Cheerleaders/Dance Team

[Peruna97]

I had to add my $.02,

Realize there are regular several band members who are alums or band members who do not recieve any form of financial aide. Those folks make it to almost every game. Why? For the love of the band, spirit, and SMU!

[Spaz]

So you're saying EVERY person in the mustang band shows up because the want to?
Listen, kids, there's one thing I've noticed in my 4 outta 5+ years here at SMU. Every organization is basically the same, only with different goals. There are always people in them that are gung ho band, cheer, fraternity, program council, whatever. There are also people in those organizations that arne't big fans. I can name at least 10 people in the band off the top of my head that aren't 100% gung ho about it.
So what's the differnect you say? Well let's look at this situation...
Let's say that band wasn't offered as basically a free hour of A. Let's say that we weren't required to have less than 3 abscences. Let's say that we didn't have a director telling us what songs to play when. Do you really think that every member of the band would show up and do their thing every game? Do you know how hard it would be to get anything done? I think in that case, there's be people [deleted] on this board about us.
You rantings are missplaced. Why not take out your aggression on the lack of attendence in general, on the lack of notification of games to the general student body. Get more students at the games. The cheerleaders are actually showing up.
Maybe they're not going HOLY [deleted] SMU ROCKS!! in their sleep, but jesus, people, what sort of fantasy world do you live in where that's what you expect? If you have a problem with them, donate money to the Spirit Fund, get off your butt and join the squad, or at the very least, go talk to them. Don't criticize them on a freakin' CHATBOARD, you cowards. DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!!

The Spaz

[EastStang]

This is a matter for determining who chooses the cheerleaders and what are the criteria. There should be an expectation statement, that they are expected at the following events. Would they commit to fulfill those obligations? If they said "No", they don't get on the squad. I would rather have 10 MS kids waving pom poms with no stunts who care, than 10 great technical stunt masters who can't be bothered to show up.

[Barbara Ann]

Way to go to make your point Spaz! Just rag on everything.

You did make some good points about "mandatory" attendance issues and those sorts of things, but do the cheerleaders have the same rules that we do? Is it a "show up when you can" rule or a "you cannot miss more than 5 games" rule? We can only speculate what their rules are. Maybe they should be more strict. I don't know.

Also, we DO have the luxury of having a band director to help lead us, but you KNOW we do various gigs throughout the year where Mustang Sally or I have to direct the band. Granted, it doesn't run as smoothly as it would be otherwise, but we still have the ability to perform without supervision if needed.

With the nature of a cheerleading group, one would think that an independent student leadership position would be MANDATORY, since the director cannot always mandate what cheer should be brought up next.

I'm not ragging on the entire cheerleading squad because Ryan works very hard at what he does, including all the freshmen cheerleaders that always show up. I don't know.

[RGV Pony]

As I recall, the dance team used to sit on the baseline next to the band. The cheerleaders were at the other end. Seems like plenty of room to me. Also, TCU always has the girls with the stomachs showing (dancers) at either end, then the cheerleaders in between. DMC and Moody aren't that much different in size.

[youngalumpony]

Clearly the athletic department has far bigger issues to deal with than a weak cheerleading squad, there's no question about it. The thing that embarassed me most about last Sat. was Moody being overrun by UTEP fans, so clearly the ever-shrinking number of our fans at games is one of the many big problems we have. But the fact is, anybody that was at the game could see that our cheerleaders as a group were almost late to the game, lacked energy, appeared disorganized, were outclassed by their opposition, and simply didnt do the job that I assume they signed up to do. While it may not be the most pressing of issues, I believe it should be addressed.

[Critic]

This may be part of the problem:

...cuz I missed saturday's game

I can name at least 10 people in the band off the top of my head that aren't 100% gung ho about it.

I can see why 'Spaz' might be a little biased towards the cheerleaders.

On another note, 'Spaz' argues that attendance is low, so why not fight that or bigger problems? Because fans dont HAVE to go to the games. Sure it would nice for Moody to be packed every game, but until we are winning more, it wont happen. I thought the cheerleaders HAD to go to the games, I didn't realize they could pick and choose based on their opinion of the season like the normal fans. The point is, fans SHOULD come to the games, but the cheerleaders are SUPPOSED to be there no matter what. Its not a matter of signing up and then trying to argue your way out of certain games. Like EastStang said, if you sign up, you do it. If you don't want to for whatever reason, simply don't sign up to be there.

[Arkpony]

having gotten most of my experience with cheerleaders whiel attending SMU in the "good old days" when cheerleaders seemed to take their jobs seriously, and living in Arkjansas where being an Arkansas cheerleader is thought of as being a holy quest, I have diffuclty understanding why we allow the attitude which apparently grips the SMU cheerleaders and some on this board. I agree witht eh presious opinion that I would rather have 10-12 fat ugly handicapped people who WANT to be cheerleaders for the sake of helping the team and School and who WANT to be there and consider it an HONOR to be representing SMU, than what we have now. Replace their asses I say!

[couch 'em]

So you're saying EVERY person in the mustang band shows up because the want to?
Listen, kids, there's one thing I've noticed in my 4 outta 5+ years here at SMU. Every organization is basically the same, only with different goals. There are always people in them that are gung ho band, cheer, fraternity, program council, whatever. There are also people in those organizations that arne't big fans. I can name at least 10 people in the band off the top of my head that aren't 100% gung ho about it.

The Spaz

Yes, but the cheerleaders aren't 60-70 people either. We both know you can find easily 12 people in the band who would be at every game reguardless of money, or credit, or requirement. (there are at least that many people who are not taking band for credit, or are not even taking classes at all this semester, and thus get neither credit, nor money, nor a requirement to show up) You have an entire student body to find 12 people who would show up and do the job they are (maybe) getting paid to do.

And anyway, you spend a large portion of the time at games chatting it up with the ladies, what is their point of view?

[Spaz]

Also, TCU always has the girls with the stomachs showing (dancers) at either end, then the cheerleaders in between. DMC and Moody aren't that much different in size.

Interesting fact, did you know that the TCU band members are paid CASH MONEY for each game they attend? I don't know if the Purple Belly Squad or whatever works the same way, but just FYI.

Because fans dont HAVE to go to the games. Sure it would nice for Moody to be packed every game, but until we are winning more, it wont happen.

Great Attitude, I rest my case on the death of school spirit at SMU. Perhaps we should make it a class, and have attendence at games. That would work. Get Copeland on the phone!!!

And anyway, you spend a large portion of the time at games chatting it up with the ladies, what is their point of view?

Thanks for making me look cooler than I really am.

I think part of the reason I'm defending them is BECAUSE I actually talk to them. The ones that I see at games regularly are usually just as into it as anybody. But, like I said, those are ones that I've talked to over many games, which means they've ATTENDED many games.

I'm just wondering if any of the naysayers have done anything other than watch the group from afar and grumble on a message board (something I myself am VERY guilty of). Try emailing the Athletics department, or go give your two cents at a game.

Granted, I believe the band ALWAYS goes above and beyond the call of duty when it comes to school spirit. But, while not the best cheerleading squad I've EVER SEEN, it is definatly the best I've seen AT SMU in the 4 years I've been here. Baby steps, my friend. Maybe after all this feedback, changes will be made that will make next year EVEN BETTER.

The Spaz

PS I got filled in on exactly what happened Saturday, and yeah, it sounds like they dropped the ball.

[couch 'em]

But, while not the best cheerleading squad I've EVER SEEN, it is definatly the best I've seen AT SMU in the 4 years I've been here.

Does this make anyone else want to cry?


(oh, for anyone attending the WAC, another school who I remember having excellent cheerleaders is Boise. Quality classic cheerleaders. Or if you are into trashy sluts, check out Fresno. But they are good at what they do.

[Spaz]

UGH

Ok I give Up

F the cheerleaders! Burn their pom-poms! I want Ryan Trimble's Head on a lance! RAR RAR RAR

[PonyPower]

Bottom line: if they don't want to be at all the home games, they shouldn't be at any, at least not as anything other than students sitting in the stands. This "I'll go when it's convenient" attitude is shameful.

Say what you want about the quality of the Daily Campus, but the writers and editors are there every day getting the paper out. The Program Council folks work every day. The student managers who hand out towels and water bottles at athletic practices are there every day. There is absolutely no reason EVERY member of the spirit squads shouldn't be at each and every game, from 30 minutes before the start until well after the game is over - win or lose. It's not that hard.

[DiamondM]

First, I agree with Spaz that this year's cheer and dance teams are better both in quantity and quality than in the past 5 years. I commend the new spirit squad coaches for that improvement.

This, however, does not excuse sporatic attendance, whereby other social events take priority over games. Why was there nearly a full squad on a Thursday night and then 5 or 6 girls and ONE(!!!) guy on Saturday night? I certainly didn't go ask any of them, but I suspect it had something to do with fraternity and/or sorority mixers and parties. That is absolutely positively unacceptable.

If someone signs up to be a cheerleader, they are making a commitment. If they don't want to make the commitment and just be another one of the thousands of students who chooses when to show up or not (mostly not), then they don't sign up or get kicked off. You can't get the perks, including putting it on your resume and traveling to Hawaii or whereever, if you don't accept some of the sacrifices that come along with it.

[EastStang]

If they all have the flu, I could accept them not being there. Finals week, again, understand fully. But otherwise, this is something they committed to, they should be there or quit. They'll find when they get out into the workplace that committments even voluntary ones are viewed very seriously. You make a committment and blow it off, people notice.