Page 141 - PINE CREST 2000

Below: Mike Levinson,
punter extraordinare.

I am an Assassin. This is what I do and who I am. When people see me.
they characterize me with the job I hold; I am an Assassin because of
my position on the team. I have been a Dawg, part o f the Pit, and
could be part o f the Air Force; but this season Fm proud to be an
Assassin, a strong, persistent, and indomitable part o f my high school's
football team.
We Assassins work in conjunction with three other groups, the Dawgs,
the Pit, and the Air Force. The Dawgs, or defensive backs, take pride
in their name and have a custom to bark like such every time they enter
the field. The Pit is composed o f the offensive and defensive linemen.
These are the backbone o f any football team, and they know how
important they are. These guys always walk with their heads up and
chests out because they are proud o f the fact that they are linemen. The
Air Force is composed o f the receivers. This is a brand new name that
originated due to a recent change in the team's offense, a combination
o f young yet talented players. The team has also recently gained two new receivers and a passing quarterback.
The coaches realized the strength we had in the “air” and adopted the offense to take full advantage o f the
newfound pot o f gold. Before every game, each group gets together in its huddle. Each Assassin, Dawg, Air Force
and Pit member communicates his thoughts and inspirations and breaks out of the huddle with a shout o f his
group’s name. I feel powerful coming out o f the linebacker huddle screaming “ASSASSINS, ” everyone within
hearing range turning his head to see who just screamed with such security and fearlessness.
Every football team has its traditions—my favorite one is giving nicknames. Among these are Fueagle, Mook, Cha-
cha, Juice, Rip, Peanut, Longers, SOB, DD, Stubs, and Wags. I never really had a nickname until I joined the
football team. My name is Apolo, just like the Apollo from the movie "Rocky, ” except with one “I"; the players
realized the connection and now Fm known as Creed to all my teammates and coaches. This nickname is used so
often that an eighth-grader once asked, “Hey, Creed, what’s your first name?”
Nicknames are an extension o f one’s personality. During
school, these nicknames are seldom used, but once we are on
the football field, not one birth name is used. In football, la m
not Apolo; I morph into Creed, a linebacker who wants to
prove himself constantly trying to improve his skill in order to
build a better football team. Once Apolo becomes Creed, or
David, Juice, or Rohit, Rip, we change. A different person
comes out o f the inside and takes over fo r the next two hours, a
person who can withstand the pain o f running into linemen,
twisting ankles, bruised arms, and sore muscles. All because we
made a commitment together, not to ourselves, but to each
other, a commitment to football.
-Apolo Rizk

Above: Ryan Wagner
gives the team some
last-second advice.

Left: Breaking
through the banner at
homecoming.