#Together
Before every first whistle, the New Zealand All Blacks take formation to perform the haka, a routine that is composed with guttural chanting, rhythmic body smacking, and a couple stuck-out tongues. What do the O’Neal Falcons have in common with these burley rugby players? They play for the shirt.
Before every first whistle, the New Zealand All Blacks take formation to perform the haka, a routine that is composed with guttural chanting, rhythmic body smacking, and a couple stuck-out tongues. What do the O’Neal Falcons have in common with these burley rugby players? They play for the shirt.
Back
Using the All Blacks’ iconic and coveted black jersey as inspiration, O’Neal’s athletic program has rallied around a symbolic shirt. This year, “Play for the shirt” is printed on the back of every O’Neal student-athlete’s training jersey (thanks to a generous gift from the Booster Club), along with the hashtag: “TOGETHER.”
The All Blacks’ haka, which is a type of ancient Maori dance that fiercely displays a tribe’s pride, strength, and unity, has become a symbol of the rugby program’s unprecedented success. Yes, the New Zealanders have never been ranked lower than second place in over a century, and yes, they’re arguably the most successful sports team in history, but what makes the All Blacks a program that transcends sports is their commitment to excellence, and their commitment to one another.
This maximizing of talent and character is woven into the fabric of O’Neal’s athletic teams, and the phrase on the back of Falcons’ shirts will serve as a season-in, season-out reminder that strength is always multiplied when people come together.
The O'Neal School
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