Athletes believe superstitions and pre-game rituals play key roles in performance in a game.

One may have heard of the lucky t-shirt, or that special pair of underwear. In most cases, it is clean or dirty, and has never been washed.

Former San Francisco Giants pitcher Steve Kline is known for his dirty hat tradition. He wore the same hat throughout the season and never washed it. He believed the dirt on the cap kept him grounded, and made him remember where he came from.

“I have to wear a certain pair of tights, because they are my good luck tights. I feel like if I don’t wear them, I will have a bad game,” basketball forward freshman Ekiya Gray said.

Tennis star Serena Williams wears the same pair of socks for the duration of her single tournament run. If she lost a tournament, she would blame a change in her routine for the blemish.

Nicholls State University sophomore tennis player Kieran Cronin admits that he has superstitions too.

“During a match, I never want to step on the lines. After points, I always jumped over the lines so I wouldn’t touch them,” Cronin said. “I always like to warm-up with my racket in my hand when we run around the court before the match,” Cronin said.

The Madden curse is no stranger to the National Football League fans across the nation, but what about the Sports Illustrated cover jinx? Saints’ quarterback Drew Brees and Falcons’ quarterback Matt Ryan were on the cover of an NFL preseason edition of the magazine, and they are performing below expectations. There are many issues of the popular sports magazine and some might think that the incidents happen coincidentally. In 2012, there were twelve incidents related to players gracing the cover of the magazine.

Nicholls quarterback Beaux Hebert wears a special pair of socks for every game day.

“When I was little, my favorite athlete was basketball player Penny Hardaway. My socks have his picture on them. I have to wear them every game day,” Hebert said.

Rituals are just as important to athletes as any other superstitions. During pre-game activities, Louisiana State University head coach Les Miles munches on Tiger Stadium’s natural turf. He believes that nibbling on the grass humbles him and lets him know that he is part of the field, and a part of the game.

Former Boston Red Sox third basemen, Wade Boggs, was known as the “Chicken Man.” He ate a chicken meal for his pre-game ritual.

As Nicholls linebacker Davin Bovie gets ready for the game, he insists putting his socks on before anything else.
“When I get to the stadium for warm-ups, before I can do anything else, I have to put my socks on. Everyone else is getting dressed in the locker room, and I am just putting my socks on,” Bovie said.

Hebert listens to Irish-Celtic singer Enya before every game.

“She calms my nerves and relaxes my head. Games can make you feel tense.”