OVER 100 YEARS AGO, Russell Athletic was born on the playing fields of America. Where the ideals of sport aren’t talked about, but lived. Where athletes play for each other, their coach and their town. NOT FOR THE LOGO. NOT FOR THE HEADLINE. NOT FOR THE CONTRACT. We will defend team sports in America. The birthplace of team. We will tell the untold stories and take real actions to help teams overcome anything in their way. We will stand for the relationships, lifelong benefits and communities they inspire. Team is a journey. Team is the one true sport. Life is a team sport. TEAM ON.
THE EXPERT AND DEFENDER OF TEAM SPORTS IN AMERICA.
LAST YEAR, 101 SCHOOLS LOST THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP BY A TOUCHDOWN OR LESS. THIS YEAR, RUSSELL ATHLETIC INSPIRED THESE TEAMS TO TURN WHAT HAUNTED THEM FROM THEIR TITLE GAME INTO THEIR ULTIMATE MOTIVATION.
INSTEAD OF FORGETTING ABOUT THEIR STATE CHAMPIONSHIP LOSS, EACH SCHOOL EMBRACED THE ONE THING THAT HAUNTED THEM.
8 SECONDS
1 PLAY
99 YARDS
25-YARD LINE
1 YARD
24W-1L
DURING THE SEASON, EACH SCHOOL MOVED PAST THEIR HAUNT AND INTRODUCED A FEW WORDS TO D E F I N E T H E I R T E A M A N D R A L LY T H E I R TO W N .
11 STRONG
ONE NATION
2HUNGRY
FINISH
PLAY OUR GAME
FULL CIRCLE
LUMMI NATION BLACKHAWKS BELLINGHAM, WASHINGTON
After being only one play away from a Washington state title last year, the Lummi Nation Blackhawks were back to unite their entire 5,000-member tribe behind a winning season.
The Lummi People of Northwest Washington had been catching salmon on the Puget Sound for thousands of years. Football was their chance to catch something else. Now, there are two traditions that feed the Lummi Nation.
NEW PALESTINE DRAGONS NEW PALESTINE, INDIANA
8 Seconds haunted the New Pal Dragons, but the seniors of Coach Ralph’s upstart football powerhouse had something to prove in 2016.
If we fumbled in practice, Coach Ralph made us run a quarter-mile to grab a leaf off an old oak tree. How many game fumbles did we have last season? Only two.
MARION LOCAL FLYERS MARIA STEIN, OHIO
In 2015, the Flyers walked into Ohio Stadium with four straight championships and a playoff record of 24-0. They walked out 24-1. This year, the team that only knew how to win found motivation in their biggest loss.
GLYNN ACADEMY TERRORS BRUNSWICK, GEORGIA
One yard kept Glynn Academy from its first state title in 51 years, but under the loose, fun style of Coach Rock, the country’s fifth oldest high school found a new way to win.
“I want them to lay in bed at night, thinking about finishing that game and hoisting that trophy.”
— C O A C H R O C K , B R U N S W I C K , G A
DEERFIELD-WINDSOR KNIGHTS A L B A N Y, G E O R G I A
A tiny bump out of bounds at the 25-yard line kept the Knights from a state title, but Coach Lowe’s fast-paced, dizzying brand of football came back ready to ring the Friday night cowbells.
TRI-COUNTY ACADEMY REBELS FLORA, MISSISSIPPI
A 99-yard drive and Hail Mary haunted Tri-County, but the tough, country kids of Flora, Mississippi were ready to “Yes, Sir” all the way back to the state championship.
“The paper came out. We’re ranked #1. That means absolutely nothing. You have to be ranked number one at the end of the season.”
— C O A C H B L O U N T , F L O R A , M S
CAPTURING HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
ON THE TEAM Our voice is rooted in the real teams, towns and coaches of America, not in paid actors or scripted pep talks. So, we partnered with student photographers from each school to capture their team’s journey. Each week, students received an assignment based on a core principle of team - ideas like camaraderie, community, leadership and anticipation. What resulted were moments that will live on forever.
MARION LOCAL | Carlee Kremer
DEERFIELD-WINDSOR | Byers Morris
GLYNN ACADEMY | Peyton Hoffman
GLYNN ACADEMY | Peyton Hoffman
DEERFIELD-WINDSOR | Byers Morris
DEERFIELD-WINDSOR | Byers Morris
GLYNN ACADEMY | Peyton Hoffman
GLYNN ACADEMY | Peyton Hoffman
GLYNN ACADEMY | Peyton Hoffman
FA M I LY RESPECT JOY TRADITION LEADERSHIP GRIT
These are the tenets of team, one for each #SETTLEYOURSCORE school.
GLYNN ACADEMY | Peyton Hoffman
NEW PALESTINE | Shelby Horsley
GLYNN ACADEMY | Peyton Hoffman
NEW PALESTINE| Shelby Horsley
TRI-COUNTY | Tyler White
MARION LOCAL | Carlee Kremer
NEW PALESTINE| Shelby Horsley
MARION LOCAL | Carlee Kremer
MARION LOCAL | Carlee Kremer
TRI-COUNTY | Tyler White
TRI-COUNTY | Tyler White
NEW PALESTINE | Shelby Horsley
MARION LOCAL | Carlee Kremer
MARION LOCAL | Carlee Kremer
MARION LOCAL| Carlee Kremer
TRI-COUNTY | Tyler White
NEW PALESTINE | Shelby Horsley
MARION LOCAL| Carlee Kremer
MARION LOCAL | Carlee Kremer
MEET THE STUDENT PHOTOGRAPHERS
SHELBY HORSLEY NEW PALESTINE “I’ve been led out of my comfort zone and learned how to capture moments from a perspective that aren’t just my own.”
CARLEE KREMER MARION LOCAL “This was the best opportunity that I’ve ever been given. I’ve given up time in the stands with friends, but I’ve been able to see what others don’t and have been able to capture the true meaning of team. Win or lose, a team is a team, and I am so happy I became a part of it this year.”
PEYTON HOFFMAN G LY N N A C A D E M Y “One major thing this project has shown me is how important photos are to players, families and coaches. They can cause laughter, tears, anger and even love.”
TYLER WHITE TRI-COUNTY ACADEMY “This opportunity has given me a purpose on Friday nights.”
BYERS MORRIS DEERFIELD-WINDSOR “For three years, I’ve been on the sidelines. I love being a part of our athletic teams and enjoy the camaraderie with the players. This year, the players enjoyed watching every week to see if my photos made it up on Russell Athletic’s social media and website. It was a very special experience for me.”
DEAR SENIORS, Many of you will never put on a jersey
When you hand in your jerseys, your life as
again. Never walk out onto the field, look
teammates is not over. In many ways, it’s
up into the stands and feel a whole town
only beginning.
behind you. Because you will never hand in the lessons I know it hurts. Football does. Where else in
you’ve learned, the respect you’ve earned
life do you get knocked down on every play
and the family you’ve created. You will wear
and have to make the choice to get back
that for life.
up? Through injury, adversity, even family tragedy, you always made that choice.
This team will live on forever. You will always be my sons. I love you.
You never let your brothers down. For me, that is the definition of character. And character is all that a man has in life. Football taught me this. And I see it in each of you.
— C O A C H , N E W P A L E S T I N E , I N