BEVERLY — Who knew a fire hydrant could get people so fired up?
Endicott College President Dick Wylie says he is blindsided by the backlash. But what can you really expect when the fire hydrant is going to be painted in Yankees pinstripes in the middle of Red Sox Nation?
It all started as a bet last spring between Wylie and Kim Peckham, the director of student activities. The bet was simple: Whichever team clinched the East would get a commemorative hydrant on campus.
Painting fire hydrants at Endicott is not unusual. About five years ago, students came to Wylie saying they were sick of painting walls and rocks, so Wylie said, "Why don't you paint the fire hydrants?"
There are now more than 15 painted hydrants on campus, paying tribute to everything from the Boston Celtics to the cartoon "Family Guy." When the students were lobbying to bring a Dunkin' Donuts to campus, they painted a hydrant in that eatery's signature pink and orange.
"It's a message board," Wylie said.
As for the controversial hydrant, which will be painted Monday, Wylie isn't apologizing. His grandfather was a police officer at Yankee Stadium, and he says 25 percent of the student body comes from southern Connecticut, New York and New Jersey.
"I said, OK, guys, I'm going to support the Yankees to balance it out," Wylie said. "I'm the traitor to the Red Sox Nation!"
Peckham, who lost the bet, agrees that the Yankees fans on campus deserve to celebrate, though she is heartbroken about the Red Sox loss. Peckham sent out an e-mail to the student body letting them know about the 4 p.m. fire hydrant ceremony and received a lot of angry responses.
"I'm a huge Red Sox fan," said Peckham, who admits the Yankees had a great season. "My dog's name is Fenway."
Wylie's feeling the heat from other Sox fans.
"I feel abused. I feel beaten up. I feel I ought to turn my Yankees shirt in," Wylie said.
But he has just one thing to say to dissenters, "Get over it!"
"If we can't step back and say somebody beat us, we're wrong," said Wylie, who plans to sit by the hydrant to protect it from possible vandalism, if needed.
Sports are games after all, and they're supposed to be fun.
"It's the spoof, the fun," Wylie said. "Some people take this more seriously than politics, war or religion."
Peckham is mostly surprised by how much attention the small college is getting.
"Maybe Derek Jeter will show up Monday, who knows?" Peckham said.
Not if he knows what's good for him.
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