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.