Cheerleaders/Dance Team

[Mickey]

A lot of you are [deleted] about the spirit teams. I think they get burned out. They also have to cheer the Women's BBall games. The band and the cheerleaders have to apear at the Women's BBall games even though no one shows. Why? No good reason. The cheer sqauds get no weeks off and often are cheering in front of no one when it is the Lady Mustangs.

The solution is to skip the women. The cheer squads will come out with more fire if it is every other week and in front of some people. Whoever made the policy that the WBB has to have cheerleaders is nuts. There are only two revenue sports- football and MBB. We need to focus on this sports and the hell with equal treatment and Title IX. Just comply and do no more.

[couch 'em]

A lot of you are [deleted] about the spirit teams. I think they get burned out. They also have to cheer the Women's BBall games. The band and the cheerleaders have to apear at the Women's BBall games even though no one shows. Why? No good reason. The cheer sqauds get no weeks off and often are cheering in front of no one when it is the Lady Mustangs.

The solution is to skip the women. The cheer squads will come out with more fire if it is every other week and in front of some people. Whoever made the policy that the WBB has to have cheerleaders is nuts. There are only two revenue sports- football and MBB. We need to focus on this sports and the hell with equal treatment and Title IX. Just comply and do no more.

No offense, but that is idiotic. 1. They don't show up to every game, not even most women's games. And when they do show up, it usually isn't all of them, just like yesterday. 2. Then band shows up to EVERY men's and women's game, with the same group of people, and for the most part cheers and is involved, as are many fans who are on this board. 3. Don't they get scholarship money to cheer? Two games a week is not that much. I don't care how many people are there, it is their job to be spirited.

Although I guess they didn't mind skimping out road games to take a week trip to hawaii a couple years ago. Wish I had that oppertunity.

[DickerJames]

If they can't handle the work then they shouldn't be a cheerleader. I was embarrased Saturday night and I think the person in charge should be FIRED! The band does an awesome job game after game and if the other so called spirit groups can't do the same then get the hell out of the gym.

[Arkpony]

It has been apparent for some time that the cheerleading squad doesn't have their priorities straight. WHo is in charge of them? Someone has to have the say-so over what they do. If they don't want to participate, fire their as___s and find someone who WANTS to be a cheerleader for more reasons than putting that in their resume`.

[Corso]

If they can't handle the work then they shouldn't be a cheerleader. I was embarrased Saturday night and I think the person in charge should be FIRED! The band does an awesome job game after game and if the other so called spirit groups can't do the same then get the hell out of the gym.

Good point - the band is there for each and every game -- and thanks to the loyal band alums, even over the holidays -- and they are loud and very good .... every single game. It didn't look good when the dance squad, or whatever it's called, walked out of the Boise State debacle with 6 or 7 minutes remaining. At least the regular cheerleaders stayed, and should be commended for doing so.

[MustangSally]

Ultimately, they are students out there trying, i guess we shouldnt be too [deleted] them. Literally thousands of SMU students don't come to games at all, why should we rag the ones that do, and this includes the band, cheer, pom, peruna suit, etc. Remember, all these students grew up knowing of SMU as the 'death penalty' school or the 'swc leftover' so its hard to be uber-excited about it when you've never seen real onfield/oncourt success.

[Hoss]

That's pathetic. If you're a member of a spirit squad, attendance should not be optional, based on when the biggest party of the year is. If you're part of a group that is working to help SMU, then show up. To come by once in a while, when it's convenient, is shameful. Nobody put a gun to their heads requiring them to sign up. But if you commit to something, for god's sake fulfill your commitment.

[Barbara Ann]

I can't believe someone would even SUGGEST to skip the Women's games! If you think it's bad because we're playing for no one, then that means more people should SHOW UP, not for us to quit!

Everyone has made good points, especially Mustang Sally and the possible split-up of the squad. How can you say that only MBB is a revenue sport when there are various colleges about that generate more revenue from WBB than Men's.

It frustrates me also about the slowing participation of the cheer squads, especially whenever half the time they look towards the band for cheers. Granted, they do get burned out, I get burned out, but I'm not going to just quit. They do put a lot of effort into what they do, but I just wish more would show up, earlier, and be louder.

Anyone notice the UTEP cheerleaders snickering when our walked in?

[Peruna88]

I'm going to change my name to "no one" since I haven't missed a women's game this year and only 4-5 over the past 5-6 years.

Let me say, "thanks" to the band for being there. It's a great atmosphere and I cannot hear "Pony Battle Cry" enough. The small group of us who watch our Lady Mustangs regularly definitely appreciate your spirit and music.

As for the cheerleaders and dance team - they are pathetic. Back in the day, we were required to be at Moody 1 hour prior to tipoff. Of course, we were not required to attend the women's games, so I can't comment there, but part of that was travel in SWC days to AWAY basketball games for the men. Our squad WANTED to be there and no one was ever late. We took it seriously and did everything we could to work with the band and raise spirit in Moody. And yes, it was EVERY weekend from Jan. through March, plus the SWC Tourney. Was it a lot of time? Yes. But we all knew what we were getting into when we signed up.

If those kids don't want to cheer, kick them off the squad and get someone in there who cares. It was embarrassing for UTEP to have more people than our own squad.

And please, someone remind the dance team our colors are RED and BLUE - there's no black in SMU uniforms! So ditch the black pants!

[Arkpony]

Suely Copeland knows how pathetic and Un-interested our cheerleaders are. Doesn't he have the power to find someone who can kick some [deleted]? Good Gosh Man! DO SOMETHING!

[Spaz]

Well, I wasn't at the game last saturday, but for the most part, I say that there's a groups that's been pretty good about attendence at games, Ryan Trimble being the most prominent. Granted the don't show up early, but I guess you can't hold everyone to the band's standards.
As for the Dance Team, I talked to one of them at a party this saturday and learned some info. Apparently their Basketball money has been cut and they are no longer being paid to cheer at the games. They've been designated 1/2 time appearances and certain time outs, but they aren't receiving scholarship money or whatever to be at the BBall games full time, so that's why they aren't cheering like they have in the past. The girl I talked to was pretty adament about getting this changed for next year.
I don't know what the first poster was smoking, but skipping games is NOT the solution. However, maybe it's cuz I missed saturday's game, but I didn't see that there was THAT big a problem.

[DickerJames]

You would think Copeland would have been embaressed to sit there with the A&M AD and watch that crap.[/quote]

[Peruna88]

. . . there's a groups that's been pretty good about attendence at games, Ryan Trimble being the most prominent.

As for the Dance Team. . . they are no longer being paid to cheer at the games. . . they aren't receiving scholarship money or whatever to be at the BBall games full time, so that's why they aren't cheering like they have in the past.

There is a small group of cheerleaders, that one guy and some of the girls, who make most games, so I want to make sure we're not talking about them. Thanks for showing up and doing your best.

So, the dance team thinks they should to be PAID to attend games? Please tell me that's not true. If so, cancel the whole &^$ team and get people who WANT to be there. If there is scholarship money for them, great, but that's not why they should be there. I can't believe this.

Arkpony/DickerJames - The spirit squads are not part of the Athletic Dept., so Copeland has no control over them. It's been that way for at least 20 years. I think they are under Dedman Center Recreational Sports, or something like that. As far as I know, no money from the Athletic Dept. goes to the spirit squads, and hasn't for the same amount of time.

[Spaz]

You don't think there are Bando's that only come cuz of the money? Basically, they're being told there's not to come, their old job has been taken over by a larger cheerleading squad.
I think you people should make an effort to talk to any people in these groups before you assault them online.
Of course, that's not the point of online forums, is it.....

[Barbara Ann]

Around the end of last season, I knew about the dance team not coming back. It was because of a cut of money, but the higher-ups also asked them to leave. Why? Because at that time we had the dual cheerleading squads, and were running out of space to put all the people. That and because of a lack of effort.

If you look on this board around this time last year, we were all complaining about the dance team seeming apathetic at basketball games, and now we want them back? I just want spirited people there, who will yell and cheer.

Three games left and we're still talking about a lack of spirit. UGh...