2008 Woodie Awards
Frustration behind Spirit Squad getting cut
Steve Lee
Issue date: 5/4/07 Section: Letters to the editor
Dear Editor,
The title "New Spirit Squad Program Seeks New Faces" is just the typical manner of Southwest Baptist University and their ability to candy coat issues.
Let's try this title: "SBU's athletic administration says, 'screw you' to 14 students."
Where to start? Let's start by talking about what is really going on here.
(1) The spirit squad has never ever had the "privilege" of being called athletes. They are not on the athletic web site, only recently have they been invited to athletic banquets and they certainly don't have an athletic trainer at their practices. BUT, when it comes to budget cuts and other fun discussions, you better believe the Spirit Squad is front and center.
Apparently, the Spirit Squad costs too much money to insure.
"They have more accidents than most other of the athletic teams … it's astronomical," said Brent Good, Director of Athletics. The amount of money they cost." That is amusing. One would think that such a high liability athletic event would require the use and presence of athletic trainers for liability purposes.
But let's be honest, the Spirit Squad gets what SBU is good at giving - lip service.
(2) I don't consider cheerleading a sport. Through the years at SBU, I have come to learn that cheerleaders are not athletes. I have learned what cheerleaders are. They are students who love SBU with all they have.
They come to games and cheer for a failing football team while the head football coach makes fun of them.
"Maybe they should give the cheerleaders some scholarships that way they can get some real talent," said Head Football Coach Jack Peavey.
When they have practices, they typically get booted out by other teams (to the credit of most of the other SBU teams, the squad is usually asked with great politeness. But, here again, they are also demanded by some such as Peavey because it was raining and his football players needed to use the intramural gym. Even Head Basketball Coach Jeff Giott in his first year at SBU. He has since been very good to the Sprit Squad and, for the cheerleaders, a pleasure to cheer for his team).
The title "New Spirit Squad Program Seeks New Faces" is just the typical manner of Southwest Baptist University and their ability to candy coat issues.
Let's try this title: "SBU's athletic administration says, 'screw you' to 14 students."
Where to start? Let's start by talking about what is really going on here.
(1) The spirit squad has never ever had the "privilege" of being called athletes. They are not on the athletic web site, only recently have they been invited to athletic banquets and they certainly don't have an athletic trainer at their practices. BUT, when it comes to budget cuts and other fun discussions, you better believe the Spirit Squad is front and center.
Apparently, the Spirit Squad costs too much money to insure.
"They have more accidents than most other of the athletic teams … it's astronomical," said Brent Good, Director of Athletics. The amount of money they cost." That is amusing. One would think that such a high liability athletic event would require the use and presence of athletic trainers for liability purposes.
But let's be honest, the Spirit Squad gets what SBU is good at giving - lip service.
(2) I don't consider cheerleading a sport. Through the years at SBU, I have come to learn that cheerleaders are not athletes. I have learned what cheerleaders are. They are students who love SBU with all they have.
They come to games and cheer for a failing football team while the head football coach makes fun of them.
"Maybe they should give the cheerleaders some scholarships that way they can get some real talent," said Head Football Coach Jack Peavey.
When they have practices, they typically get booted out by other teams (to the credit of most of the other SBU teams, the squad is usually asked with great politeness. But, here again, they are also demanded by some such as Peavey because it was raining and his football players needed to use the intramural gym. Even Head Basketball Coach Jeff Giott in his first year at SBU. He has since been very good to the Sprit Squad and, for the cheerleaders, a pleasure to cheer for his team).
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Ivry Karamitros
posted 5/04/07 @ 2:26 AM EST
Wow.
I had no idea.
Steve, thank you for sharing that; I'm sure your experience was hard and painful.
Let me know how I can help.
Shawn.Cantrell
Shawn Cantrell
posted 5/04/07 @ 4:18 AM EST
Thank you for your words Steve... Thank you for standing up for us. :-)
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