Rising Eagle Statue Dedicated: A Tangible Reminder to Inspire All Eagles

On Friday, May 29th, a talented and generous group of alumni and friends of Gonzaga gathered outside the Sheridan Center for the dedication of a new statue, built to commemorate a remarkable 2018 athletic achievement.

The game-winning, 53-yard ‘Hail Mary’ pass from quarterback Caleb Williams ’21 to wide receiver John Marshall ’19 with four seconds left in the 2018 WCAC championship game against DeMatha is the stuff of legends. For years, Mark Matan ’84 had the idea to commemorate not only the game, but the grit, poise, and determination it took to pull off that come-from-behind victory.

Working with artist and sculptor Brendan O’Neill ’60, Matan envisioned a sculpture that students would walk by, touch for good luck, and draw inspiration from. Created by O’Neill, the statue, called the Rising Eagle, sits on a base of granite generously donated and installed by Michael Bratti ’84, who owns R. Bratti Associates.

“When Mark first spoke to me about his notion for a statue commemorating this victory,” said Gonzaga President Fr. Joe Lingan, S.J. ’75, “he told me that he wanted something that would always remind Gonzaga students not just of this memorable game – but more importantly that it would be a reminder to every Gonzaga student and student-athlete to never count themselves out, to always stay in the fight, and to have confidence in the ability to pick themselves up when the odds are not in their favor.”

John Marshall returned to Gonzaga for the unveiling, along with other members of the 2018 WCAC championship team. Members of the Class of 2026 were on campus for their graduation rehearsal and class picnic, and were invited to be the first to see the statue. As they passed by in their white tuxedo jackets, they eagerly reached out to touch the eagle, giving it a grateful pat for their own experiences on Eye Street.