A black bracelet that spells out “F.A.M.I.L.Y ” may not be significant to all Tommies, but for the St. Thomas football team, the bracelet is a reminder of a team philosophy.

“F.A.M.I.L.Y means ‘Forget about me, I love you,’” sophomore cornerback Sean Hamlin said. “We always focus on putting the team before ourselves, on and off the field.”

St. Thomas football coach Glenn Caruso said he came up with the idea for the bracelets before the 2012 season started. Every player on the team received one of the bracelets at the beginning of the season, and they wear them on their wrists every day.

Caruso said the bracelets are important because they are a symbol of what he said the team stands for.

“We’re a program that forever puts the family first, and that is of the utmost importance in every action that we have,” Caruso said. “To be able to have something tangible that reminds us of that on a daily basis is very affirming of who we are.”

The team has many statistical goals for the season, but more importantly, sophomore wide receiver Pete Fitzsimmons said the team understands what it takes to achieve those goals.

“If we want to get to where we need to be, then our main goal is not focusing on what we can do to make ourselves better, but focusing on how we can make the team better,” Fitzsimmons said.

Caruso said the F.A.M.I.L.Y philosophy makes it possible for team members to depend on one another.

“It’s reassuring for every player throughout the week as they prepare, knowing that their teammates are right beside them with the same mentality,” Caruso said.

Caruso said the Tommie football team prides itself on the idea of F.A.M.I.L.Y and it shows through their consistent success on and off the field.

“Our men have decided to put themselves behind the team,” Caruso said. “When you get 130 guys that are all willing to do that, sure, it certainly allows you to reach greater heights, but it also allows you to be picked up and lifted up by your brothers through difficult times.”

Freshman Matt Foley said he thinks the enthusiasm that St. Thomas football players have for their team hasn’t gone unnoticed around St. Thomas.

“I definitely get a sense that the football team is a family,” Foley said. “When teams come together as one you can just tell by how they carry themselves on a daily basis.”

Kyle Jonas can be reached at Jona7984@stthomas.edu.