Boston College QB dedicates season to Harambe, the Cincinnati zoo gorilla

Published Nov. 15, 2016 3:49 p.m. ET

Aaron Torres

College football camps are opening nationwide this week, the first opportunity to get to see different players and different teams, and more importantly find out what is inspiring them heading into the season.

For some, it’s a crippling loss to end last year, which fueled them through those grueling off-season workouts. For others, they’re inspired by friends and family, maybe even a child or other loved one.

Then there’s Boston College quarterback Patrick Towles, who announced he is dedicating his upcoming season to a very special source of inspiration: Harambe, the Cincinnati zoo gorilla.

Below is Towles’ post, and his message:

Dedicating this season to the realist there ever was... #RIPHARAMBE

So unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last four months, you’re probably very familiar with the story of Harambe, who was killed by Cincinnati zoo authorities to protect a small child who fell into his cage. The killing caused international outcry from animal rights activists, who wondered why the animal had to lose his life.

Apparently Towles — a transfer quarterback from Kentucky — is one of those people, and he let the world know it Saturday afternoon.

We’ll see if Towles’ inspiration helps the Eagles at all this year. As you’ll remember, they finished just 3-9 overall last year, including 0-8 in the ACC.

While it’s a long-shot, maybe having something to rally around as a team (like Harambe) is exactly what the Eagles need.