than just a game. It actually mirrors life,” she said. “In the game of chess, like life, every action comes with consequences.”

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During more than three decades on the police force, Callender saw firsthand how cycles of violence start and end. She also founded a nonprofit called Promoting Conflict Resolution, Inc.

Instructed by Ishmael Shaheed, center rear, kids participate in the Chess for Peace program at Madison Park High School.Pat Greenhouse/Globe Staff

She said the idea for the program came from watching a youth chess tournament on TV; she was impressed by how poised and attentive the players looked. Maybe this could help kids in Boston stay out of trouble, she thought.

“It’s not only about how to play but how to lose,” she said. “How to gracefully lose. How to be humble.”

Indeed, it’s all fun and games until your king is in check.

Jacquami eventually lost to his opponent, 7-year-old Filip Rancic, who said his winning strategy involved steadily advancing his pieces toward the middle of the board.

“Sometimes he wins, sometimes he loses. So that’s good for him,” said Filip’s dad, Milan Rancic.

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“They need to learn to be patient enough to develop a strategy, and obviously avoid a tantrum when they lose — pretty much everything we want our kids to learn,” he added.

During the class, three sets of players sat across from each other at classroom desks, with Shaheed monitoring their games and offering instruction. Sometimes the clink of plastic chess pieces was the only sound in the room.

“I think I got checkmate,” exclaimed Henry Lee, 10, bouncing excitedly in his chair.

Shaheed inspected the board and confirmed — checkmate, indeed.

“Good game,” Lee said, reaching out to shake hands with his opponent, 11-year-old Jesus Beltran.

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“Can you believe you just lost to a 10-year-old?” he asked, grinning.

Beltran laughed, rolled his eyes and started setting up the board again; he had won the previous match. In addition to chess, the boys play soccer together. They agreed their friendship can easily withstand some light-hearted competition.

Kids, including Zoya Thurston, 10, participate in the Chess for Peace program held at Madison Park High School.
Pat Greenhouse/Globe Staff

A few turns into the next game, Lee made a move he instantly regretted.

“Can I have that turn back?” he asked Beltran, who smiled and shook his head no.

“So often, they’re focused on just one piece,” said Rhodes Pierre, another instructor with the program. “I tell them to examine the entire board.”

Pierre, who grew up in Mattapan, has experienced firsthand the impacts of violence. His older brother was shot and killed in 1994 near their childhood home, about two weeks after he inadvertently witnessed another daytime shooting nearby. The case was later linked to a neighborhood drug gang, according to news reports at the time.

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Pierre said he started playing chess in college and quickly came to appreciate the life skills it teaches.

“Giving people another outlet to express themselves without having to revert to violence, that’s a good thing,” he said. “Making people sit down and think. It’s a better avenue than what we have right now.”

While kids participate in the Chess for Peace program, parents and other family members watch nearby in Madison Park High School.Pat Greenhouse/Globe Staff

While sprinkling in the basics of chess strategy, Shaheed sends a similar message.

“It’s about seeing the moves behind the moves,” he told the class. “It takes paying attention, hearing your own self think. Most games are won or lost because of focus.”

It’s something he personally learned the hard way, Shaheed said.

Now 45, he spent much of his youth caught in a cycle of poverty, crime, incarceration, and mental illness. From foster care and psychiatric institutions to jails and prison, he ended up playing a lot of chess.

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The game took on a central role in his life, an overarching metaphor that changed the way he approached decision-making, Shaheed said. Especially when he found himself in a hostile environment, he would think about the moves available to him and their potential consequences. That finally helped him leave the streets behind and forge a new path.

“The easy money, it wasn’t working. It was almost like a setup — nothing made sense anymore,” he said. “I needed a better move.”

Instructed by Ishmael Shaheed, kids participate in the Chess for Peace program, held at Madison Park High School. At left is Filip Rancic, 7, Levi Ilse, 7, at right.Pat Greenhouse/Globe Staff

He still plays chess regularly with various partners he’s befriended around Boston. He said he hopes younger generations will find some of the same benefits he’s experienced.

“Chess is a game of distress, tribulations, defeat, obstacles, resistance, competition, sorrow, and conquest,” Shaheed wrote in his recently published book, “Games Over: The Real Story About Chess and Life.”

“And that’s what life is all about — overcoming barriers and making progress.”


Lea Skene can be reached at lea.skene@globe.com. Follow her on X @lea_skene.

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This Marblehead man is running the Boston Marathon for his pediatric patients

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This Marblehead man is running the Boston Marathon for his pediatric patients


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“Every kid should have access to the best, most cutting edge treatments, and we aim to do that here, regardless of where the kids come from or what resources they have themselves.”

Ben Wishart is running the 2026 Boston Marathon. Brian Wishart

In our “Why I’m Running” series, Boston Marathon athletes share what’s inspiring them to make the 26.2-mile trek from Hopkinton to Boston. Looking for more race day content? Sign up for Boston.com’s pop-up Boston Marathon newsletter.

Name: Brian Wishart

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Age: 42

City/State: Marblehead, Mass.

I am running as the Chief of the Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine division at Spaulding Rehab to help support the hospital and adaptive sports programs.   

At Spaulding Rehabilitation, we have a full team that is really incredible at what they do. Each staff member, from the physicians, therapists, nurses, case managers, social workers, to the front desk and care assistants, are incredible.  

We work everyday in inpatient, in the clinic, in the therapy gym, and doing research to bring these types of outcomes to all our patients.  Though we see wonderful outcomes, there is always work to be done.  

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One of our goals is to really integrate the amazing research being done at Spaulding into clinical care.  

Every kid should have access to the best, most cutting edge treatments, and we aim to do that here, regardless of where the kids come from or what resources they have themselves. 

We also want to make sure we are thinking about some of those less flashy innovations in terms of how we are educating or empowering our patients, or how we are supporting and helping them cope with a new reality. 

Pediatric care is resource intensive, from needing a lot of expertise to just needing multiple sizes of each piece of equipment. 

I am working to raise funds and support to really think broadly and expansively about what we are doing and how we provide care everyday for every patient. 

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That may mean bringing meaningful research to the clinical setting or ensuring there are enough child life specialists available with the resources they need to make these children comfortable in the hospital. 

It is a privilege what I get to do every day and I thank you all sincerely for any support!

Editor’s note: This entry may have been lightly edited for clarity or grammar.


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