Video: Two Anchorage rivals join in the Haka dance
East and Bartlett show unity after a tough Alaska tussle last week.
The actions of football players before games have been magnified recently, with players from high school through the pros taking various actions to show protest against what they feel are injustices and racial disparities.
A more celebratory statement was made
after the game last week between Anchorage (Alaska) football rivals
Bartlett and
East, two schools that the Anchorage Daily News reported as among the nation's top three most diverse.
The teams, which play annually for "The Boot," joined together to engage in the traditional Haka dance, which is almost universally performed by one team. Considering the game was for first place and was bitterly fought — Bartlett won 21-14 — the moment was powerful according to Barlett co-coach John Jessen.
"In the 35 years I've been involved as a coach it was one of the coolest things I've ever seen," Jessen said.
The idea was presented to Jessen by East administrator Josh Green and agreed upon by Bartlett co-coaches Jessen and Daniel Esparza and East coach Jeff Trotter.
"Both schools are melting pots," he said. "Lately the city of Anchorage has seen a spike in serious crime, including murder. We come from two different sides of town. To see the two groups of young men all together peacefully after a tough game sends a very positive message."
