The Index www.haverfordindex.com Volume LXXIII, No. 3
Eutxia Swzein Dokei
November 2011 Haverford’s Student Voice
Haverford, Pennsylvania 19041
EA Day continues to solidify place in Haverford history
Zach Rego ‘12 (center) bursts through the line in a 2011 game with Chestnut Hill Academy.
Tadas Antanavicius ‘12 Year after year, Episcopal Academy and The Haverford School come together at the end of the fall season to watch their respective sports teams compete for possession of the EA Day sweater. Throughout the years, the rivalry has reached soaring heights. Yet, it is easy to forget that this rivalry is not particularly old: Haverford alumni who graduated more than one generation ago would probably have no EA Day memories of which to speak. So, where did it all begin? Haverford’s Pre-EA Day Rivalries
seems to have kept its place as the main rival although games against EA slowly began to rise in significance, as records from the Haligoluk indicate. By 1950 EA was finally considered the “arch-rival,” as it remains to this day. Why did this shift occur, and why has it withstood the test of so many decades? One theory is that the rivalry was a byproduct of Haverford’s decision to stop its boarding school experiment in 1943. After that, it took only a few years for Haverford to choose EA from its pick of Inter-Ac schools – perhaps due to the belief that the two schools attracted similar students from similar areas. Now, as Haverford and EA maintain relatively consistent philosophies and traditions, the rivalry has etched its place in community history.
Haverford joined the Inter-Academic League of schools in 1888, four years after the school’s founding in 1884. Games against EA were recorded, but Germantown Academy EA Day Throughout the Years and Penn Charter were considered to be more formidable opponents, thus a particular rivalry By the 1970s with EA did not and 1980s, EA form over the Day had become next 25 years. an annual event Over for Haverford’s the years, fall sports teams. Haverford At that point, only students seemed football, soccer, to become more and cross country engrossed in made up the day’s winning league competitions. Water titles. Haverford polo was added in Headmaster 2003, and golf was Charles added this year. Crosman It is important believed this to note that EA Day goal was was traditionally starting to Photo from 1989 Haligoluk held on a Friday undermine the Haverford students gather around a fire before EA Day in 1989. before being moved true value of to Saturday at some time around the turn of sports activities, so Haverford pulled out of the the twenty-first century. Mr. Todd Pearson, Inter-Ac in 1905. a member of the Haverford family since the Play between Inter-Ac schools continued, early 1970s, notes one of the negative effects but the stakes were not as high, and even of the change, “We used to have more of an the GA and Penn Charter rivalries began to all-school tradition with the Lower, Middle fade away. Haverford began to try and model and Upper School. [By] having [EA Day] some of the more prominent private boarding on Saturdays, you don’t get quite the student schools; part of this emulation included crowd from the Lower or Middle School that scheduled games with schools such as The you would get if it were held on a Friday.” Hill School and The Lawrenceville School. Many other traditions have come and gone. Although these teams were often far superior For example, it was at one point a tradition of to those of Haverford, Haverford nevertheless saw them – particularly Hill – as its chief rivals EA and Haverford to make some sort of trip to the campus of the other in the days leading up for years. to EA Day. Mr. Stewart Alford, also a member Not long after Haverford re-joined the of the Haverford family since the early 1970s, Inter-Ac in 1921, games with Hill disappeared recalls one such occurrence in which “[EA from Haverford’s schedule. Inter-Ac rivalries students] would come here en masse on Friday were reborn, and Penn Charter was once-again [by riding] a special train from Merion station considered Haverford’s arch-rival. to Haverford. Then, they would march [down From the 1930s to 1950, Penn Charter
Photo by Mr. Bruce Morgan
Welcome to the EA Day issue of The Index. Inside you will find general reviews of all Haverford’s teams, interviews with coaches and players, season results, and much more. Lancaster Avenue] and you could hear them build school spirit. coming as they got off the train at Haverford One of the most compelling enigmas of EA station.” Day lies in the EA Day sweater. Every year, it Haverford had a tradition much like this. is said that the two schools are competing for Many students organized a grand parade of possession of this sweater, which has the years cars decorated with slogans and anything else of each victor listed on its front. It is believed deemed appropriate. It often grew to the point that the tradition of the sweater has its roots that they had to be escorted by the Lower in the Penn Charter rivalry of the 1930s. A Merion police. Both of these traditions were particular shirt from that time period remained eventually put to an end, probably because of unwashed if Haverford won the Penn Charter the local disturbances they caused. game and was washed if Haverford lost. The Another lost tradition from the ‘70s is that EA Day sweater likely arose from a similar of involving Agnes Irwin and Baldwin in EA concept but has been used as more of a trophy. Day as cheerleaders. Mr. Pearson explains, Despite this intense rivalry, it is important “We had cheerleaders that were headed up by a to remember what is at the core of it all: [Haverford] Kindergarten teacher. There were two schools with similar outlooks and Baldwin and Agnes Irwin girls [who] would similar students. Mr. Pearson recollects his cheerlead for [Haverford’s] football team. That fondest memory, “[I was] over at EA on their only happened on EA Day.” former soccer field on City Line Avenue. Perhaps the most notable tradition of I was standing in the stands... in bitterly the past was the annual series of pep rallies cold weather. In successive years that came held by Haverford. Mostly unorganized and to always be the case. Those memories of undocumented, some anecdotal evidence freezing to death but enjoying the play and indicates that these pep rallies were often the excitement and the camaraderie was very impressive, and it was never really adversarial. accompanied by a bonfire. More recently, At Episcopal all the fans [from both Haverford Haverford students had the tradition of taking and EA] were an old car from all in the same a junkyard and stand: they smashing it to were mixed. pieces, as Mr. It wasn’t Alford puts it, a matter to achieve “an of there’s emotional high.” Haverford’s Mr. Alford notes, side and “[This event] there’s was not my Episcopal’s favorite event,” side. People for reasons got together ranging from and cheered the wastefulness their side, but of destroying a if there was near-drivable a great play car to the people would negative traits Photo from 2000 Haligoluk of Haverford A Haverford student smashes a pumpkin at an EA Day pep rally in 2000. applaud for whoever made students it the great play.” seemed to perpetuate. That tradition only lasted Some of the greatest memories are made for perhaps four or five years. in times of friendship, not competition. For Today, those disorganized pep rallies have been replaced by a structured week-long “spirit this reason, it is worth remembering that the rivalry is a friendly one marked by both good week” leading up to EA Day. This tradition began when Coach Mr. Michael Murphy joined sportsmanship and enjoyable competition. It has withstood the test of time, and hopefully the community. During the week, competitions EA Day will continue as a fond memory in our of activities ranging from pie eating to flag hearts for years to come. football between Forms take place in order to
*Many thanks to Mr. Alexander Mercer, Haverford’s archivist, who put together most of the historical information in this article through his analysis of old Haligoluks, issues of The Index, and other school publications.