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Beyond the Gridiron

Unleashing the energy

Mental preparation starts in the locker room as Freedom High's football players set their sights on another victory.

By DEMORRIS LEE
Published September 16, 2005

TAMPA PALMS - The lights are out and the music in the Freedom High School weight room is blasting. "Here I go, here I go, here I go," one player yells to the beat.

The thunderous sound of clashing pads, back slapping and verbal challenges abound as the football players prepare themselves mentally for the game ahead.

"You ready?" one yells to another, already sweating. Some players bounce around. Some sit in the darker corners, heads down. One zones out, looking at himself in the mirror, getting ready.

The pregame locker room ritual. The halftime locker room rest. The postgame. What's said and done on game day in the locker room can make the difference.

Why? Because it sets the tone.

For the Patriots of Freedom High, the pregame ritual is all about getting your "head right." There are no coaches in the room. Just a group of high-schoolers, getting each other hyped for yet another Friday night on the gridiron.

From one song to the next, the energy is the same: intense. The sound of the bass from the speakers is so loud that it vibrates the soul. The players' intensity, whether they're jumping around or staring straight ahead in a zombielike trance, is contagious.

Then, to the beat of the blasting music, the team launches into a powerful baritone chorus: "We ready, we ready, we ready for y'all."

Just before game time, Patriots head coach Adam Stegeman walks in and leads the team in a huddled prayer.

"We ask that you give us the ability to play at a top-notch level and we pray that we make you proud today," Stegeman says as everyone bows their heads. "We pray for the people in Louisiana and that we may go out play for them tonight."

Once Stegeman intones the phrase "Our Father," the team finishes the rest of the Lord's Prayer in a double-time cadence. Then they hit the field for the playing of the national anthem, the school's fight song and the opening kickoff of another Friday night football game.

At halftime, the Patriots return to their locker room in two single-file lines. They have a 17-7 lead over Wesley Chapel High School.

With the offense and defense sitting on opposite sides of the room, the players drink water and eat oranges and bananas as the coaches go over the play of the first half and what lies ahead in the second. The room smells of musk and sweat, and buzzes with football talk.

"You've got to get to the gap," one coach says.

"You've got to make it around that end," a player says to another, demonstrating the action.

"Off your feet and hydrate yourselves, men," Stegeman yells.

Coaches are drawing plays on hand-held white boards. Players are drawing plays on imaginary boards.

"We got two quarters left, fellas. Let's do this," yells a player.

The Patriots grab their helmets and head back out.

At the game's end, down on one knee in the end zone, the players savor a 17-7 victory.

"Hold your heads high tonight, the defensive explosion was great," Stegeman said. "Offensively, we still got a lot to work on.

"Now, men, as usual they (the next opponent, Plant City) are going to come after us. Make sure you outwork them. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, we are going to outwork them."

Stegeman tells the players to grab a teammate.

Defensive backs coach Erik Smith asks: "Whose father?"

The team replies: "Our Father, who art in heaven . . . "

Week in and week out, much of the inspiration, energy and teaching isn't generated between the goalposts. The seed is usually planted before the team hits the field - in the locker room.

- Demorris Lee can be reached at 813 269-5312 or dalee@sptimes.com

North of Tampa is doing a regular series on Freedom High School's football team this season. To comment on the series "Beyond the Gridiron," go to www.tampabay.com/guestbooks/freedom/

[Last modified September 15, 2005, 11:02:11]