Although the Philadelphia Eagles have been in a media spotlight the past week for their matchup with the Washington Redskins, their quiet stay on the university’s doorstep went widely unnoticed.
The hotel staff of the University of Maryland, University College Inn and Conference Center took great efforts to keep the Eagles’ stay near the campus quiet; no staff members would comment on the visit. The driveway to the hotel – less than one mile from the campus – was blocked to the public while team members, staff and others affiliated with the Eagles were loaded onto a total of 6 buses.
Four buses left the hotel at 6 p.m. with an escort of four police motorcycles and several other police vehicles. Two other buses left earlier in the day also with an escort, University Police Capt. John Brandt said. Two of the later-leaving buses were described as carrying coaches and players.
Brandt said he had been at the hotel providing security since 9 a.m. with two other campus officers. The hotel paid the police department to provide officers to work overtime, Brandt said. He said the Eagles had rented their entire wing of the hotel, but hotel staff would not comment on it.
Sunday, before the game, the Rev. Bill Byrne, chaplain at the Catholic Student Center, held Mass for the Eagles. About 25 team members attended the Mass in one of the hotel’s conference rooms, Byrne said.
Byrne said he did not say a special homily, but gave the team a blessing addressed to Our Lady of Victory, a prayer written by a Philadelphia priest the team requested, he said.
Byrne told those at the Student Center’s evening Mass of his blessing and said, “I hope you didn’t put too much money on the Redskins.” After Mass, Byrne avoided staking a position on either team’s side, saying only, “I want no one to be hurt.”
Contact reporters Brendan Graves and Will Skrownski at newsdesk@dbk.umd.edu.
