[/av_textblock] [av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=” custom_class=”] NESN.Com
by Matt Couto
September 29, 2010
The Boston College Eagles won’t be the only eagles in town this weekend.
Saturday at 8 p.m., ‘Challenger,’ a Bald Eagle named after the lost space shuttle crew, will be performing a free-flight into Alumni Stadium as a part of the pre-game festivities for the Eagles’ match-up against Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The stadium gates will open 90 minutes before kick-off and the pre-game ceremonies will be starting a half hour before kick-off.
“We have seen Challenger fly pre-game for NFL and MLB teams and felt it would be a great opportunity to have him perform in Alumni Stadium for our fans,” said Boston College athletic director Gene DeFilippo.
Since 1991, Challenger and his caretaker, American Eagle Foundation president Al Louis Cecere, have performed at hundreds of events across the United States to raise awareness for the Bald Eagle Protection cause. Both of them have helped educate millions of people about the need to protect the country’s national bird and symbol of freedom for our nation. In June of 2007, the Bald Eagle was removed from the endangered species list.
Challenger was the first Bald Eagle in American History trained to free-fly into stadiums and arenas during the Star-Spangled Banner.
Original Article
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