Cecilia Murphy ’22

Some of the boys’ fall sports teams, most notably football, follow a tradition to shave the heads of their freshman players during Spirit Week, the week leading up to the games against Episcopal’s biggest rivals: The Agnes Irwin School and The Haverford School. This tradition is meant to get teammates amped up for their games. Additionally, it aims to bring the team closer together through a fun bonding experience. Todd Fairlie, Varsity Football Coach, has worked at Episcopal for eleven years and states that the “fall sports teams have done it since I have been here, and from what I understand, much longer than that.” The upperclassmen athletes are supposed to follow a set of guidelines as they shave the hair of the underclassmen. According to Kris Aldridge, Dean of the Class of 2020, “The student body last year had developed a series of guidelines, together with the administration, for athletic spirit haircuts.”

Michael Letts, Head of Upper School, explains that “parental consent must be given and only certain haircuts are allowed” and that “this year, those guidelines were not followed completely.”

Aldridge elaborates, “there were some haircuts, on the football team in particular, that raised some concerns because they were outside of those guidelines.” According to Aldridge, the haircut guidelines state that the haircuts can’t be “overly offensive.” The guidelines state that acceptable haircuts include: mohawks, haircuts that are “high and tight” (short on sides or short on the top), mullets and equal length buzz cuts that are not shaved all the way to the scalp. “E”s or “EA” , lightning bolts, or narrow lines can also be shaved into their heads. Aldridge also explains that “the focus is not on calling every freshman athlete into a room and inspecting their heads. So to the extent we don’t hear anything, we sort of assume, which may be fair or unfair, that the haircut was fine and within the guidelines. So, the only concerns that were raised were with respect to the freshmen on the football team.” In other words, unless a complaint is brought to the faculty’s attention, no action will be taken. She states, “We are basically having a conversation about what the appropriateness of the haircuts was and to what extent they violated the guidelines, and if so, what action should be taken.” 

Restrictions were put on haircuts two years ago; previously, the school had had a simple “yes or no” system. Parents could consent to their child getting a haircut without any regulations or they could choose not to consent, stopping any haircut at all. This system gives upperclassmen more freedom when giving haircuts and may prevent some controversy. 

Faculty and students have mixed opinions on the freshman haircut tradition. Alex Pillart ‘22 was not upset when he got his haircut last year because “it’s just hair, so it can grow back” and he believes that “the haircuts are a fun tradition.” Joe Graham ’21 is one of the varsity football captains for next year. He states, “Before getting my haircut I was not excited at all. I loved my hair, I didn’t know what I would do without it. So, in that case, I understand if a freshman does not want to get their hair cut. But I have to say when we got to Mike McFillin’s house and the seniors started cutting the hair, it was one of the greatest experiences of my life…As I was getting my hair cut I felt that it was the last step for me to be threaded into the EA football brotherhood forever…And I feel that you could not do anything better to bond the freshman with the team and with each other.” Graham believes that the football team “100% should keep the great tradition” and recommends that next year the school should use the “yes or no system, where the parent states ‘yes, you can cut my child’s hair’ or ‘no, you do not have the permission to cut my child’s hair.’” However, he “totally understands how there would be rules on anything inappropriate.” 

Miguel Pena ’22 did not get his hair cut last year as a freshman. He says, “I still felt pretty included in the team and they didn’t give me a hard time about it.” 

Ryan Klein, football coach and upper school math teacher, played football for Episcopal in high school. He didn’t mind his checkerboard patterned haircut, however, he believes the team “could have had just as much fun without shaving each other’s heads.” Klein further says, “I don’t think it is necessary at all. We have a very strong culture on the football team to begin with. I do think our players do a good job of not forcing anyone who does not want to participate to get their hair cut. I also think they do a good job of not making anyone feel guilty or left out by not participating either. To be quite honest, I don’t know when the tradition started but we should just get rid of it.”

Fairlie expresses a similar opinion, “I feel strongly that the haircuts only separate our team. They do not bring us any closer, and I hope they go away in the future.”

The future of the tradition is uncertain and under careful consideration. Letts says he is “not sure yet” what will happen.

“I feel strongly that the haircuts only separate our team. They do not bring us any closer, and I hope they go away in the future.”

-Todd Fairlie, Head Football Coach