Charleston, S.C. - The Citadel retired the jersey of former football player Marc Buoniconti Saturday during an inspiring and emotional halftime ceremony during the home Bulldogs' game with Southern Conference rival Chattanooga. Flanked by his family, former teammates, Citadel President Lt. Gen. John Rosa and Director of Athletics Les Robinson, Buoniconti modestly accepted the honor and implored those around him to share in the special moment.
Buoniconti, a member of the Class of 1988 who was paralyzed while making a tackle during a football game 21 years ago, was moved by the warm reception that The Citadel and the Charleston community have given him.
“I have felt a tremendous amount of love and support from the entire Citadel community,” Buoniconti said. “I wanted to take this opportunity to express great appreciation to The Citadel for their recognition of me as a student-athlete and for my contributions to those suffering with spinal cord injuries. I have always been proud of my time at The Citadel with my teammates and classmates. Having my football jersey retired is an honor for all of us who shared that important time in my life.”
The Citadel's Board of Visitors voted in February to retire Buoniconti's jersey. The motion, presented by Jack Douglas, a former Citadel quarterback and chairman of the board's athletic committee, passed unanimously.
In March, Buoniconti returned to The Citadel for Corps Day Weekend.
“We are delighted to honor Marc Buoniconti and welcome him back to campus and The Citadel family,” said Billy Jenkinson, then the chairman of the Board of Visitors. “Marc Buoniconti is most deserving of this recognition. The way he has turned personal tragedy into a means of service to others is an example of leadership that inspires us all.”
Current BOV Chairman Art Baiden said: “It is a privilege for all of us associated with The Citadel to honor Marc with the retirement of his jersey. Marc Buoniconti exemplifies 'principled leadership' and puts service above self.”
Buoniconti was a sophomore linebacker for the Bulldogs in 1985 when he suffered a spinal cord injury in a game played at East Tennessee State University. The injury left Buoniconti paralyzed from the neck down.
Since his injury in 1985, Buoniconti and his family have worked tirelessly to raise awareness and money for The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis in an effort to help others with spinal cord injuries.
“The Citadel is very proud of what Marc has done,” said Rosa. “It's amazing the amount of money he's raised. It's exactly the kind of leadership we're tying to teach our young people.”
In addition to the halftime ceremony to retire his jersey, there was a tailgate party fundraiser to benefit The Citadel Brigadier Foundation and The Buoniconti Fund. The Citadel Brigadier Foundation has established a scholarship in Marc's name and The Buoniconti Fund raises money for and awareness of The Miami Project's spinal cord injury research programs.
The action by the Board of Visitors was the culmination of efforts by alumni and fellow team members to recognize and honor Buoniconti for his accomplishments as a Citadel cadet-student-athlete and for his contributions to helping others with spinal cord injuries through his work with The Miami Project and The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis.
ABOUT THE MIAMI PROJECT: In 1985, Barth A. Green, M.D. and NFL Hall of Fame linebacker Nick Buoniconti helped found The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis after Nick's son, Marc, sustained a spinal cord injury during a college football game. Today, The Miami Project is the world's largest, most comprehensive spinal cord injury research center and is based at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. The Miami Project's international team of over 200 scientists and clinicians take innovative approaches to the challenge of spinal cord injury. Committed to finding a cure for paralysis resulting from spinal cord injury and to seeing millions worldwide walk again, the Buoniconti family established The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis in 1992, a non-profit organization devoted to assisting The Miami Project achieve its national and international goals. The Buoniconti Fund serves as the national fundraising arm of The Miami Project. It is designed to complement the scientific accomplishments of The Miami Project by generating funds and high levels of awareness.
ABOUT THE CITADEL: The Citadel, a military college established in 1842 in Charleston, SC, has the mission of excellence in the education of principled leaders. Home to the 2,000-member South Carolina Corps of Cadets, The Citadel sees about a third of each graduating class accept military commissions while the others go to graduate school or into the work force. The military-style education at The Citadel focuses on developing the mind, body and spirit in a way that prepares graduates to lead and to serve others.
