By Joanna Ekenes
jme6@email.byu.edu
They may look invincible, but even BYU football players have superstitions about how to run faster, hit harder and throw further on game day.
Many players have game day rituals that they would not set foot on the field without.
These rites range from listening to certain songs to wearing a certain pair of socks.
And for the team members interviewed, one of the superstitions lies in disclosing what their personal game day ritual is.
'I always listened to Metallica, the Ride the Lightning album,' said one former BYU football player, who wanted to remain anonymous.
Some sing a particular song. For another athlete who wants to remain anonymous, that song is 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight.'
The team member's rituals stem from many sources, including Greek myths.
One player learned in high school that the number 15 was an empowering symbol to the ancient Greeks.
Since discovering that, he has done 15 push-ups before every game.
Other rituals cited by team members involved how they dress and prepare for the game.
'I always put on my left sock, brace, and shoe before my right,' one player said. 'I did it that way once in high school, we won the game, and I never stopped.'
Taping their fingers a certain way for good luck is another ritual used by some football players.
One team member took a printed quote by Vince Lombardi and wore it inside his helmet during a game. The quote read, 'Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing.'
He said that he had to wash the piece of paper the quote was written on out of his hair after the game.
'I do feel like I hit harder and ran faster during that game,' he said.