Since the dawn of time — or at least since 2014 — the phrase “Fear the D” has been a classic saying to the students of Foothill Technology High School (Foothill Tech). As a popular chant at sports games or morning announcements, this phrase can be seen in all corners of Foothill Tech and said by students and admin alike.
The saying stems from the well-known “Fear the D” chant at pro-sports games such as basketball or soccer, the “D” standing for “defense.” However, in true Foothill Tech fashion, the “D” stands for “Dragons,” the iconic school mascot. From freshman to senior, every student knows the phrase, yet few know the history behind it and the legacy it has left behind.
Following the establishment of Foothill Tech’s sports in 2014, students were eager to find their own identity. For that reason, the phrase, created by former Dragon Troy Lindemann ‘18, snowballed in popularity across campus, giving student sections something to cheer and stand behind. Lindemann was described as the ultimate fan — someone who would show up at every game to rally students and cheer for athletes.
“I wasn’t expecting it to be an official thing but I feel like the students all loved it,” Foothill Tech alumni Clayton Brossia ‘18 recalled. “I was surprised that it caught on and was really easy to chant too.”
The chant’s popularity was further solidified in the years that followed. As the athletic programs developed and Foothill’s sports teams started to make their mark, the phrase “Fear the D” was painted on school walls, announced over loudspeakers, and even incorporated into the morning announcements.
For many, the phrase is typically used during Foothill Tech sports games, but more commonly, it is chanted at volleyball games as a way for students to show support to their peer athletes. The phrase holds many meanings to the students and staff at Foothill, and for director of the Foothill Tech Athletics Department Jaamal Brown, the phrase is, “part of who we are, it’s part of our Foothill [Tech] culture.” For many of Foothill Tech’s sports teams, chanting the phrase is their way of saying that if “anyone that wants to come step up to the Dragons, they should fear the Dragons.”
The Foothill Tech volleyball team utilizes the phrase regularly, displaying it on team jerseys and posters, along with chanting it during games. It isn’t clear as to why the volleyball team uses this phrase the most, but to Foothill Tech volleyball player Channing McClure ‘25, it’s something that, “unites us all together.” Furthermore, Brown also agrees that, “if it’s a slogan that rallies them to a call, then it’s a great slogan for us.”
To other current Foothill Tech student-athletes like Ammar Atiah ‘26, the phrase is used to give motivation to the players and get them ready for the game. The same can be said for athletes like Ronan Murphy ‘25 who stated that before soccer games, he and his teammates, “tend to use the phrase a lot as a way to hype ourselves up, to motivate ourselves.” Murphy continued to say, “It’s a joke, but it’s one that brings us together.” The phrase can be used in a multitude of ways, but many student-athletes like to keep it lighthearted and fun.
While this phrase may be a way of showing encouragement to student-athletes or promoting school spirit, some note that the phrase is misinterpreted as offensive or ill-suited to the competitive spirit of the Dragons. Despite the countless number of students who use the phrase in a supportive manner, among them are those who jokingly pin a suggestive and inappropriate meaning to the words.
Foothill Tech’s assistant principal Katie Tedford agrees with this sentiment, stating that she has, “recently heard some concerns about it.” Tedford argues that Foothill Tech staff and students should continue to have conversations about what the phrase means, and why we use it, to avoid any negative connotations. On the flip side, many students argue that the phrase is just a fun way to joke around, while some others believe that it’s immature and inappropriate. The interpretation of the phrase is very diverse at Foothill Tech, which was emphasized by Murphy, “The interpretation of ‘Fear the D’ depends on how you look at it — whether it’s just a funny, lighthearted joke or something that people take more seriously.”
With a lack of an athletic identity, Lindemann’s phrase started with no expectations in being the next big thing on campus. Despite this, the phrase has become known by nearly every student and is seen everywhere across Foothill Tech today.
Despite the fact that this phrase is used in multiple ways across the Foothill Tech campus, it has certainly made its mark on Foothill culture. Although to some the saying might be controversial, it has brought Foothill Tech students together in unexpected ways. So whether it’s being used as a joke, a chant, or a rallying point, it continues to be a special part of Foothill Tech that will always be remembered.
And remember Dragons, through your noble acts and courageous deeds, they will learn to fear the D!
