Possibly no more cheerleaders or dance team

[run&blade]

They met with Athletic department yesterday and they have no coach no money and it might be cancelled going forward if they can't find donors.

Apparently the meeting was less than pleasant with athletic department giving an attitude that they didn't care if they showed up to games or not.

This is what I heard from a member of the squad. They all pay about $2000 a year to be on it.

[panther1]

Re: Possibly no more cheerleaders or dance team

When you scrape by as an athletic department as it is, this is a consequence. I would prefer the school be allowed to count cheerleaders as title ix counters versus continuing and/or adding more women's sports that no one pays attention to and cost more money to operate, but unfortunately I don't make the rules.

[run&blade]

Re: Possibly no more cheerleaders or dance team

Seems like if you could give cheerleaders some scholarship money you could drop a couple sports and come out ahead.

Football you don't really notice cheerleaders but I think the basketball atmosphere would suffer a lot without them.

[PanthersKB]

Re: Possibly no more cheerleaders or dance team

The alumni association had to adopt TC about five years ago. The Athletic Department expects the mascots to show up for all events, but provides no money or support for the program. Since the switch, they have added TK. IMO, the UNI mascot program is top notch.


Game days atmosphere will be miserable without cheerleaders or dance team....

[BCPanther]

Re: Possibly no more cheerleaders or dance team

Meh, our Gameday Promos and game management is so poor anyway that I don't think it'll make a huge difference.

Maybe we should stop flying our golf teams to Hawaii instead....

[PanthersKB]

Re: Possibly no more cheerleaders or dance team

Meh, our Gameday Promos and game management is so poor anyway that I don't think it'll make a huge difference.

Ugh....

Sometimes the only fans at the women's basketball (or even a men's exhibition game or any game during an academic break) ARE the mascots and spirit squad.


If UNI and UNI students are passionate enough about keeping them, they will stay.

[PantherChic]

This is horrible news.

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[Kyle]

Re: Possibly no more cheerleaders or dance team

Color me skeptical at the notion UNI cheerleaders pay $2,000/year just to participate in school related games/activities.

[Pantherwoman]

Re: Possibly no more cheerleaders or dance team

Who in the athletic department did they meet?

[Blue42]

Re: Possibly no more cheerleaders or dance team

Not good.

I believe the cheerleaders also work with a group of disabled kids called Sparkles. Real good stuff.

These squads need to continue.

They do a nice job. It's good for the athletic programs to have them.

[TravelingPanther]

Re: Possibly no more cheerleaders or dance team

The cheerleaders have done a great job. The dance team is good, but I don't view it as necessary.

I've been under the impression that they've been on their own for a while. Why were they thinking now was the time it would change?

I take these topics with a grain of salt. I'm sure both parties had their reasons for the way the conversation went and I'm sure whoever is reporting this is emotionally attached to the situation. I hope everyone can work together for the benefit of our teams, the fans, and the school.

[run&blade]

Re: Possibly no more cheerleaders or dance team

Who in the athletic department did they meet?

Don't know who the meeting was with but if it was a member of the athletic department it doesn't really matter who it actually was. I was told they haven't had a coach the entire year and the seniors do all the teaching of the routines. That probably works for a year or two but the quality will certainly decline over time with that format.

They money they pay is for the uniforms and accessories.

I really don't even notice cheer leaders at football games but I think basketball would miss their presence at games.

[PantherChic]

They are needed. They're ambassadors for the athletic department and school. Just like the athletes, little kids look up to them, get excited to see them, dance or cheer with them, and meet them. They are a connection for the fans to the teams. They aren't fair - weather fans. They are there no matter what to help the fans stay engaged, to cheer on our athletes no matter what. To lose them would be extremely detrimental to the fan experience and game atmosphere.

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[sivert]

Re: Possibly no more cheerleaders or dance team

It's nice to have cheerleaders - or at least traditional. But if there were no dancers, that would be ok.

[Kyle]

Re: Possibly no more cheerleaders or dance team

IMO cheerleaders and dancers should be treated like any other ancillary component of the athletic department.