The Red & White

Here, at St. George’s, we hold tradition in the highest regard. Fall Ball (formerly First Dance), Family Weekend, Geronimo, and Prize Day are just some of the important traditions that make St. George’s more than just a school. That is why I wanted to look back on one of our school’s most beloved (albeit intense) traditions: Middlesex Weekend.

The rivalry between Middlesex and St. George’s began in 1902, when both schools were in their infancy (one and six years old, respectively). One of the first coverages of the event occurred 20 years later in The Red & White’s “Football Number”. This pamphlet provides various details about the upcoming game, including the height, weight, age, grade, and position of every player. After over 100 years, the average height of our football team remains at 5’10”, while the average weight has gone from 162 lbs to 176 lbs. Additionally, the Football Number includes a record of every Middlesex and St. George’s game up to its publication. While we dominated Middlesex for the first three years of competition, later, the rivalry became more contested. The record ended up as 11-7 for Middlesex. This mostly resembles the record of the last 13 years, which stands at 8-4 for Middlesex. Finally, among the photos of the team and coaches is a short message from the editors. It reads as follows:

“With the publication of this number of ‘The Red and White’, the Board wishes to bid a hearty welcome to the Middlesex Team at St. George’s. We trust that this game, whatever the result, will bind closer together the bonds of friendship which hold the two schools.” As strongly contested as Middlesex Weekend can be, over a century later, we retain this core message.

The 1961 edition of The Dragon also shares some insight into what Middlesex Weekend could’ve been like back in the day. The “Athletic” section shares specific details about that year’s football game, which is a tradition that is long gone with the ability to record and livestream matchups. It even includes a drawing that allows readers to see specific plays and the movement of the ball. The game ultimately ended up in our favor, leading to a raucous celebration. A student-written short story details the response to the game, saying, “Scarcely had the final whistle of the Middlesex game blown, when a wild, fanatical mob swept down from the grandstand and invaded the school.” They go on to recount that students pooled their money, totalling roughly $40 (over $600 today), and used it to buy fireworks and hire a brass band to play in King Hall. After dinner, they set up a bonfire that reportedly reached a height of over 50 feet. Next, there was a “torchlight procession and a snake-dance up the drive. The school crowded around the steps to listen to outbursts of oratory from every member of the team and each coach. Strange to say, this did not take as long as we expected it to do, partially due to the pathological diffidence (slight embarrassment) of the orators.” This particular section is surprisingly reminiscent of today’s team dances, which also cause “pathological diffidence” among many. Finally, the aforementioned fireworks were set off while students enjoyed ice cream and hot chocolate. The author of this story writes that, “everyone agrees that we have never had such a celebration of victory before, and that we’ll never have another like it—until the next time.” Although many of the celebrations displayed in this story are very different from those today, it is clear that the students of yesterday share our competitive spirit and pride for our school.
|
It is true that, on the surface, Middlesex Weekend is nothing like what it used to be. For example, a tradition that was once largely focused on football has sprawled into an all-sport competition that, as of 2024, warrants its own trophy. However, the core idea of Middlesex Weekend stays the same. It is a bond between two rivals, a fierce competition that calls for celebration. And although it is a celebration of winning, it is also a celebration of our teams, coaches, and programs… But mostly winning.