The Shippensburg University football team improved on what has been an incredible season already for the Red Raiders, as SU now sits at 9-1 overall, and 6-1 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division — its best mark in East play since 2013.
The Red Raiders defeated Bloomsburg University, 20-6 on Saturday at Seth Grove Stadium, in large part to an SU defense that shut down the Huskies, limiting them to just 1-of-17 on third downs, and 1-of-4 on fourth down. SU’s defense leads the PSAC in scoring defense, total defense, rushing defense, passing defense and opponent first downs.
But what has made the SU defense and the rest of the Red Raiders so successful this season?
One would say that the family environment that the team preaches each week has allowed the team to endure success, as head coach Mark Maciejewski has always preached the importance of playing together as a Red Raider family.
But one other thing was more apparent this week as players took the practice field and celebrated Halloween on Tuesday. SU linebacker Steven Cain came to practice sporting a mustache that he dyed.
His teammates loved it.
“I don’t want to take all the credit, but we were going to do No Shave November, so I shaved everything off and thought I kind of like the mustache,” Cain said. “My buddy had hair dye left over from Halloween, so I dyed my mustache and came to practice and everybody loved it. Everyone who had a mustache kept it, so that was pretty cool.”
Shortly after, multiple players got on board, including linebacker Tyler Emge, fullback Mike Cassidy, running back Cole Chippialle, safety JT Hopple and numerous other players.
On Thursday, Emge headed to the practice field, mentioning that nearly 20 players were sporting mustaches this week, as he jogged out with the dye still stuck to his upper lip.
After SU’s win against Bloomsburg, Cain laughed at Emge’s attempt to copy his mustache.
“Emge doesn’t have much hair to make a mustache so he did the best he could,” Cain joked.
Whether the mustaches will carry into SU’s final game against Seton Hill University continues to be a mystery, but one thing is for certain — it is a fun time to be a Red Raider.
“Ever since I’ve been here it’s been a family atmosphere,” Cain said. “That’s the reason I came here. Everyone is so close, we hang out together, and it’s the same with the mustache. I come in with that and everyone is like, let’s do it too. That’s how it’s always been.”
The Slate welcomes thoughtful discussion on all of our stories, but please keep comments civil and on-topic. Read our full guidelines here.