Morehead State University - Raconteur Yearbook (Morehead, KY)

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Do you have a lucky number? Do you avoid black cats and walking under lad- ders? Does Friday the thirteenth send chills down your spine? Most of us have superstitions in one form or another. Many Superstitions of Athletes SITTING on the first seat of the bench is a supersti- tion of Janice Towles, a Lady Eagle basketball member. Janice said she would feel uncomfortable if she didn't. athletes have superstitions that they believe make them play better and give them an edge over their opponents. For instance, basketball player Jeff Thornberry always wears his socks the same way, folded down once. in addition, he always tries iito hit the last shot in warm-ups before the game starts. Another basketball player, Talbert Turner, has several rules that he follows in order to insure a good game. iiWhen l get dressed I put my left shoe on first and tie it the same way every time or I do it over. Then i tie the right one the same way, he explained. iiNext i go out and warm up, and when I come back in the locker room l push my socks down, he said. iiAlso, there has to be a towel and a glass of water on my chair before a game or I don't start. Turner also makes certain that he's the last one out of the locker room and the last one off the bus. Finally, he always says something to Willy tFeldhausl before we start. Another basketball player, Janice Towles of the Lady Eagles, explained superstitions by saying, It kind of becomes a part of you; you have to do the same thing before every game. Janice uses the same pattern of getting dressed MOST players of sports have some kind of routine they follow before each performance. Boo Bradley, a member of the volleyball team, licks two fingers before she serves the ball. ATHLETES of all sports have certain superstitions rituals which they believe make them perform bet and possibly give them an advantage over their . ponents. Football players are no exception to t rule. and then combing her hair before a gam Additionally, she sits on the bench in t first seat no matter what. iilf l didn't, I feel uncomfortable, she explained. Superstitions are not limited to baske ball players. Several members of t volleyball team follow their own rituals. i always make Jim tour coachl go out an get me an ice-cream cone before ever game, said Patty Gindling. t'He broug me one once and I played one of the be games of my life, so now I have one befor every game, she continued. Kim Chane wears a blue ribbon on her right foot in a- dition to going off by herself to ngt m head into the game. Ann HBoo Bradle licks two of her fingers before she serves. Two members of the women's tenni team are also rather superstitious. Kat McKay stated, Hlf I play badly and l' wearing a certain shirt, I don't ever wea that shirt again. Also, she continued, i bounce the ball three times before I serve. Kelly Scateri says her superstitions Chang from game to game but there are sever which she follows every time. ill don't lik. messing with the score cards, she said. ti feel that would make me play badly. I als use the same racquet as much as I can - stick with one until it breaks. A membe of the menis tennis team, Glen Conyers never shaves on the day of a game. Hl don, know if that's a superstition or not, h

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TIPPING the ball in, Pate Clements concentrates on the perfect shot. Clements is a marketing major from Tallahassee, Florida. ANTICIPATIONH The bench is totally engrossed in the plays of the game. The coaching staff is on the campus full-time. 3 x u u .- z t a .3 Ray Bradley

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TlmConn .aid. iiItIs just something I never do. Bill Wietmarschen of the football Eagles aid, IIIf we play well one week, IIII try to -at the same meals and dupIicate the same hings I did that week before the next -ame. Another football player, Orville yttle always listens to his Walkman before : game. HPhiI Collins is the only tape I isten to e it relaxes me, he explained. He Iso tries to wear his wristband a certain way each game. Whether or not these superstitions ac- tually make the athletes play better or not, here is no question that they are given a nsychological boost by practicing them. 3y LISA HOPKINS EFT or right? For Talbert Turner, the left shoe is Iways the first to go on. He then ties it in a certain ay; if he messes up, he simply starts all over again. E