Article on Cheerleaders in DC today...

[MustangBandsman]

Another article in the DC today about how the cheerleaders are getting flak for not being more like the traditional "yell-leaders". While I do agree that some of their cheers are kinda lame and serve no purpose, they are out their yelling and cheering the whole game. They work hard at what they do and we should respect them for that.

The biggest thing I hate is the students that say crap like "The Cheerleaders never pump us up". HOW ABOUT JUST CHEERING ON YOUR OWN. The students many times act like they need to be spoonfed everything. I have heard several students mention that it would be "cool" to have something different like the A&M Yell Leaders. But even if we went back to that style, not only would the students still sit there, but they would say "Why can't we just have regular cheerleaders?". Or how about this, if they want to have those types of cheerleaders, why not start a squad. They might not be allowed on the field, but they could parade around the stadium getting people pumped up. But that wouldn't happen because the typical SMU student attitude is to sit back and complain. I am in the Band and we get plenty of this. People ask why are we so weird and why don't we look like other bands. So much for trying to be unique.

Sorry for my little rant, but I am tired of all the negative SMU vibes I am getting this week.

[PonyTales]

You're right, Bandsman, we all should yell for ourselves. I guess you can't, however, call the students "needing to be spoon-fed" since so few of them bother to show up. It's loyal alums like us who make up the majority of the bodies in the seats.

No segment of the game presentation is going to please everyone. The cheerleaders, the pompoms, the band, and especially that new mascot dork - they all have their supporters and their critics. I think it's up to us to be there and be loud and supportive on our own, and bring someone with us to every game. Someone who hasn't been to an SMU game before, but who will appreciate a beautiful campus, a gorgeous stadium, and the enthusiasm that their ticket-buying friends exude. Maybe next time, those friends will come on their own, and bring along a friend of theirs.