Bobby Hurley is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Gilbert High School for AZPreps365.com

Wearing Ethika underwear, eating Taco Bell and listening to Taylor Swift’s "Love Story" are just some of the many superstitions the Gilbert football team has.

In sports, athletes will try to find any edge they can to perform better for their games. Some of the most notable include former Red Sox third-baseman Wade Boggs and former Chicago Bulls guard Michael Jordan.

Boggs was called ‘Chicken Man’ by teammates because he would eat chicken before every game. Michael Jordan used to wear his college shorts under his Bulls uniform because he thought it gave him good luck.

So if two of the most successful professional athletes of all time are superstitious, does that mean this translates toward the high school level? 

The answer is yes.

Quarterback Danny Hesse has been tremendous this season. Hesse has thrown for over 1,000 passing yards and 10 touchdowns. So what does the Tigers' fearless quarterback do before he leads them into action?

“I listen to the same playlist before the game,'' Hesse said. "It’s kind of weird but I listen to Taylor Swift before the game so that’s just kind of my thing. 'Love Story' is my favorite.”

Cooper Zellner has rushed for nine touchdowns this season and made 95 tackles. His routine is a little different than throwing on T-Swift. 

“I guess I am superstitious about my routine,'' he said. "So I’ll listen to music and get dressed right after school. Then I will go to team dinner and then straight to the training room for anything I need. A lot of NBA YoungBoy on the playlist. A lot of hype-up music and music that makes me want to just go out and hit the other team.” 

So the players have a certain routine. Do the coaches have any superstitions?

Brent Hunt, who played left tackle at UTEP,  is the offensive line coach at Gilbert. He does something a little superstitious. 

“I do wear the same shoes when we win,” Hunt said. “I remember one time hand-washing socks as a player.”

There is one player who stood out, though, and that was wide receiver Mason Villela. He has a very specific game day routine that has many parts.

“I like to go into the locker room by myself when everyone leaves for team meal and I do all my little stretches,” Villela said. “My pre-game meal is Panda Express or Taco Bell. I play best on those foods.”

Mason also has a unique clothing accessory he needs to wear. “Underwear,'' he said. "Yeah, I have a certain underwear I wear. It’s like green leaves and red flowers and they are all throughout. It's Ethika, they are hard.” 

Villela then proceeds to listen to the "Certified Lover Boy" album by Drake before he takes the field. 

Gilbert is no different than the professionals with their specific superstitions. It seems to be working this year as the Tigers are 5-3 and 2-1 in region play. The Tigers have two games left and look to finish over .500 for the first time since the 2008-2009 season.