Day In The Life - CWU Quarterback Quincy Glasper
Story by Jake Hassebrock and Milenne Quinonez | Pictures by Dylan Hanson and Jacob Thompson | Design by Evan Brown
Intro
Gameday is an essential day for athletes in any sport. It’s the day that weeks, months, and sometimes even years of preparation come together on a grand scale. All of the practices, trainings, workouts and film sessions culminate in the excitement and adrenaline of competition.
While this long term groundwork is hugely important to succeeding in matches, the shorter term individual preparation on gameday is also crucial to a successful outing on the field. From the amount of sleep they get to what they eat to the music they listen to, the type of day an athlete has before the game even starts can translate to the way they play.
Our PULSE staff had the chance to catch up with two CWU athletes prior to their games on Homecoming weekend. CWU football team redshirt sophomore quarterback Quincy Glasper and women’s soccer team senior defender Maci Parke walked us through their typical game day process.
Quincy Glasper
For quarterback Glasper, gameday is a source of pure excitement.
“It's very hard to not get anxious and want to go out and just get all amped up because it's game day,” Glasper says. “So I like to do a lot of stuff that keeps me busy and just keeps my mind going real slow.”
One of the things that helps Glasper manage his energy and excitement throughout the day is music, which he says is essential.
“I gotta have my music on game day. If I ain't got no music, Imma go crazy. I need my music,” he says.
Glasper starts the earlier parts of the day with upbeat music which he continues through the middle of the day. Around noon, Glasper says he even amps things up by letting the music get loud, playing it through a speaker to elevate his mood even more.
Around 2 p.m. Glasper joins the rest of the football team in the SURC for team lunch. Due to what he describes as a high metabolism, Glasper is able to take a more liberal approach to his game day nutrition.
“People might call me crazy, but I'm a real big candy dude. Like, I'm gonna eat a pack of Starburst. I'm going to eat some Skittles,” Glasper says.
Glasper explains that the sugary snacks are comforting to him and are like his music in that they help him relax for the game ahead of him. He also noted having a full stomach and a bit of sugar in him gives him energy and puts him in a good mood.
In addition to taking the time to eat and fuel their bodies for the game, Glasper and the rest of the team use the group meal as an opportunity to socialize with each other prior to the evening game.
Glasper says he appreciates the time to catch up with his teammates on gameday.
“I get to chop it up with all the guys, see where everybody's head is at,” says Glasper. “I really enjoy that because it… gives us a little bit of time just to talk with one another, see what we're all feeling.”
Glasper’s teammates aren’t the only ones he talks to on game day. One of Glasper’s favorite game day traditions is one he has kept with his mom since he began playing at CWU. The two exchange a simple text message: a black and a red heart emoji.
Glasper says the message gets him in the gameday mood.
“As soon as she sends those texts, I send mine back and like, I'm locked in, it’s game day now.”
Glasper’s teammates aren’t the only football players he talks to. He also sometimes contacts a friend of his who plays wide receiver for the UC Davis football team. Glasper says the two of them typically wish each luck prior to their weekend games.
After lunch, the team moves to Tomlinson stadium where they do a walkthrough on the field before the players have some more time on their own to prepare and study the playbook before pregame warmups.
At this point, Glasper changes the genre of his ever-present music to slower R&B music. He says the mellow tunes ease his nerves before taking the field and help him prepare for the chaos that football brings.
“You know it's gonna be hectic out there. It's football so you know that. So I gotta just calm my nerves down. I play that slow music,” says Glasper.
When the time comes and Glasper steps back out on the field, there are a few key places that he draws motivation and energy from. One of those sources is his teammates.
One key factor about the team that Glasper noted is the bond and togetherness they share. From the offensive linemen who protect him on the field, to the defensive players he doesn’t spend much time with during the week, Glasper describes a mutual respect and work ethic across the whole team.
“It just motivates me to work harder,” Glasper says. “That's why I say it's like Central’s so cool cause it's such a brotherhood. It's like you wanna play with these dudes.”
When Glasper steps into the lights of the stadium, in addition to everything else, he is motivated by his love for the game of football. He knows that his time as a player is finite, so he makes sure to soak in the moment as much as possible.
“It's just so surreal. It's almost like a movie,” says Glasper. “I run through the tunnel, I hear the band playing, I see the fans. It's just like, there's no other place you’d want to be.”
On Oct. 15 the Wildcats beat Midwestern State 17-10 to win on Homecoming night.
Glasper’s Gameday schedule:
8:30 a.m. - Wake up/breakfast
2 p.m. - Team lunch
3 p.m. - on field walkthrough
4:30 p.m. - free time/playbook prep
5:40 p.m. - report to locker room
6 p.m. - Kickoff
