Faith and Honor Held High (Donald Carty

Title: Faith and Honor Held High

General Information about Item:

Informant Data:

Ben Taber is a 22-year-old male. He is currently a member of the class of 2022 at Colorado State University. Ben is from Dallas, Texas, where he played football at the Episcopal School of Dallas (ESD).

Contextual Data:

ESD is a religious school that tries to instill Episcopalian values in their students. Students at ESD attend chapel services daily. These religious values extend beyond the chapel services, they are also present in the classroom and on the athletic fields. Coaches at ESD make sure their athletes compete with faith, honor, and sportsmanship in mind.

Item:

In the locker room, immediately before every game, the players at ESD say a prayer together, led by one of the team captains. The text of the prayer is as follows:

Lord as we walk through the Valley of Life

We ask for a chance that it’s fair

A chance to do the right

A chance to do or dare

And if we should win

Let it be by the code

With Faith and Honor held high

And if we should lose

Let us stand by the road

And watch as the winners walk by

(*Voices escalate to a yell*)

A TEAM THAT CAN’T BE BEAT

WON’T BE BEAT

CAN’T HIT, CAN’T WIN

AMEN

This prayer is meant to bring the players closer to God, remind them of the values of the school they are representing, and get them excited to compete. The author of this prayer is unknown, and this tradition has been in place at ESD for at least 10 years.

Collector’s Name: Donald Carty

Tags/Keywords:

Dartmouth Folklore Archive