Barry Gallup is usually the typical backup wide receiver at ND. He goes to class, practices with the team, has a life outside of football after playing classical piano for almost 14 years. And with a 3.7 GPA, he keeps trying in the classroom to move it up to a 4.0. He says he’d rather be getting on the field than be a star in the classroom, but he can only hope coach Weis puts him out there on the field. He’s been waiting for this 2007 Boston College v. Notre Dame weekend since the day the 2007 schedule came out. Gallup’s father, Barry Sr. played wide out at BC and was an assistant coach with the Eagles too. He helped recruit Doug Flutie, and remains good friends with the Flutie family. Barry Sr. now works for the football operations at BC.
Barry Jr. has gotten to know the BC team pretty well over the years. Back when he was 16 years old, he started practicing with the team in the weight room and on the practice field. He admits to knowing the BC team better than the Notre Dame football team. Gallup shared his thoughts all the way back in April about this weekends game.
“I know right now it’s going to be one of the best days of my life.” Said Gallup Jr. “It’s all anyone’s talked about to my family. I know the guys here, I know the guys there. And my dad’s B.C background just adds some flavor to it. Just for me it’s going to be a thrill.”
Gallup Jr., a red shirt freshman has not seen the field yet this year, but is hoping to on Saturday. Gallup Jr. also has another side to the story. One that may not be familiar with many Irish fans, but back home in Wellesley, MA, people know the story about why he chose the #21 at Notre Dame.
Gallup’s brother, Darren died in a car crash the summer before he went to Harvard on a football scholarship. Barry and Darren were good friends, and at the time Darren had been wearing #21 at the Belmont Hill School, with Barry wearing a different number.
But things changed after the tragic incident, and Belmont Hill’s head coach Kevin Fleming allowed Barry to switch numbers to #21, so Barry could play in honor of his brother.
After standing out at a Nike combine in Pennsylvania with a 40-time of 4.44, Gallup received interest from schools such as Stanford, Harvard, Boston College, Wisconsin, and Notre Dame.
Many in the Boston area thought Barry was a lock for Boston College, but after his visit on junior day at Notre Dame, his mind changed completely. With former Patriots offensive coordinator Charlie Weis at ND, and the tradition of the football program it was to much for Gallup to pass up. And after receiving a phone call from Weis during a Latin test, Gallup said yes, and was one of the first commitments in Weis’ 2010 class.
Now Gallup hopes to turn things around; not just for him, not just for his brother, and not just for his family. He hopes to make ND Nation proud, and will attempt to, if he’s allowed the chance on Saturday, October 13th.
