Man leaves one lasting impression upon the world: legacy. Legacy is an interesting thing- we have no control over it, but it instead controls us. Men like Alexander Hamilton, Napoleon, and countless other historical figures were committed to the idea of what they left behind- what outlived them. Humans cannot measure the impact that they make on others. We do not get a seat at our eulogies in churches or speeches at our wakes. We are not the editors of newspaper articles about us. We are not the defense of our own lives. We are immortalized by legacy. We are immortalized by the kindness we gave, the love we shared, and the compassion we showed. The one thing we cannot control, but somehow represents us.
Michael McGivney was a Benet 2020 Graduate. He was a senior at Miami of Ohio, studying business. Michael McGivney was a dedicated offensive lineman at Benet Academy, earning All-Conference Honors. His family has an older sister, Madison, a younger brother, Dylan, a younger sister, Riley, and two parents, Dr. Thomas and Kimberly McGivney, and the McGivney’s even have a little puppy at home. Michael was a 2016 graduate of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic School in Naperville, Illinois. But even with the things that make him, “him,” Michael was so much more than a conglomerate of facts, a built resume, and another student.
After an interview with Pat New, head varsity football coach at Benet Academy, it was clear that Michael’s legacy would become legend for Redwing Football. Besides the fact that he was a giant on the field and a defensive lineman’s worst nightmare, he was kind. He redefined what it meant to be a Redwing Football player: what it meant to wear the red and black. “Mike,” as Coach New referred to him, was seen as a protector on the team. It led him to earn the name “Hoss” – a southern slang word meaning a strong, respectable, and dependable person, like a large horse. He was a horse — Pat New described him as “[exemplifying] hard work, teamwork, and commitment to getting the job done.” Michael’s teammates saw the “Hoss” in him, whether it was a big push on the one yard line or his mentorship towards his younger brother. Michael was not just a football player; rather, he was a man that played football as means to become the best version of himself for others.
The way Michael McGivney played the game on and off the field would set the precedent for Benet Football for years to come. At Michael’s passing, the Benet Football team felt pain; not only the pain of losing a young man, but a generational leader. Coach Pat New and the current Benet football players decided to honor Michael McGivney’s legacy by wearing “Hoss” on their helmets for the rest of the season. The sticker Hoss would remind them to live like Michael did — to live selfless and to live in protection of your fellow man. The team debuted the helmets on September 11th and wore them on September 15th vs. Montini Catholic High School.
A man is not defined by death but by life. The legacy of Michael McGivney is carried on by his family and the Benet community. Michael dedicated his life to his selflessness — his ability to protect others when they could not protect themselves. He was a man who embodied his name, Michael, meaning a protector. Whether it was on the football field preventing harm for the quarterback or looking out for the “littles” in the world, the gentle giant that Michael was will forever define him. It is in the kindness he gave, the love he shared, and the gentleness he showed that will represent him long after all of us are gone. It is found in the meaning of the “Hoss Helmets” that the world sees just what Michael left behind — his legacy. As a Benet community, we continue to keep Michael and the McGivney family in our prayers. Rest in peace.
