As summer comes to a close and fall begins to bloom, the football season, one of our most anticipated sports seasons, kicks off. Each fall, our football team goes out on the field and gives it their all at every game. In order for the players to keep up the team’s performance, the players need to ensure that they’re taking care of their bodies. This obviously involves working out and showing up to practice, but an often overlooked aspect is the diets of the players. To get a full understanding of how they keep their bodies fueled, I reached out to players on the football team to find out what their pregame meals are.
I first talked to Kyle Russel (‘23) who gave me a rundown of his whole day before getting ready for a big game. “On game day, I typically eat about three Uncrustables for breakfast,” he stated. He then mentioned how he eats two Gatorade protein bars throughout the day and skips lunch to eat with the team instead. He said that the meals he eats right before the game “usually look like Qdoba or chicken, pasta, and salad.” Kyle also stressed the importance of “mak[ing] sure to drink a lot of water throughout the day.”
William Marischen (‘26) also has an intricate meal schedule, with his breakfast consisting of “two bananas wrapped in a tortilla with peanut butter” and a lunch consisting of a “ham and cheese sandwich with some grilled chicken and water with a protein bar.” After school, he proceeds to eat noodles with red sauce, a grilled chicken breast, and tons of Gatorade and water.
Other players have simpler plans for their pregame meals, such as Dekarai Weaver (‘26). “Two bananas and a little of what’s being served,” said Dekarai, describing his meal; he also drinks Gatorade and eats cookies and grapes.
Even though their plans for pregame meals vary in complexity, each of the players make sure to eat healthy foods and stay hydrated for the game. It’s impressive how prepared the football team is for their games, and it gives me hope that they’re ready to perform their best at the rest of the games this season.
