Challenger is a non-releasable bald eagle in the care of the non-profit American Eagle Foundation. He is the first bald eagle in history trained to free fly over stadium events, including the World Series and United States presidential inaugurations. [1]
At some point, during a storm in 1989, Challenger was blown from his nest as an eaglet. He was found and fed by well-meaning humans who placed him with a rehabilitation program. During his early years, he experienced too much human contact and imprinted on his human handlers. Two unsuccessful release attempts (including one that almost cost him his life) resulted in Challenger being deemed non-releasable, and he was eventually handed over to the Federal authorities. Authorities have since given Challenger to the American Eagle Foundation for care and educational programs. He lives with other birds of prey in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Challenger is named in honor of the space shuttle crew, who were killed when it disintegrated shortly after launch.
In 2019, on Challenger's 30th birthday, American Eagle Foundation announced that the eagle would be retired from free flights and make only gloved appearances. [2] In June 2024 the eagle underwent successful cataract surgery. [3]
Challenger has been an ambassador for his species since 1993. He has raised a great level of public awareness for the habitat destruction of the bald eagle. When the bald eagle was taken off the Endangered Species List, Challenger represented his species during the delisting ceremony at the White House. [4]
Reginald Howard White was an American professional football defensive end who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 15 seasons. White played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers, earning unanimous All-American honors. After playing two seasons for the Memphis Showboats of the United States Football League (USFL), he was selected in the first round of the 1984 NFL Supplemental Draft, and then played for the Philadelphia Eagles, the Green Bay Packers and the Carolina Panthers, becoming one of the most awarded defensive players in NFL history.
War Eagle is a battle cry, yell, or motto of Auburn University and supporters of Auburn University sports teams. War Eagle is a greeting or salutation among the Auburn Family. It is also the title of the university's fight song and the name of the university's golden eagle.
Michael George Vrabel is an American football coach and former linebacker who is the head coach of the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL).
Dennis Wayne Franchione is a former American college football coach. He is the former head football coach at Texas State University, a position he held from 1990 to 1991, when the school was known as Southwest Texas State University, and resumed from 2011 to 2015. Franchione has also served as the head football coach at Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas (1981–1982), Pittsburg State University (1985–1989), the University of New Mexico (1992–1997), Texas Christian University (1998–2000), the University of Alabama (2001–2002), and Texas A&M University (2003–2007). In his 27 seasons as a head coach in college football, Franchione won eight conference championships and one divisional crown.
Wilbert Montgomery is an American former professional football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for nine years with the Philadelphia Eagles and the Detroit Lions. He also served as the running backs and tight ends coach for the St. Louis Rams (1997–2005), the running backs coach for the Lions (2006–2007), Baltimore Ravens (2008–2013) and Cleveland Browns (2014–2015).
The Tennessee Volunteers football program represents the University of Tennessee (UT).
The Boston College Eagles football team represents Boston College in the sport of American football. The Eagles compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). The Eagles home games are played at Alumni Stadium on the university's campus in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.
The 2007–08 NCAA football bowl games concluded the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS regular season in college football.
James Eric Berry is an American former professional football safety who played in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers, where he was a two-time unanimous All-American and recognized as the best collegiate defensive back in the country. He was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs fifth overall in the 2010 NFL draft. Berry was voted to the Pro Bowl five times and named first-team All-Pro three times.
The 1971 NCAA University Division football season saw Coach Bob Devaney's Nebraska Cornhuskers repeat as national champions. Ranked a close second behind Notre Dame in the preseason poll, Nebraska moved up to first place the following week, remained there for the rest of 1971, and convincingly won the Orange Bowl 38–6 in a No. 1 vs. No. 2 game against Alabama.
American Eagle Foundation (AEF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that supports the protection of the bald eagle and other birds of prey.
Todd Eric Kelly is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker/defensive end for four seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected in the first round of the 1993 NFL draft by the San Francisco 49ers. He also played for the Cincinnati Bengals and the Atlanta Falcons. He played college football at the University of Tennessee, where he was a captain of the 1992 team, and received All-SEC and All-American AP honors.
The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act is a United States federal statute that protects two species of eagle. The bald eagle was chosen as a national emblem of the United States by the Continental Congress of 1782 and was given legal protection by the Bald Eagle Protection Act of 1940. This act was expanded to include the golden eagle in 1962. Since the original Act, the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act has been amended several times. It currently prohibits anyone, without a permit issued by the Secretary of the Interior, from "taking" bald eagles. Taking is described to include their parts, nests, or eggs, molesting or disturbing the birds. The Act provides criminal penalties for persons who "take, possess, sell, purchase, barter, offer to sell, purchase or barter, transport, export or import, at any time or any manner, any bald eagle ... [or any golden eagle], alive or dead, or any part, nest, or egg thereof."
David Merritt is an American professional football coach for the Kansas City Chiefs for the National Football League (NFL) and former linebacker who served as the defensive backs coach for the Arizona Cardinals of the NFL. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the seventh round of the 1993 NFL draft. He played college football at North Carolina State.
Jalen Tyler Hurd is an American former professional football wide receiver. He played college football at Tennessee for three years and Baylor for one year. He was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the 3rd round of the 2019 NFL draft.
The Kentucky–Tennessee football rivalry is an American college football rivalry between the Kentucky Wildcats and Tennessee Volunteers. The border rivals have faced off on the gridiron since 1893, making it one of the oldest series in major college football. It was close in the early years, with Kentucky holding a series lead after the first 22 match-ups, but since the early 1930s, Tennessee has dominated the cross-border rivalry. Even -yeared games are played in Knoxville, and odd-yeared games are played in Lexington. The game has never been contested in any other location.
Henry Louis "Trey" Smith III is an American professional football guard for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers before he was selected by the Chiefs in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL draft.
Bennie Jauan Jennings is an American professional football wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Tennessee and was selected by the 49ers in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL draft.
Thomas Townsend is an American professional football punter for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers and Florida Gators, and was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2020.
Darius Leseaun Harris is an American professional football linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Middle Tennessee.