Lions, Tigers, and Bears... Pied Pipers?

Moguls. Maroons. Skeeters. Ganders. Swifts. I bet you never would have guessed that they were mascots of high schools in Texas. What even is a gander or a skeeter?

The state of Texas is known as being extremely proud of its originality and uniqueness. One could almost look at some of the things Texans are most proud of as novelty. Whether it be a San Saba Armadillo or a Grandview Zebra, the bleachers across the state are always packed with loud and proud supporters of some of the more unusual mascots I've ever seen.

1.) Hamlin Pied Pipers

The Hamlin High School decal.
(Photo: Courtesy  Hamlin ISD)

When I moved to the small town of Hamlin, Texas in 2^nd grade, I expected my black and gold tiger t-shirts from my previous school to be replaced with some run-of-the-mill mascot such as the lions, indians, or eagles. To my surprise, my dad brought home my first Hamlin Pied Pipers shirt. According to legend, the pied piper mascot derives from the folk story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin who was hired to lure rats away from a town with his magical pipe and in-turn ended up baiting the children of the town to leave with him after being denied payment for his services.                               

2.) San Antonio Lanier Voks

Vok and Lady Vok performing at a football game.
(Photo: Courtesy San Antonio ISD)

What is a vok? One day my dad and I were discussing the weird mascots we liked and stumbled across a new suspect for our list. The San Antonio Lanier Voks. Neither one of us knew what a vok even was, leading us to believe this could be one of the best. For you Transformers fans out there, you may know a vok as an alien race, but the true meaning of the Lanier Vok is behind the school’s purpose. According to its website, Lanier was the first vocational school in San Antonio, which was shortened into vok. 






3.)  Mason Punchers/ Winters Blizzards

The Mason Puncher before a game at the "Puncherdome."
(Photo: Courtesy San Angelo Standard Times)

Perhaps one of the more colorful regions of Texas is the area not many people choose to visit. West Texas is one of the hidden gems of the Texan lifestyle since it is mostly acres upon acres of farm land. When it comes to the mascots, they include many of the most original. One district is home to both the Mason Punchers and the Winters Blizzards. No the punchers are not a boxing school, rather a more intimidating way of saying a cattle pusher or cowboy. The puncher's district foe lies in the form of the blizzards. They certainly can accept the humor in their name. I remember laughing to my mom when I heard their fight song and realized it was to the tune of “Winter Wonderland.” Who would’ve thought a town that plays most of its games in triple-digit temperatures would be home to the blizzards? 

I have been keeping a list of all the Texas high schools I want t-shirts from since I was 9 years old. The list now has more than 80 schools and there is simply no way I could write about each of them without going on for pages. However, I will leave you with a few of my favorites. The Progreso Red Ants, Roscoe Plowboys, Baytown Lee Ganders, Cuero Gobblers, Mesquite Skeeters, and the Itasca Wampus Cats. The list could go on and on but I'll leave you to discover some more on your own.

The Battle of Brothers

Anyone who visits the scene of a rivalry can sense the animosity. There’s a tinge of hatred in the air. Trash is talked and gauntlets are thrown.


Throw an ax into the mix and you’ve got one heck of a ball game on an October night in Texas.

This past Friday, the Sherman Bearcats and the Denison Yellow Jackets football teams took the field for a Texas record 113^th time in the Battle of the Ax, according to a local news station. Talk about ancient history. This rivalry has been played since before the Titanic sank. 

Until last week I had only heard of the passion these schools have about this game. 

The annual t-shirt made for the 
rivalry game between Sherman and Denison.
(Photo: Courtesy of Denison Yellow 
Jackets Football Facebook page)

I assumed it would be a similar experience to my own high school's rivalry game each year.

I had my doubts that it could be any different than all the other tons of high pressure games I had attended.

Boy was I wrong.

From kickoff to the final buzzer the heart that each side played with was clearly evident. Even with a slightly lopsided score, both teams fought hard until the very end. As it should be in a game this important to both communities.

"Battle of the Ax is the biggest game of the year," said Denison senior cheerleader Tara Will. "Everyone always comes out for that game. It's the game that has the most importance on it just because of the title. No matter what the teams records have been during the season you can't predict the outcome, because it's where miracles happen."

Rivalries are products of proximity. Ask the Duke Blue Devils and the North Carolina Tar Heels. As in that rivalry, Sherman and Denison are a short 8 miles apart, causing some friction between the two sides.

The famous "Ax" trophy given
 to the Battle of the Ax winner.
(Photo: Courtesy of Denison Yellow
 Jackets Football Facebook page)

Everyone knows everyone in towns as close as these, and many people have relatives between the two towns since the school districts lie back to back according to the Texas Education Agency’s website.

“Most of the kids have known each other for years,” Sherman coach Drew Young said in an interview with Texas Football's Travis Stewart. “Some of the kids from Denison wind up going to Sherman, some of the kids from Sherman wind up going to Denison.” But all other loyalties are thrown out the window in this classic. School spirit is king the week of the Battle of the Ax.

““Every day it builds up, the intensity and getting ready, and the support from our school,” Sherman senior quarterback Gus Daniel said in a Herald Democrat news article. “You know as a player what you’re going into and what the game’s going to be like. You have a little more pep in your step going into a game like this.”

To anyone looking for that perfect taste of a Friday night under the lights in Texas, I recommend this game. Although I have been to some that have meant more to me, nothing personifies Texas High School Football spirit like the Battle of the Ax.

This match-up gave even the Texas vs. Texas A&M rivalry a run for its money. And that’s saying something in my book.

Dance Lessons on the Gridiron

The Trinity Trojans perform "The Haka" before a game. (Photo: Louis DeLuca / DMN )

Call me crazy, but when I hear a traditional ancestral war cry, I think of the Euless Trinity football team. Some may call me insane, but, having seen this spectacle in person, it is a difficult phenomenon to forget.

The Trojan football team out of Euless, Texas has been performing a dance referred to as “The Haka” before each football game since the fall of 2005. According to their website, Trinity adopted this dance as a way to “ignite the breath” into their players and create a sense of team unity before the battle in the trenches.

The original "Haka" dance performed in 2006. (Video: Courtesy of YouTube)

I’d say it worked. In each year since the dance has been implemented, the Trojans have either won the state championship or lost to the eventual champion according to Texas Football. In the past six years, they have piled up 83 wins and three state championships. Those kinds of numbers are extremely rare in a state as competitive in football as this one. Having suffered through more than one 0-10 season in my life, I can attest that those spectacular seasons are hard to come by.

To say that Trinity’s success is due only to the “Haka” dance is a far stretch of the imagination, but evidence would suggest the dance was a contributing factor. Coach Jason Dibble, who is responsible for the special teams, cornerbacks, and the "Haka", said he noticed the change in the team attitude."It has helped to unify our school and community. It has created a sense of pride for future and former Trojans."

Although the “Haka” dance has benefited Trinity teams since 2005, it has undergone an overhaul over the past few years. In 2009, the team was inspired to make the dance their own, so they did just that.

The "rebirth of The Haka" performed in 2009. (Video: Courtesy of YouTube.)

The new dance starts with a banging of a conch shell which head coach Steve Lineweaver says on the Trojan football website, is symbolic of “three rivers merging into one.” He goes on to say, “it also represents the diversity of Trinity High School and the football team with many cultures coming together into one family.”

Having seen “The Haka” in person, it is a sight I will never forget. It is easy to get lost in the pomp and circumstance before the game, however the on-field performance does not disappoint. The Trojans win with class and dignity, which is truly a demonstration of the Texas high school football spirit. 

A Little Slice of Football Heaven

Coach Butch Davis prays with his team before a game. (Photo: Lara Solt DMN)

Just about halfway between the Texas and Oklahoma border, an hour north of Dallas, sits a small town named Celina. Any normal passerby might assume it to be another normal country town in a state filled with hundreds more. Most any Texan, however, will tell you just how mistaken you are. Celina is known around these parts as a town boasting a famous athletic program that includes a football team that once won 68 games in a row according to Texas Football. What impressed me, though, is the spirit surrounding the community of Celina and the traditions that define the football team and town as a whole.


The Bobcats are well-known for their state championship caliber teams, and while that is impressive, the real story is how they manage to win so many games year in and year out. Every small school I attended suffered from the reality that was graduation. Some classes were extremely athletic and some were not, but Celina has managed to find talent and continue to win. 

Clips of the Celina football team in Kenny Chesney's "The Boys of Fall." (Video: courtesy of YouTube)

Perhaps the most longstanding of their traditions is the Quarterback Club that dedicates itself to their "Boys of Fall." This is no ordinary booster club. Most schools have an organization for parents to join that enables them to raise funds for new equipment and activities for the season. This group goes a step beyond just fundraising. 


According to their website, the Quarterback Club has a weekly meeting every Thursday at 5:30 a.m. Yes that’s right… in the morning. Each member attends a breakfast for their update on the Bobcat football team’s status. They get together to discuss scouting reports for future games and watch the previous week’s film with the coaching staff. I cherish every minute of sleep I can get. So the fact that these people start their day even earlier for a football team is one of the simple reasons this team is so special. 


Cassidee Ferry's family moved to Celina after she had moved to college. She said, "I've never seen anything like it. I thought football was big in other places, but the things they do here give a new meaning to the sport." 


I haven’t seen anything like the warmth that surrounds the Bobcat football team anywhere I have lived. The family atmosphere is clearly evidenced by the involvement of the parents of the players. According to Sandy Ferry, a resident of Celina and football mother, the father of each player escorts them to the field before the big rivalry game against Pilot Point High School. The mothers, not to be outdone, decorate the locker room each Monday in a new theme for that week’s opponent.

Many residents are convinced the reason behind their continued success is a strong Christian belief system. Former head coach G.A. Moore, was a huge proponent of instilling Christian values in his players, according to an article written during their state championship bid of 2008. Moore’s successor and longtime colleague Butch Davis was quoted as saying, "We preach it. When you get God to consider in your life, you're in pretty good shape. Good things happen." 

A sign outside the football field posting records. (Photo: Tom Grisak)

When you win as many games as Celina has, you tend to create some enemies. Even though the jealousy is evident, I have seen respect from competitors who can only help but admire what they have done. Celina is definitely “Texas high school football at its best” as their website proclaims, and I cannot do it justice. It is something everyone must experience for themselves.

"My father never got to see me play. You play for your fathers tonight."                                                                                                      -- Anonymous