While confidence on the field often comes from performance, many high school, college, and professional athletes also reassure themselves with pre-game rituals. Deerfield Academy’s football team, the back-to-back winners of the Mike Silipo Bowl, are no exception. Their many traditions help the athletes focus and play their best.
Pre-game rituals help get rid of anxiety by taking athletes’ minds off of any negative thoughts they may be having. Rituals also boost their confidence, and remind them of their love for their sport.
One long-standing football pre-game ritual is Milk and Cookies, which was started by former football coach Jim Smith and continued by other coaches like Mike Silipo and current Head Coach Brian Barbato. It occurs on Friday nights when team members gather to drink milk and eat cookies to unwind before the following day’s game. Another tradition is the team’s annual shirtless run through the Greer, which many students witness firsthand.
While these traditions are relatively well-known, there are also many new rituals. For example, Ty Curran ’24, Tristan Ward ’24, Will Sutman ’23, and Brady Stahelski ’23 chugs energy drinks before kickoff. Curran decided to inaugurate this ritual on the first practice this season because he wanted to “bring some energy,” noting that it got them into a competitive mindset and a caffeinated biorhythm.
Other team members partake in unique rituals depending on what grounds them most. Ethan Roossien ’24, who is starting at tight end this year, said that he prays in the Deerfield endzone after every pre-game huddle.
Coaches have rituals and traditions too; Toby Emerson said, “If we get blown out, I’ll try not to wear what I wore the day of the blowout again,” because he believes in “switching things up” after a loss. Additionally, Mr. Emerson and fellow football coach Raymond Demartino play cards every Friday before game day. Furthermore, late on Friday nights, Mr. Barbato orders three pizzas to Mr. Emerson’s home for the coaches to enjoy while they review game film and prepare for Saturday. From the top down, Deerfield’s football program is very tight-knit.
Whether it be to feel a sense of grounding before a grueling day ahead, or just for some old-fashioned fun, football players and coaches both engage in many traditions. From the light-hearted to the sincere, these habits contribute to the communal culture of Deerfield football, through wins, losses, and everything in between.