You know which team is the most under-appreciated at UCLA?
Here are some clues about its members: They are at their best in
front of big crowds. No matter how out of hand the game has become,
they never give up hope. They have amazing teamwork. They never
lose.
Now, here would be the logical place for a joke aimed at a
certain UCLA team which, to say the least, lacks these qualities,
specifically the ever-important last one. But, I want this column
to remain as positive as the people it describes.
I am talking about the Spirit Squad.
Just like any other team at UCLA, it practices daily, requires
extreme athleticism and skill, and teammates bond by watching
“Sex and the City” at slumber parties. And despite
their contributions to advertising, merchandise sales and positive
effect on school image that other teams provide, the Spirit Squad
members do not receive athletic scholarships.
The squad’s members perform at football games, men’s
and women’s basketball games, volleyball matches and
gymnastics meets. They perform at special events such as bar
mitzvahs and birthday parties. They are featured in Fox Sports Net
commercials. They even make appearances in dreams.
And through all this, the Spirit Squad members, just like the
athletic teams at this school, have the same four letters proudly
emblazoned on their chests.
Time? Practices are daily from 7 to 9 a.m. The team is a
year-round commitment with only two weeks off for summer and maybe
a few days during school breaks. Also, the members sign contracts
allowing them two excused absences from practices the entire year,
yet none for games. Many students can’t even go a week
without missing two classes.
Adversity? Try smiling for two hours straight while facing
thousands of despondent people staring back at you (yes, they know
we’re losing by 20 ““ but it doesn’t matter).
Academics? Unlike most scholarship athletes, Spirit Squad
members gain acceptance to UCLA on their academic merit. In this
sense, they are more representative of UCLA than any of our
athletes.
Talent? For the dance team, about a hundred girls try out for
seven spots.
Stamina? They arrive six hours before football games start.
Before the football team even arrives, they have performed for the
alumni tent, the chancellor’s tent, the recruitment tent and
whatever other tents decide to shell out money. (You think if I set
up my own tent I could confuse them?) Then the game starts and they
go three hours without sitting down.
Athleticism? How many people out there can actually complete a
summersault without straining a muscle? How about doing one in the
air or dancing choreographed to something out of a J.Lo video.
Spirit Squad captain Kyrra Richards explains, “It’s
not like I think we should have scholarships or am demanding them.
I just wish people recognized that we’re not just dumb
cheerleaders and we don’t just go out there and dance.
It’s not easy, but I love it because it’s so much
fun.”
There is a glaring lack of appreciation for some of the most
dedicated Bruins on campus. Amid all of the hard work, time, lack
of sleep, lack of reward and lack of respect, the Spirit Squad goes
out there ““ enthusiastic and smiling, representing UCLA
proudly.
At least someone on the court appears that way.
E-mail Peters at bpeters@media.ucla.edu.