The Extraordinary Spirit of the Game
卓越的比赛精神
To the casual observer, Saturday's rivalry might have seemed devoid of spirit. Sunny 70-degree summer-like weather and a big score early reduced the traditional chanting and cheering to just a few spirited bursts in the first half. However, wider and deeper than the frenzied cheering that often rocks the sidelines during The Game, there was a spirit evident along the sidelines that makes our rivalry with Lyndon Institute one worth celebrating, regardless of the score.
对于漫不经心的观众来说，周六的竞技比赛精神势头似乎不高。在夏日般阳光明媚的天气下，由于大比分领先使得传统的欢呼声只出现在了上半场中。然而，比在球场上频繁出现的疯狂欢呼声更让人印象深刻的是，无论比分如何，我们和林顿学院的竞技精神都是值得庆祝的。
First, the people at LI demonstrated uncommon hospitality and grace by presenting us with a glass sculpture at midfield before the game started. They had already celebrated the seniors on our team, our cheerleading squad, and in our pep band. In presenting the sculpture, they not only celebrated their 150-year anniversary, but acknowledged our 175th as well. The sculpture consisted of two intertwining horns, one red and one green, attached to a base engraved with a line from Plutarch, "The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled." It will be displayed in our fieldhouse as a sign of our shared mission to provide world-class independent-school education to our communities and beyond.
首先，林顿学院在比赛中场赠给我们一个玻璃雕塑，表现出了极大的热情和友好。他们也赞扬了我们的团队、啦啦队和乐队。他们赠给我们雕塑，不仅是要庆祝他们150周年纪念，同时也是庆祝我们学院成立175周年。这个雕塑由两个交错在一起的号角组成，一红一绿，固定在刻有“思想不是一个需要被填满的容器，而是需要被点燃的火焰”字样的基座上。我们将会把它放在球馆作为我们共同的奋斗目标，为社区及社区以外的学生提供世界一流的独立学校教育。
This uncommon bond continued as Paul Wheeler, the LI Director of Athletics, invited us to join hands around the field as he read the following words:
这个不同寻常的纽带在林顿学院体育系主任Paul Wheeler的邀请下得以延续，他希望我们能携手共进：
This joined circle represents our community. Our children grow up here, attend schools in both communities, sometimes competing on the same teams, sometimes competing against each other. We form friendships and even marriages across community lines. Let this joining of hands serve as a reminder that we are here as one community to love each other, support each other, and enjoy one of the best football rivalries ever.
这两个号角组成的圆圈代表了我们的社区，我们的孩子在这里长大、在我们两所学校上学，有时作为队友代表团队竞技，有时彼此之间相互比拼。我们通过社区建立友谊甚至婚姻。就让这双交握的手提醒我们，作为一个社区，我们要彼此相亲相爱、相互支持，享受最精彩的橄榄球对抗赛。
This sentiment has never been more evident as it has been this fall. Long gone are the days of vandalism and violence that sometimes marked rivalry weekend. Both schools realize that their success depends to a great degree on the health and success of the other. And the number of families who have alumni roots and/or students attending both schools continues to grow, only strengthening this spirit of mutual respect. As I walked up and down our sideline, I saw this respect in action: students from both schools sitting and walking together without incident, people who played against each other as students watching the game together, and children from the same family playing against each other.
这种情绪从来没有像今年秋天这么明显，那些蓄意破坏的暴力事件已经过去很久了，两所学校都意识到，他们的成功很大程度上取决于另一方的健康发展。两所学校的校友和学生都在持续增长，只有加强这种相互尊重的精神，我们才能发展地更好。当我走在比赛场边时，看到了这样温馨的一幕：两所学校的学生坐在一起，走在一起，没有任何无序现象，大家互相玩耍，一起观看比赛，还有来自同一个家庭的孩子们一起玩耍。
I also heard a number of our alumni, many of whom were back for our Boarding Student Reunion Weekend, comment on how much the spirit of the rivalry has changed. However, even these students, some who only attended the Academy for one year, remembered the special spirit of the weekend with its traditional hallway decorating, Pep Chapel, parade down Main Street, bonfire, and pizza party. Several said that this weekend was the first time they had a tangible experience of being part of something bigger than themselves. This uncommon spirit of belonging helped make the Academy a second home to these alums, some of whom traveled halfway around the world to return for this weekend. The huge community turnout on Friday night and Saturday rekindled a true spirit of homecoming for them.
我还听说一些校友回来参加我们学校的寄宿学生周末聚会，讨论着竞技精神发生了怎样的变化。然而，即使是只在学院上过一年的学生，也记得周末聚会的特殊精神，如传统的走廊装饰、Pep教堂、游行大街、篝火晚会和比萨派对。有几个校友说，这次周末聚会是他们第一次感觉非常有意义的经历。这种罕见的精神归属感使得学院成为这些校友的第二个家，还有些人走遍世界中途返回参加周末聚会。周五晚上和周六的大型社区投票活动，为他们重新点燃了一种真正的返乡精神。
The spirit of Saturday spilled over into Sunday, as dozens of alums gathered as Alumni Ambassadors. This group of young professionals has shown uncommon loyalty to and interest in the Academy and have made major contributions to our continued success. As I talked with them Sunday about our successes, changes, and challenges, I was filled with pride, not only in the current state of our school and its prospects for the future, but also in the success of these young alums and in the devotion that they continue to have to our school. As a graduate of a regional public school, I have a different perspective on this kind of enduring connection with one's high school. It is more than uncommon; it is extraordinary.
周六的返乡精神蔓延到了周日，因为数十名校友聚在一起作为校友大使。这一群年轻的专业人士对学院表现出非凡的忠诚和兴趣，并为我们学院的成功做出了重大贡献。我周日和他们讨论了我们学院的成功、变化和面临的挑战，我非常自豪，不仅是对学校的现状和未来的前景，还有对这些年轻校友的成功和献身精神。作为一个地域公立学校的毕业生，我非常看好这种与中学保持长久联系的做法，我认为这很特别。
I think the same thing can be said for the entire weekend. From the hospitality and grace of our rivals, to the friendship and respect between our schools, to the affection of our alums for their second home, to the loyalty of our alumni body—all of these exemplify an extraordinary spirit within our community. We do well to celebrate that spirit each fall during Homecoming Weekend and should continue to be mindful of it throughout the rest of the year.
我认为整个周末都可以讲同一件事了。从我们竞争对手的热情和友好到两所学校之间的友谊和尊重，再到校友对他们第二个家的喜爱、忠诚，这些都体现了我们社区的非凡精神。我们在庆祝返校日的周末都会赞扬这种精神，并在今年余下的时间里继续保持这种精神。
