BERKELEY – On the solemn anniversary of September 11, 2001, California rugby honors Mark Bingham and the ultimate sacrifice he made on board United Airlines Flight 93.  
 
Twenty-two years ago, the United States erupted into chaos and devastation as terrorists carried out attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City and at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. Flight 93 emerged as a fourth hijacked plane, threatening the lives of countless individuals located at the U.S. Capitol Building. Former Golden Bear Mark Bingham was a passenger on that flight.
 
Bingham and three other American heroes recognized the threat and devised a plan to retake the plane. They stormed the cockpit and, after a face-to-face struggle with the terrorists, managed to divert the plane into an open field in Pennsylvania. In doing so, the threat to the capitol building was squashed and the lives and safety of thousands in our nation's capital were saved.
 
Bingham was a 6-foot-4 backrower for the Bears who was a member of the 1991 national championship team and a varsity letterwinner. He was a 1993 graduate who earned a bachelor's degree in social sciences with an emphasis on international relations. Following his graduation, he became a public relations executive and formed his own company, the Bingham Group.
 
Bingham is remembered as an American hero and has been honored in many ways since his tragic passing. He was posthumously awarded the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the 2002 ESPYs, and a biennial rugby tournament was named in his honor. The Bingham Cup is now recognized as one of the premier competitions for gay and inclusive rugby, for which Bingham was an advocate. Most recently, Bingham and Jeremy Glick, a fellow rugger and passenger on Flight 93, were presented with the Chairman's Award by the U.S. Rugby Foundation in 2021.
 
At Cal, Bingham's memory lives on in various ways, one of which being the "Mark Bingham Award for Excellence in Achievement by Young Alumni". The university established the annual award to commend a Cal graduate who has made a significant contribution to their community, country or the world. Cal rugby alumnus Stuart Shiff and his wife Josie also established the "Mark Bingham Rugby Backrow Endowment", one of 12 positional endowments that supports the program each year. On display in the Doc Hudson Fieldhouse at Witter Rugby Field is a charcoal impression of the etching of Bingham's name at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York.
 
Cal rugby squad members also honor Bingham each year, this year participating in a team run in remembrance of their fallen fellow Bear. All members of the team gathered to run from the High Performance Center at the top of campus, past the Berkeley landmarks of the Campanile tower and California Hall. Senior prop Michael Puckett led the team in a moment of silence for reflection about Bingham's sacrifice and bravery.
 
 
"Certainly a solemn occasion, but we take some pride in remembering Mark to a newer generation of rugby student-athletes," head coach Jack Clark said. "We have enduring reverence and gratitude for all the heroes on this day 22 years ago."