Week 14: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleaders

As I attend games and have the wonderful opportunity to photograph and report on the cheer squads, occasionally there are moments that remind me why I so admire these talented performers.  As I walked into Raymond James Stadium, the sun shined on spectators in unseasonably warm Tampa.  Temperatures were in the 80s on this December afternoon, where the green of visiting Jets fanned were numerous, although not quite matching the numbers of fans wearing the apparel of the home Buccaneers.   It was my first visit to a Bucs game and my first chance to see the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleaders.

I waited as I saw the squad lined up in the tunnel, awaiting the opportunity to line up for the Buccanneers’ run onto the field.  As the sound system played the Black Eyes Peas “I Gotta Feeling,” the Bucs cheerleaders walked onto the field to line up.  Although a little afternoon, it was not the lyrics “good good night,” it was the start of a great great afternoon performance by the cheerleaders.  I was truly impressed by this squad and they are now one of my favorites!!

The cheerleaders performed wonderfully all afternoon, and reflect the multi-dimensionality of talents that are required to be a superlative squad.  During the game, I empathized with the dancers that their active sideline role was difficult given the sun and heat.  Then I remembered, this is their eighth game since pre-season, and except for the game in London, the Florida heat is probably a typical part of game day for a Bucs cheerleader.  Despite the heat, the squad was active and smiling.  They were superb!

The cheerleaders donned their holiday apparel on this day.  I am not sure if it a weekly event or because of the special holiday uniforms, but the cheerleaders paused to group together for photographs taken by one of their staff each quarter.

One of the things one observes when visiting a new stadium is their local traditions during the game.  Often during the game, the sound system plays “Yo Ho (A Pirate’s Life for Me),” the song I know most from hearing in the Disney ride “Pirates of the Caribbean.”  During Bucs games, this song is occasionally played at which time patrons on the endzone pirate ship throw beads and other prizes into the crowd.  During the song, the Buccaneers cheerleaders perform a swashbuckling dance, and though I have always loved the “Pirates of the Caribbean” rides, I now know they could be so much better with some of the cheerleaders along for the ride.

At the two minute warning of the first half, the cheerleaders left the sidelines and lined up on playing field and performed a routine to “Run, Rudolph, Run.”  On the large video screens right before the performance, clips of several cheerleaders introducing themselves were shown.  For example, Kristin introduced herself as a University of Colorado graduate and medical device sales associate.   I wish I had some photos of Kristin, but the only downside of this great day was that an official golf cart’s roof blocked my view of a few cheerleaders each quarter.

In the second half, the cheerleaders performed two routines in the end zones.  First, they performed to “Let it Snow” between quarters (the cheerleaders’ internal sentiment was probably, “Let it be less than 80 degrees”).  At the two minute warning, they performed to “Last Christmas.”

After attending a couple of Rams games this season, I have seen the discouragement of local fans.  One of the Bucs fans in my row wore a bag over his head in the second half, and the Jets fans certainly had the volume if not numbers on this day of a Jets win.  But Tampa Bay certainly has one of the best cheerleader/dance squads in the league.  If I I were to name every standout, I would need to list 30 names.  Jennifer is a seven year veteran and is a wonderful dancer; the lovely Rochelle is in her second year on the squad and is a communications major; and Holly was a standout during the first quarter line that rotated in front of me.  During the second quarter, I had the privilege of sitting near Jaime, who a superb dancer.  And it seems like there is one every game: Courtney turned out to be the squad member in which I realized when I was back home in the chilly Midwest that I had a ton of great Courtney photos.  Tramane was great in the last quarter, with dimples to die for.

So it was difficult enough to go from 30 to a single Sideline Standout of the Game, so I will name two for their wonderful sideline presence and dancing.  Stephanie M is a two year veteran and a surgical dental assistant.  It is painless to name Stephanie as one of my Sideline Standouts, for wonderful smiles and perfect dancing beyond the call of duty.  Second, I have to name Sara as the second Sideline Standout of the Game.  Sara is a three year squad veteran and a Biomedical Science major.  Sara is a spectacular performer and a great sideline distraction for the disappointed Bucs fans.

As I left Raymond James Stadium, I couldn’t get that “Yo Ho (A Pirate’s Life for Me)” out of my head.  But they lyrics in my head had changed to “Yo ho, yo ho, the Bucs cheerleaders rule!!”  Great job!!