Legend has it that the Greeks used the blood of their enemies to coat their faces in the most intimidating, paint-like substance available during war. Roman soldiers charged across barren battlefields in heavy armor to honor those who had fallen and those still fighting. Gladiators fought to the death in the center of the ring as crowds, dressed in their finest first-century BC attire, cheered on the victors.
This raises one questions. Was this the beginning? Was this the origin of face paint, costumes, and roaring crowds? If not, where did the idea of game themes come from? Is it merely a frivolous teenage tradition, or is there something more to it?
Student sections at sporting events have existed since the early days of organized games. High school sports first emerged in the 1700s, played primarily by boarding schools in New England. Initially, teachers tried to discourage students from “ball playing,” but they soon realized the benefits it had for students’ health and fitness. Soccer was the first sport played, followed by golf, cricket, lacrosse, and eventually football in 1869.
The first high school football game was played in May 1875 between Norwich Free Academy and Bulkeley School for Boys in Connecticut. Bulkeley fans were decked out in green, gold, and white, while Norwich fans wore red and white. The stadium was packed with enthusiastic supporters, though there was no sign of themed attire among the student body.
It wasn’t until the late 1990s and early 2000s that themed sporting events began to take off, often to raise awareness for causes such as breast cancer. The trend spiked rapidly among both high school and college students, with the “pink out” theme becoming popular. Much like Archbishop Hoban’s “Volley for a Cure” game, fans filled the stands dressed in pink, and proceeds from these events often went to breast cancer research.
In 2021, Timberlane Regional High School in New Hampshire earned the distinction of being the first school to fully integrate a variety of themes into sporting events, including tropical, neon, USA, and, of course, pink out.
So, while the origin of high school game themes might not be as exciting as ancient battles, the Knights certainly know how to dress to theme and charge into competition. Whether bringing home another victory to The Castle or winning on home turf, the blue and gold spirit will reign at every game!