Collage by Trinity Johnson, Photographer
Out on the field, they’re known for bringing the heat, but at home they’d rather keep things cool. What started as a joke about four Chapman football players never turning off the AC quickly turned into an identity: The Icebox.
Lane Forti, Luke Jones, Andrew Leal and Teddy Buettner all arrived at Chapman four years ago, eager to begin their collegiate football careers. It didn’t take long for the four linemen to meet and begin sharing a bond that would last long into the future.
After their freshman year, the group of four decided to move in together at Chapman Court. Four linemen, one apartment. While it may have been cramped, being in the shared space allowed them to grow closer than they could have ever imagined.
Eventually, the group became known for never turning off their air conditioning, and people began to refer to them as “The Icebox.” Two years later, the name has stuck.
“We have ice in our veins whenever the team needs us; they call The Icebox, and we get it done," said Buettner, senior right guard for the Panthers and business real estate major.
Jones, senior center and business real estate major, was quick to add to Buettner's statement, emphasizing just how close the group has become, “That's on and off the field too; if anyone on the team has a problem, they call us."
What started as a funny nickname for a freezing-cold apartment has transformed into something completely different. An identity recognized by not only these four individuals, but by their team and those surrounding them.
Although they’ve all been on the team since their freshman year, this season has been the first time they’ve all stepped on the field together. For Forti, who is also a staff reporter on The Panther, having his roommates out on the field with him every play has made communication on the line much easier.
“This is our first year all starting together. We all came in as freshmen together; we're all seniors now. But this is our first year, all four of us starting together, so we're out there all the time together on the field now,” said Forti.
Buettner said that, when thinking back to freshman year, they’ve come so far not just individually, but as a unit.
“We've all progressed so much since getting here; we were all at different levels coming in, and I feel like it kinda just influenced us to push each other and be there for each other whenever,” Buettner said. “Freshman year we all hit the weight room really hard and we all collectively just agreed that we want to win and we’re planning on it, so we’re going to put in the work now to eventually be able to start. From there some of us started and it was kind of just magic.”
The Chapman football team has been to the SCIAC championship game twice in the past three years, winning in 2023 and being narrowly defeated by Pomona-Pitzer University in 2024.
This year, with an overall record of 7-1 and an undefeated conference record of 6-0, the Panthers are looking to claim the crown again.
“We started that sophomore year, and since then we’ve gone to the championship every year since. This year we’re hoping to repeat. It’s been an amazing process, just really grinding together and being there for each other every step of the way; it’s just been amazing,” Buettner said.
Although they all play on the offensive line, each position requires different techniques to get the job done. The differences between tackle, guard and center may be small, but detrimental to the game.
“We all start getting up to the line thinking the same thing; it all starts with the technique we’re taught, and I know that’s the first thing that goes through our mind,” said Forti.
Buettner remembers a time in the season when his coach had switched him from guard to tackle out of necessity, saying it was one of the hardest things he’s ever had to do.
“Lane’s a tackle. When I had to play tackle at some point this season, it was a completely different game out there. I have been playing football since my freshman year of high school, and switching to tackle, I felt like it was my first time on the field. It’s a completely different mindset, a completely different play style,” Buettner said.
Though they may each have to play differently, on the line, working as a unit is crucial to the success of the entire rest of the team. Although they’re all doing different things, they’re still working cohesively.
“It’s all three different mindsets, but we all collectively have to work in unison and in sync, almost like a symbiotic relationship; we all have to think the same, but execute our jobs in the play style that is required at the position,” Buettner said.
Once they’re set on the line, they wait for the quarterback to snap the ball and immediately spring into action. Creating contact with the defensive line every single play all night until the game has a winner.
To most people, this isn’t something that provides any enjoyment. But to Buettner and the other linemen, it’s a way of life.
“It’s not fun to hit these 300-pound guys every single play, for 70 plays, every Saturday. But at the same time, we have such a like-minded mindset that we are going to put it on you, and you have to stop us, that every single week we’re seeing teams just give up,” Buettner said.
In order to have a mindset like that, it can’t be serious all the time; you have to enjoy what you’re doing, and there is no shortage of fun on the offensive line.
“We love to have fun out there. We do all of spring, all of summer, all of fall camp, just for these 10 weeks, so we try to make the most of it,” Buettner said. “We love to talk shit; anytime we’re out there, we’re talking shit. We’re going to defeat you both physically and mentally, and there's nothing you can do about it. That’s the mindset we have going into every week, and we embody that every single Saturday or Saturday night.”
Although they may get bruised, cut or worse. Leal, senior left guard, spoke about how regardless of how they may be feeling, they have to go out on that field every Saturday and do their job.
“Lane and Luke have both had pretty severe injuries, like surgeries, but still being able to bounce back and continue to perform, I think that sums it up. We’re always hurting; they always say, ‘Camp is the best you feel,’ and that’s true, it’s like every week there’s something, but you always have to go out there and do your job,” Leal said.
Their ability to work together on the field comes from more than hours spent practicing. After spending nearly three years living under the same roof, the four have developed a level of trust that extends beyond football.
“It’s pretty ridiculous how much trust we have in each other, like every play I know without a doubt they’re going to execute their job, or at least damn try their hardest to. I think living together definitely helps that because it’s like we’re brothers first before we’re teammates; that trust is just a little different,” Forti said.
Having to set up plays for the rest of the offense to score the ball has created a team-first mindset for the Chapman O-line. They know they’re not going to get the credit for scoring a touchdown, catching a pass or having a good run, but they know they will do anything to see their brothers succeed.
“That's the mindset you really have to have; it's not you doing it for yourself, because an O-line is a nameless position. You get none of the credit, but you do some of the hardest work, so it's just knowing that you're lifting those guys up, that's why we do it, that's our everything, it's for our guys,” said Buettner.
As the Panther football team nears the end of their regular season, the senior linemen feel bittersweet about things coming to a close, wanting to soak up every last minute they have on the field.
“This is a special group. I mean, this whole class of ‘27 is just special, and it’s been awesome to cherish it while it’s happening and just continue to enjoy these last weeks with my guys,” Forti said. “I know we’re going to go win another championship and I know we’re going to go try and make some noise in the (NCAA DIII) playoffs too. We want to go compete with the teams on the East Coast, and we’re ready for it. These last couple weeks are going to be the most fun, but the most challenging too, but that’s just what we’re ready for.”