Keith7
12-10-2003, 12:12 PM
There are many reasons the Gainesville Leopards have been so successful
this year and will be playing for a state championship Saturday.
There's the senior leadership, the high-octane offense, the dominating
defense, the almost-perfect special teams play, and the many Japanese
tattoos of senior Nick Daulong.
Daulong, who plays on both the Leopard offensive and defensive lines,
started the tradition of wearing a temporary tattoo on his arm last year
with teammate Lance Bryan. In 2002, the tattoos would range from a
flying eagle to a skull to Scooby Doo.
This year, he has taken tattooing himself to a new level, or at least a
new language.
Daulong uses Japanese symbols with varied meanings. One might mean
"energy," which goes with football. Others are less football-related,
like "happiness" or "dreamer" or "bad girl."
And there is no arguing with the team's success when Daulong wears the
tattoo. Last year, he didn't wear one when the Leopards played Celina
and the team lost. This year, he has worn one every week except the
first week. The Leopards won that game, but he injured his foot and
wasn't able to finish the game. He has worn one every week since.
Now, he is sharing the tattoos with the rest of the team. Other players
have started wearing them, including Jeremy Franklin, Terrius Purvey, Eli
and Treven Fisher, and Michael Miller.
"It's good luck for the whole team," Daulong joked. "There's just
something about the ink and the tattoos that make you play harder."
But putting a novelty tattoo on his arm is not the only superstition for
Daulong. He also takes a shower in the locker room before every game,
home or away, and listens to Jimi Hendrix music.
While the Leopards will be going for their first-ever football state
championship, Daulong and some of his teammates have already won a title
at another level. Seven current Leopard seniors won the Cooke County
Youth Center Super Bowl at Leeper Stadium when they were in sixth grade.
Joining Daulong on that First State Bank Broncos team were Darcel
McBath, Chase Beam, Eli Fisher, Treven Fisher, Marcus Thomas and Colt
Eberhart.
Now, maybe those players can win another championship this Saturday at
Texas Stadium. If so, Daulong can get a tattoo that says "Number 1."
I know this is a really lame article, but i thought it was neat cuz it was me and Nick Daulong that actually started it, but the sports editor is dumb
<small>[ December 10, 2003, 01:08 PM: Message edited by: Keith7 ]</small>
this year and will be playing for a state championship Saturday.
There's the senior leadership, the high-octane offense, the dominating
defense, the almost-perfect special teams play, and the many Japanese
tattoos of senior Nick Daulong.
Daulong, who plays on both the Leopard offensive and defensive lines,
started the tradition of wearing a temporary tattoo on his arm last year
with teammate Lance Bryan. In 2002, the tattoos would range from a
flying eagle to a skull to Scooby Doo.
This year, he has taken tattooing himself to a new level, or at least a
new language.
Daulong uses Japanese symbols with varied meanings. One might mean
"energy," which goes with football. Others are less football-related,
like "happiness" or "dreamer" or "bad girl."
And there is no arguing with the team's success when Daulong wears the
tattoo. Last year, he didn't wear one when the Leopards played Celina
and the team lost. This year, he has worn one every week except the
first week. The Leopards won that game, but he injured his foot and
wasn't able to finish the game. He has worn one every week since.
Now, he is sharing the tattoos with the rest of the team. Other players
have started wearing them, including Jeremy Franklin, Terrius Purvey, Eli
and Treven Fisher, and Michael Miller.
"It's good luck for the whole team," Daulong joked. "There's just
something about the ink and the tattoos that make you play harder."
But putting a novelty tattoo on his arm is not the only superstition for
Daulong. He also takes a shower in the locker room before every game,
home or away, and listens to Jimi Hendrix music.
While the Leopards will be going for their first-ever football state
championship, Daulong and some of his teammates have already won a title
at another level. Seven current Leopard seniors won the Cooke County
Youth Center Super Bowl at Leeper Stadium when they were in sixth grade.
Joining Daulong on that First State Bank Broncos team were Darcel
McBath, Chase Beam, Eli Fisher, Treven Fisher, Marcus Thomas and Colt
Eberhart.
Now, maybe those players can win another championship this Saturday at
Texas Stadium. If so, Daulong can get a tattoo that says "Number 1."
I know this is a really lame article, but i thought it was neat cuz it was me and Nick Daulong that actually started it, but the sports editor is dumb
<small>[ December 10, 2003, 01:08 PM: Message edited by: Keith7 ]</small>