The Oracle Written and edited by the students of Woodberry Forest School Woodberry Forest, Virginia
November  ii,  2011
woodberry.org/arts/student_publishing/oracle
Volume  CX,  No.  3
The  111th  Consecutive  Game:  The  Rivalry  Continues Jackson  Taylor  ‘12 Oracle  Editor  Woodberry’s  famous  foot- ball  game  against  Episcopal  High  School  dates  back  to  1901,  and  as  Virginia  Living  puts  it,  “the  annual  season-Âending  contest  between  the  two  schools  is  the  oldest  consecu- tive  high  school  football  rivalry  in  the  South.â€?  The  Tigers  have  had  the  upper  hand  since  the  competition’s  RULJLQ ZLWK ÂżIW\ IRXU ZLQV FRP- pared  to  Episcopal’s  forty  eight.   This  year  will  mark  the  111th  time  the  two  teams  will  have  duked  it  out,  and  we  hope  that  “THE  GAMEâ€?  tradition  will  continue  for  decades  to  come.    Some  people  question  the  fairness  of  this  great  game,  claim- ing  that  the  Tigers  have  an  unfair  advantage  with  nearly  four  hundred  male  students  compared  to  Episco- pal’s  two  hundred  or  so.  But  that’s  just  a  harsh  reality  that  came  with  Episcopal’s  decision  to  become  a  coed  school.    Alumni  from  both  schools  still  cherish  “THE  GAMEâ€?  decades  after  they  last  joined  the  student  VHFWLRQ RU VWHSSHG RQ WKH ÂżHOG 7KH polarized  support  creates  an  un- matchable,  electrifying  rush  that  af-Â
fects  all  the  fans.  In  particular,  is  a  culmination  of  the  months  of  hard  work  teachers,  students  and  foot- ball  players  of  both  teams  devote  to  this  one  last  day  of  the  season.   Although  some  students  from  pre- vious  years  have  tainted  the  gentle- manly  competition  with  inappropri- ate  words  and  occasional  actions,  “THE  GAMEâ€?  still  embodies  a  tru-Â
val  is  Episcopal,  teams  like  FUMA  and  St.  Christopher’s  sometimes   shift  the  Tiger’s  attention.   Most  re- cently,  terrible  sportsmanship  from  the  Fumites,  involving  delayed  hits,  incessant  holdings,  even  eye  pok- ing,  and  the  ejection  of  FUMA’s  head  coach,  John  Shuman,  from  the  ¿HOG KDYH FUHDWHG D SRVVLELOLW\ IRU D new,  second-Âtier  rival.   Also,  online Â
ly  fair,  healthy  athletic  rivalry.   The  Maroons  and  the  Tigers  strive  for  a  high  level  of  sportsmanlike  con- duct,  which  makes  the  experience  family  friendly  and  ultimately  the  memorable  event  that  it  always  is.   While  Woodberry’s  main  ri-Â
altercations  involving  social  media  between  St.  Chris  and  Woodberry  have  stoked  that  long  rivalry  too.  After  beating  St.  Chris,  the  team  showed  their  sore-Âloser  attitude  by  making  a  YouTube  video,  which  in- cluded  clips  of  sheep  to  mock  our Â
football  team.  Commenting  on  the  ancient  traditions  of  THE  GAME,  Coach  Alexander,  who  has  led  us  to  three  consecutive  victories  against  Epis- copal,  stated  that  “I  don’t  think  [the  rivalry]  has  changed  other  than  my  appreciation  of  the  importance  of  “THE  GAMEâ€?  and  how  much  it  means  to  our  school  and  alumni.  This  will  be  my  7th  one  and  I  am  already  nervous  and  excited  about  it.â€?  But  beyond  the  football  rivalry,  he  thinks  that  the  spirited  competi- tion  extends  to  every  sport:  “Any- time  we  play  each  other  in  any  sport  it  seems  to  mean  just  a  little  bit  more  than  the  other  schools  we  play.  I  know  all  of  our  players  re- VSHFW WKHP DQG NQRZ KRZ GLIÂżFXOW a  game  it  will  be  regardless  of  what  the  sport  is.â€?  The  Woodberry  vs.  Episco- pal  rivalry  will  continue  because  of  the  sheer  magnitude  of  the  tradition.  But  with  tensions  rising  between  teams  in  the  Prep  League  for  Cham- pionship  and  State  Titles,  a  new  web  of  rivalries  between  multiple  teams  could  develop,  and  dimin- ish  healthy  competition  in  the  Prep  League.  It’s  good  to  know  that  our  rivalry  with  Episcopal  will  always  be  a  gentlemanly  affair.
The  Ties  That  Bind  Us
half  of  the  EHS  student  body  also  connect  the  schools.   Any  Tiger  on  the  mixer  circuit  knows  some  lovely  lady  at  EHS  for  whom  he  However,  upon  closer  investigation,  Isaac  Keohane  ‘13  and  Edward  doesn’t  feel  animosity.   The  strong  these  opinions  fall  apart  to  reveal  all  Bailey  ‘13 attractions  of  romance,  whether  the  ties  that  bind  Woodberry  Forest  Oracle  Editors lifelong  or  just  dance-Âlong,  connect  School  and  Episcopal  High  School  us  Woodberry  students  with  at  least  together  forever.  half  of  EHS.  It’s  a  well-Âaccepted  During  THE  GAME  down  Although  this  is  the  111th  fact  that  the  most  studied  book  on  DW +D\QHV ÂżHOG RQH \HDU RXU FXG- Episcopal’s  campus  is  the  Woodber- dly  Tiger  mascot  was  innocently  ry  Forest  Fir  Tree  and  a  Woodberry  leaning  on  the  Haynes  Field  fence  student  who  “knowsâ€?  an  EHS  girl  enjoying  the  action  when  a  gang  would  never  really  tell  her  to  “go  to  of  disgruntled  Goons  gave  him  the  hellâ€?   -  at  least  until  they  had  broken  jump,  unmasking  his  identity  and  up.   running  off  with  his  head  towards   Another  way  Epis- the  relative  safety  of  the  visitors’  copal  and  Woodberry  lives  are  in- bleachers.  After  a  hot  pursuit  from  tertwined  is  through  different  family  the  Woodberry  Cheerleaders,  the  members  attending  both  schools.   sacred  mask  was  reclaimed  but  Woodberry’s  own  John  Clement  ’12  a  number  of  Woodberry  guys  actually  has  a  twin  brother,  Harrison  including  Tiger  mascot  Wilson  attending  EHS  now,  and  his  older  Bonner,  class  of  ‘01  vowed  eter- brother  and  father  are  alumni  of  the  nal  vengeance.   Fast-Âforward  to  school.    As  the  only  Woodberry  freshman  orientation  at  Sewanee  WFS  Wilson  Craig  ‘12  and  EHS  Jack  student  in  his  Maroon  family,  “ourâ€?  the  following  fall.   Woodberry  Blaine  ‘11  realize  they  share  more  in  Clement  obviously  has  a  strong  alumnus  Bonner  ran  into  fellow  common  than  their  numbers connection  with  EHS.   As  he  put  alum  Louis  Smart,  also  ‘01  who  it,  “I  feel  like  EHS  is  a  part  of  my  introduced  Wilson  to  his  new  friend  year  our  two  schools  have  met  in  life  because  the  rest  of  my  family  Henry,  who  had  just  graduated  this  historic  match  up,  the  rivalry  went  there.  I’ve  grown  up  going  to  from  Episcopal.  They  both  stared‌  used  to  be  more  intense  than  it  is  THE  GAME  for  almost  all  of  my  recognizing  the  guy  each  knew  to  now.  That’s  because  one  of  the  big- life,  except  I’ve  always  sat  on  the  be  his  arch  enemy,  but  would  soon  gest  differences  between  our  two  EHS  side.â€?   Clement,  however,  is  become  his  good  friend. schools  now  actually  forms  one  GHÂżQLWHO\ D 7LJHU Âł, WKLQN P\ VWDNH Every  Woodberry  student,  of  our  strongest  bonds:  Girls.  For  die-Âhard  alum,  and  yes,  even  faculty  example,  Woodberry’s  Dean  of  Ad- in  the  rivalry  is  different  than  that  of  most  students.  The  incentive  to  member,  has  at  some  time,  ex- missions,  Mr.  Harrison  Stuart  class  pressed  disdain  towards  the  school  of  1998  was  the  Head  Cheerleader  win  THE  GAME,  for  me,  is  much  greater.  So  far,  I’ve  had  bragging  that  pretentiously  calls  itself  “The  his  6th  form  year  at  Woodberry.  rights  for  the  last  3  years  and  I  look  High  School.â€?   One  of  the  great  The  fact  that  he  dated  and  eventu- forward  to  having  it  for  many  more  icons  of  our  ally  married  Episcopal  Cheerleader  years  to  come.â€?   Some  other  Tigers  Woodberry  Katherine  Moncure  hasn’t  taken  who  will  have  rivals  in  the  EHS  year,  The  away  from  the  loyalty  that  either  student  section  this  year  are  Henry  %RQÂżUH VHHPV feels  for  their  alma  maters.  Obvi- Copeland,  12  (with  George  ’10),  nothing  more  ously,  they  love  each  other  but,  as  than  a  mass  Mr.  Stuart  assured  me,  “the  rivalry  burning  of  will  always  continue  for  us  on  the  the  faceless  second  Saturday  in  November.â€?  HIÂżJ\ RI (+6 Similarly,  Dr.  and  Mr.  Jordan’s  Around  its  daughter  Elizabeth,  EHS  ‘04,  mar- blazing  light,  students  run,  shouting  ried  Kelley  Shepherd,  Woodberry  things  such  as  “go  to  hell  goons.â€?  ’02.   These  individuals  don’t  resent  Their  painted  chests  express  even  their  spouses  because  of  some  old- more  antagonistic  slogans.  This  re- school  tradition  sentment  however,  is  just  tradition.     As  well  as  committed  Every  student  who  comes  to  either  love,  the  less  formal  “attractionsâ€?  school  sees  the  other’s  students  as  between  Woodberry  students  and  sort  of  evil;Íž  it’s  just  the  way  it  is.   that  more  beautiful,  better-Âdressed Â
Twins  Harrison  and  John  Clem- ent  and  the  ties  that  bind  them Banks  Hagood  (with  Caroline,  ’12)  and  George  Conger  (with  sister  Austin,  ‘12).   For  these  families,  the  tradition  of  rivalry  is  strong;Íž  how- ever  it’s  a  sense  of  mutual  appre- ciation  and  respect,  not  vehement  competitiveness. Another  good  example  of  how  this  age-Âold  rivalry  is  more  of  a  bond  than  a  rift  is  the  WFS- EHS  Alumni  Golf  Challenge.   This  annual  event  is  a  Ryder  Cup-Âstyle  JROI WRXUQDPHQW KHOG WR EHQHÂżW ERWK schools  with  the  winning  school  getting  a  slightly  larger  portion  of  the  proceeds.  “It’s  an  incredible  weekend  of  comradery,  sportsman- ship  and  spirited  competition,â€?  reports  Associate  Director  of  Devel- opment  Rick  Wilcox.  Next  year’s  event  will  be  held  in  May  down  in  Charleston,  S.C.  where  it  will  be  hosted  by  Charleton  DeSassasure  Jr.,  father  of  Charleton  DeSassasure  III,  Woodberry  class  of  2004  and  Episcopal  graduates  Ann  ‘08  and  Frances  ’06.  Gender  connections  are  many,  but  generations  crossovers  go  way  back.  A  great  example  of  the  inter-Âgenerational  ties  can  be  found  in  the  Faulconer  family.  Although  WFS  star  running  back  Hunter  Faulconer  IV,’12  scored  the  points  to  put  the  Tigers  on  top  in  THE  GAME  last  year,  his  grandfather,  Percival  Hunter  Faulconer  Jr.,’57  continued  on  page  2...
2-3, Â 8: Â FEATURES Â 4-5: Â HUMOR 6: Â WFS Â IN Â THE Â WORLD
7: Â WORLD Â NEWS 9-10: Â FINE Â ARTS 11-12: Â SPORTS
7KH %RQÂżUH 6SUHDG %DFKHORU RI WKH ,VVXH 7KRPDV 'RXJKW\
*DGGDÂż 'LHV DW WKH +DQGV RI /LE\DQ 5HEHOV
In  This  Issue... 3UHVLGHQWLDO (OHFWLRQ )LQGV *URZLQJ ,QWHU- HVW DW WKH )RUHVW
)DOO 3OD\ Lend  Me  a  Tenor!
9DUVLW\ )RRWEDOO DQG 6RFFHU 3UHS /HDJXH &KDPSV