Q&A With Former Patriots Super Bowl Cheerleader

Danielle Lannon was on the sidelines the last time the Patriots and Giants met in the Super Bowl.
By Terry Date
The Swampscott Patch

Swampscott’s Super Bowl cheerleading tradition will continue Sunday when Michelle Nigro takes to the sidelines.

She will be the second Patriots cheerleader from Swampscott to cheer in a Super Bowl that pits New England vs the Giants.

Her Swampscott High dance team teacher, Danielle Lannon, cheered the first time the two teams played a Super Bowl in 2008.

Here is a Q&A interview with Danielle, still the coach for the school’s dance team.

Who knows, maybe one of her current team members will keep the tradition alive and cheer at a Pats Super Bowl in the future.

Q&A With Danielle

When and where did you go for the Super Bowl?

The game was held at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona on February 3, 2008.

Who were the Pats playing?

The Pats played the New York Giants.

Where did you stay and how long were you there?

We stayed at a hotel in Scottsdale for the long weekend.

What was your first impression of Super Bowl week?

Super Bowl week was such a positive and exciting week! It’s the biggest game of the NFL season, every team dreams of playing in the game and as a cheerleader it was a dream come true to perform on the sidelines of the Super Bowl!

What did you do in your free time?

Each day we had some free time to walk around as tourists, shop at the Super Bowl gift stores or get a workout in!

Did you mix with the cheerleaders from the Giants?

The Giants actually do not have cheerleaders!

Did you mix with the players?

No, we did not mix with the players. The players spent the week preparing and practicing for the game.

What promotional things did you do?

We got to meet with a lot of really great fans through different promotional events that weekend! Aside from performing on the sidelines, I always enjoyed meeting and talking with some truly friendly and interesting people.

Who performed at half time?

Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers

Did you have a role in the halftime show?

We did not have a role in the performance, but enjoyed the show from the field directly next to the stage!

What was your favorite part of the week?

My favorite part of the week was to be cheering on the sidelines of Super Bowl XLII! It really was a once in a lifetime experience that I will never forget!

What was your favorite part of the game?

My favorite part of the game was simply walking onto the field! The energy and excitement in the stadium was unbelievable, I couldn’t believe I was actually there!

Any real humorous moments you can remember?

One thing I can remember was buying sweaters/sweatshirts the moment we arrived because it was chilly! Heading to Arizona, we thought the weather would be a little warmer than it was!

How was performing at the big game different than performing at Gillette?

The difference performing at the Super Bowl to performing at Gillette was the increase in media personnel on the sidelines, a new field to perform on and the fact that it was the biggest football game of the season! Other than that, we were still there to do our job; cheer on the team and keep the fans motivated!

Do you want the Pats to avenge the ’07 loss?

Of course I want the Patriots to win!

What was the mood on the return home?

The mood on Monday when we traveled home was very quiet. Going into the Super Bowl after an undefeated regular season, I don’t think anyone expected the outcome!

What would you tell any cheerleader going to a Super Bowl for the first time?

I would tell any cheerleader going to a Super Bowl to enjoy every moment, take a lot of pictures and expect an indescribable experience!

Where will you will be watching on Sunday?

I will be watching the game with my boyfriend’s family at their home!
About this column: Stories that say Swampscott through and through.