In case you were wondering about Alabama’s stance on cheerleading, its official: Cheerleading is not a sport. So just drop your complaints, little ladies. Having won the Universal Cheerleaders Association College National Championship last week, the Crimson Tide cheerleaders were kind of expecting championship rings, just as other schools have received in the past for winning the event. Bit no, not for you, says the university. From the Tuscaloosa News, via No Guts No Glory:
“We all kind of expected we would get them because everyone else who has won this competition has received them in the past,” said squad member Jill Honeycutt.
“We definitely expected rings,” said Josh Olson, Honeycutt’s teammate and a partner in their championship-winning routine. “Kentucky has won 18 times and they have 18 rings to show for them, that the school gave them.”
Alabama’s official response, via the associate director of media relations (the actual media relations director was busy buffing the football shoulder pads):
“The University of Alabama congratulates our cheerleader squad on winning the UCA cheerleading competition,” Walker said in a release. “The Athletics Department typically awards rings to intercollegiate athletic teams. The rules, policies and guidelines governing the roles and activities of cheerleaders have been consistent for the past several years, and were in place before the squad participated in the UCA event.”
So here’s your reward for a job well done: No rings, and a tersely-worded press release. My take? The cheerleaders work just as hard as the athletes, and if they win a national title, they should be treated in an equitable manner. They’re not taking up any cap room, so to speak, since none are on athletic scholarship. They’re only there because they want to be. That deserves some respect.
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At The University Of Alabama, Cheerleading Is Not A Sport [No Guts No Glory]
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- smithvillemike - Feb 2, 2011 at 7:53 PM
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Lack of class there AL
