Listen to WHJE’s audio blog of the family of football

The football team has many different pre-game traditions. Running out of the helmet, the pre-game meal, the guest speaker. But one of the newest, and most sacred, is the ‘Greyhound prayer,’ Which is a modified version of the ‘Husker Prayer’ the team says it before each game immediately before playing. Justin Todd, Varsity linebacker and senior, said these traditions help keep the team mentally prepared.

Going into the locker room before any game, music blasts, as the football team prepares for its next opponent. A player shouts the occasional reassuring statement, along with general conversation. However, when Head Coach Kevin Wright walks into the locker room, silence follows him. While Wright is a relatively calm and mild-mannered coach, he said he gets just as riled before a game as anyone. Speaking to the players before the Carmel vs. Warren Central game on Sept. 30, Wright speaks to his players about his personal motivation to succeed.

“Anybody every hear of Muhammad Ali?” Wright ask the team.

“Yes sir,” The resounding reply echos from the locker room.

“One of his biggest opponents was Joe Frazier. Joe Frazier was unbeatable. Joe Frazier was the man. In the press conference, Joe Frazier said, ‘I don’t even know (Ali’s) name’.”

Every player sits still in his chair, his eyes locked upon Wright, except for the occasional nod in agreement.

“They get in a fight,” Wright continues, “and Muhammad Ali takes a few punches in the fight, and it doesn’t look so good. It gets Muhammad Ali pumped up, and all of a sudden, halfway through the fight, Ali turns the tables and throws a right. It hits (Frazier) right in the chin. It stunned Joe Fraizer; it stunned the whole crowd. Muhammad Ali pummeled Frazier that night, and while he was pummeling him, he had one thing to say.”

Mutters come from the team as they stood up and began jumping up and down.

“What’s my name?” Wright says to the team.

Wright  pauses due to yelling from the team. The anticipation for the game is visible in the room.

“There’s 5,000 fans (in the stands); this isn’t about us. This is about this community. This is one step. You think about that. Do you want to stand by the road? Because we will, we will do it with class and honor. You got a choice, you can go out and take it to them, or you can roll over.”

Animalistic yells emerges, as the team gathers together preparing for the game. Before each game, they recite the ‘Greyhound Prayer’ in order to mentally prepare for the challenges. Led by a single athlete, then repeated by the rest, their voices meld into one.

Silence finally falls in the locker room that day as Jalen Duncan, varsity running back and senior, begins to speak.

“Dear lord.

We ask for a chance that’s fair,

A chance to equal our stride,

A chance to do or dare.

If we should win, let it be by the code,

Faith and Honor held high,

If we should lose, we’ll stand by the road,

and cheer as the winners go by.

Day by Day, we get better and better.

Til’ we can’t be beat…

Won’t be beat.”

Cheers erupt afterwards as Carmel exits the locker room, prepared to face its opponent.