For years, the Monsignor Plunkett Monument at Immaculate Conception High School’s Lewis Stadium was missing its head: a large granite football.

No longer.

Thanks to an unknown contributor, the monument now has a new granite football adorning the monument dedicated to “the whole man” that ICHS founder Monsignor William J. Plunkett wanted graduating from his school.

“It really represents the dream of educating the whole person in mind, body, and spirit,” ICHS Hall of Fame inductee and 1987 alum Mike Calcagno said. “Monsignor Plunkett believed in really driving home those three integral parts of education.”

Calcagno, who himself played football during his ICHS days, was on hand to rededicate the monument early this fall.

“It was just a reiteration of what Monsignor Plunkett wanted to do, and how it applied to my everyday life,” he said. “I started off as a 114-pound freshman in high school, and was able to develop over time academically, spiritually, and athletically.”

ICHS Head Football Coach Mike Alberts also doesn’t know how the new granite football wound up at the ticket booth in an unmarked box during the 2008 state playoffs, but he’s glad it’s there.

“For the most part, it’s just a good chance for kids to learn the ideals that the school and program were founded on, when you talk about setting the higher standard and living according to a code that’s what the monument is all about,” he said.

Alberts said security has been tight because of the new football, which is only brought out from hiding for game time. At the final whistle, the football is returned to its secret location.

Calcagno is happy the mystery donor would do such a good deed.

“I thought that was pretty special,” he said. “ICHS is resurgent because people are understanding in this town, there’s an opportunity to develop at every school ... with that said everybody can stay true to the message that Monsignor Plunkett wanted to have.”