Northeastern football gear to go to Boston schools

Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff

Farewell to all that -- Northeastern football players walking off the field after the program's last game this fall at the University of Rhode Island.

By Tracy Jan, Globe Staff

One beneficiary of Northeastern University's recent shutdown of its football program: the Boston Public Schools.

The city's high schools are slated to receive thousands of dollars worth of football equipment, including helmets, pads, balls, jerseys, blocking sleds, and kicking tees.

The deal was made between mayor Thomas M. Menino and Northeastern President Joseph Aoun during a recent visit Aoun paid to Menino's house.

The equipment will be donated to the "Red and Blue Foundation," a new non-profit set up to funnel charitable items to the public schools.

Northeastern announced last month that it was ending its program after 74 seasons, saying it was unwilling to invest the millions of dollars needed to improve the team to meet the school's ambitions.