Aug 28, 2013

Chestnut Hill, Mass. - After a 47-year hiatus, Boston College football will welcome the return of a live eagle mascot at all of its home football games for the 2013 season. BC renewed its partnership with Zoo New England and teamed up with the World Bird Sanctuary to bring back the former tradition.

The decision to bring back an eagle to Alumni Stadium is part of an initiative to increase the focus on gameday traditions. "It is time that we bring back some of our old traditions and create new ones," Director of Athletics Brad Bates said. "We are fortunate to have a majestic and imposing mascot and showcasing an eagle in ways that are inspiring and educational will provide an exceptional opportunity for our fans while connecting with our history."

The nine-year-old male bald eagle will be available for viewing and photos before home football games at the FanFest pregame ceremony in the Flynn Recreation Complex. Fans can learn about the eagle through an educational session and will then be given the chance to take pictures with the new mascot in a meet-and-greet.

A naming contest will be run through social media during the month of September that allows participants to submit names for the new mascot. The name for the official BC Eagle will be announced on Parents' Weekend during the football game against Florida State on Sept. 28.

"We are excited to partner with Boston College to bring an eagle back to the games. Not only is this a fantastic opportunity to revive a tradition at BC, it is also an opportunity to share the wonders of wildlife with people. The bald eagle, in particular, is a prime example of what people can do in bringing back a species from the brink of extinction when a concerted effort is made," said John Linehan, Zoo New England President and CEO.

BC last had a live eagle mascot from 1961-1966 after three students (John D. Provasoli, Robert Hart and James McLaughlin) launched "Project Mascot," an effort to secure a live eagle. The university was able to accomplish their goal with the assistance of Walter Stone, superintendent of the Franklin Park Zoo. The bird was housed and cared for at the zoo.

The eagle was named "Margo" in September 1961 after a student-run naming contest. The name was formed by combining the first letters of the Boston College colors, maroon and gold.

For more information on the Boston College Eagle see: http://www.bc.edu/libraries/about/exhibits/burnsvirtual/eagle/3.html

About Zoo New England:

Zoo New England manages Franklin Park Zoo in Boston and Stone Zoo in Stoneham. Both are accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Zoo New England's mission is to inspire people to protect and sustain the natural world for future generations by creating fun and engaging experiences that integrate wildlife and conservation programs, research, and education.

Photo credit Michael Lespasio, BC '15