History of the Eagle
Prior to 1920, Boston College lacked a mascot. But today, Boston College is known far and wide as the Eagles.Â
In the Spring of 1920, the Boston College track team won the Eastern Intercollegiate competitions. Charlie Donelan of the Boston Traveler illustrated the mascot-less collegiate team as a stray cat lapping up the opposition. This did not sit very well with one loyal alumnus who voiced his displeasure to The Heights' editorial staff.
Identified at the time only as "The Old Man," the alum suggested that the lack of a school mascot led to the insulting cartoon. In his letter published in the May 14, 1920 issue, he suggested to the current student body, "Why not select - the Eagle, symbolic of majesty, power, and freedom. Its natural habitat is the high places. Surely, The Heights is made to order for such a suggestion." The old man was later identified as Rev. Edward J. McLaughlin (Ex-1914).
The University quickly adopted the eagle more formally into campus life.
In the fall of 1923, Boston College was presented with a gift of a live eagle (which was actually hawk). Surviving a horrible storm, the exhausted bird landed on a fishing schooner 50 miles out from the coast of Chatham, Mass. The ship, itself, had barely survived the storm. The bird became entangled in the ship's rigging and was rescued by the crew. Having read of the school's recent adoption of the eagle as a mascot, they presented the bird as a gift to Boston College.
Since 1923, Boston College has gone through a number of mascots, including "Herpy," a stuffed and mounted golden eagle, "Margo," a live golden eagle. Today, there are two mascots in Baldwin, and Baldwin Jr. | The Story of Baldwin
Additionally, "Welles," a live bald eagle - whose visits are facilitated by the Franklin Park Zoo - also makes appearances at selected football games in the fall. In the fall of 2014, a contest was held to name the bald eagle with Welles the winning name. The moniker was chosen to honor Welles Crowther '99, "The Man in the Red Bandana," who passed away in the Sept. 11 World Trade Center bombings while helping other flee the disaster area.Â
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In the Spring of 1920, the Boston College track team won the Eastern Intercollegiate competitions. Charlie Donelan of the Boston Traveler illustrated the mascot-less collegiate team as a stray cat lapping up the opposition. This did not sit very well with one loyal alumnus who voiced his displeasure to The Heights' editorial staff.
Identified at the time only as "The Old Man," the alum suggested that the lack of a school mascot led to the insulting cartoon. In his letter published in the May 14, 1920 issue, he suggested to the current student body, "Why not select - the Eagle, symbolic of majesty, power, and freedom. Its natural habitat is the high places. Surely, The Heights is made to order for such a suggestion." The old man was later identified as Rev. Edward J. McLaughlin (Ex-1914).
The University quickly adopted the eagle more formally into campus life.
In the fall of 1923, Boston College was presented with a gift of a live eagle (which was actually hawk). Surviving a horrible storm, the exhausted bird landed on a fishing schooner 50 miles out from the coast of Chatham, Mass. The ship, itself, had barely survived the storm. The bird became entangled in the ship's rigging and was rescued by the crew. Having read of the school's recent adoption of the eagle as a mascot, they presented the bird as a gift to Boston College.
Since 1923, Boston College has gone through a number of mascots, including "Herpy," a stuffed and mounted golden eagle, "Margo," a live golden eagle. Today, there are two mascots in Baldwin, and Baldwin Jr. | The Story of Baldwin
Additionally, "Welles," a live bald eagle - whose visits are facilitated by the Franklin Park Zoo - also makes appearances at selected football games in the fall. In the fall of 2014, a contest was held to name the bald eagle with Welles the winning name. The moniker was chosen to honor Welles Crowther '99, "The Man in the Red Bandana," who passed away in the Sept. 11 World Trade Center bombings while helping other flee the disaster area.Â
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