“Cheerleader got won over by a reindeer”; Titans Cheerleader Amber and her Christmassy pet Huey

Christmas means it is the perfect time to feature Amber, the only cheerleader who lists her pet as a reindeer, one named Huey. Amber is a Tennessee Titans Cheerleader, living in Nashville to attend Vanderbilt, but originally is from La Salle, Colorado. And that is where Amber’s reindeer Huey, a Christmas gift himself, lives. Except when Huey sometimes mysteriously disappears on Christmas Eve. Could he be moonlighting to help out the big guy from the North Pole?

So how did Amber get a reindeer as a pet? “My grandpa loves spoiling us grandchildren,” Amber explains. “He also loves animals and has always had a mini zoo of llamas, peacocks, ponies, donkeys and all kinds of animals. One Christmas, when my siblings and I were younger, he gave each of us a pet reindeer that could be ours to name. We chose to name each of the reindeers Huey, Dewey and Louie. That was such a special Christmas. Of course, the years following that gift we believed those reindeer were used by Santa. My grandpa would even hide the reindeer Christmas Eve night and tell us Santa had come and asked to borrow our reindeer.”

Maybe, Huey was just hidden, or maybe, just maybe, Huey was stepping in ala Rudolph to help out Saint Nick. But some naysayers, who probably also do not believe in the man with a bag, do not even believe reindeer exist! “I remember during high school that my sister’s reindeer had wandered just outside of my grandpa’s house and out onto a nearby highway,” recalls Amber. “Unfortunately, the reindeer was hit and killed by a car. I remember the front page of the news reading something about a ‘caribou all the way from Alaska migrating to Colorado.’ One of my best friends brought the paper to practice that day because he knew not only was the caribou a reindeer, but that it belonged to my family. While he was reading the paper to my teammates, not one of them believed in reindeer! To this day, most people I meet think reindeer are fictional.”

So Amber, if Santa came to you and asked for your help, and sprinkled special dust on Huey so he could fly so you could deliver presents to one needy place in the world, where would you go add some cheer to the lives of children? “Through Compassion International, my family has adopted a boy from Thailand, Niko, and a boy from Peru, Fredy,” answers Amber. “I would love to deliver Christmas gifts in person to both of those two families and see what their lives are truly like. I can’t imagine growing up worrying about providing for my family at such a young age. I want them to both enjoy at least one day as a kid…like I was able to. I would want them to enjoy Christmas like I have…with the excitement of Santa, presents, … and Huey!”

And Kris Kringle knows Amber means business, and to not disappoint her, because Saint Nick will hear about it. “My parents told me that when I was three years old, we went to the mall to see Santa,” recalls Amber. “I was so disappointed when he ended up not being there. The following day, we flew to Disney World. I saw Santa and went to sit on his lap to give him ‘a talking to.’ I reprimanded him for being gone the other day in the mall when I had come to see him. My parents said they have never seen a more confused Santa who didn’t know what to do with me.”

In case Amber and Huey need to take flight on Christmas Eve, let’s learn more about Amber beforehand with some Q & A, as Amber graciously shared some of her precious holiday time with UltimateCheerleaders:

UltimateCheerleaders: Tell us where you are from and about about your family.

Amber: I was born and raised in Colorado…on a potato farm! Since moving to Nashville in 2010 for my freshman year at Vanderbilt, this city has become my second home. It’s a great town, and I can see myself living here after graduation. I have two younger siblings: my sister, April, is a sophomore at Baylor University and my brother, Tad, is a junior at University High School.

UltimateCheerleaders: What prompted you to try out for the Titans the first time? When did you first think about pro cheer?

Amber: I grew up watching the Broncos play and more specifically the Bronco cheerleaders. I loved dancing and performing, and wanted to continue that passion in a way I could be more involved in the Nashville community. The idea to try out for a professional sports team was always something I wanted to do when I was in college, and whether it was basketball or football, I wanted to try and be a professional cheerleader. Trying out for the Titans Cheerleading Team seemed like the perfect opportunity once I arrived in Nashville.

Preparing for tryouts was difficult because I was in my first year of college and had no connections to the Titans organization. I was very fortunate to meet some mentors and future teammates during the audition process, though, which helped make my audition a success. Being chosen to be on a squad of only 26 women that evening of final auditions is a moment I’ll always remember. I’m so grateful for this opportunity.

UltimateCheerleaders: Why did you select Vandy?

Amber: I chose to attend Vanderbilt University because it offers more opportunities and experiences than any other university. I am able to attend an SEC school that is also ranked in the Top 20 for academics. Last year, Greek life was ranked first in the nation. The university is located in the heart of Nashville with amazing opportunities in the community, such as positions and careers in one of the most advanced healthcare centers in the nation. The university also has a great alumni program with networking connections across the world. I could keep going on about how much I love the school I attend… but I won’t!

UltimateCheerleaders: Had you spent much time in Nashville before you enrolled?

Amber: I first visited Nashville and Vanderbilt when I attended a pre-law program the summer before my senior year of high school at Vanderbilt. One step on campus, and I was sold.

UltimateCheerleaders: What are your favorite things about Nashville?

Amber: Some of my favorite things about Nashville include restaurants such as Burger Up, of course the infamous Pancake Pantry and Five Points Pizza. I love being able to go into any restaurant or venue and hear live music. I love music, and Nashville offers concerts that include any genre of music every night. This city is fortunate to have great artists wanting to come here to perform. I am never bored in this city.

UltimateCheerleaders: Tell me about your major and what would be some “dream jobs” post-college?

Amber: I am majoring in Human and Organizational Development with plans to work in marketing for industries such as banking or healthcare. My interest is in the psychology behind marketing and brand development.

UltimateCheerleaders: Do you notice a difference when you go from Colorado’s high altitude to lower Nashville; like when you return to Nashville, do you feel like you can work out forever after high altitude training?

Amber: Yes, Denver, Colorado is the “Mile High City.” It is much easier to train in Nashville after spending time in Colorado, but I think the heat and humidity are much harder to bear than the high altitude. During ourvtraining camp for the Titans cheerleading team, we have workouts outside on the track every week ledvby Gary Kinder, an Olympic decathlon athlete. Those early evenings out on the track in the mid-summervwith Gary’s workouts… brutal. It can easily be 96 degrees at sunset.

UltimateCheerleaders: When you are not dancing and taking a break from school, what are your favorite things to do in Nashville, and where do you take out of town visitors to give them a flavor of the city? Based on your favorite movie, have you ever had anything to close to your own personal Ferris Bueller’s Day Off?

Amber: My tour of Nashville includes taking friends and family downtown to see all the honky-tonk bars and restaurants. I also love taking people to Opryland where we can see a show, eat or shop. I always take people to as many of my favorite local restaurants as I can. I like spending an evening in the Gulch and of course taking a tour of campus. As far as having a Ferris Bueller’s Day Off kind of day – I’m still waiting for that day, but it sure has to happen before I graduate!

UltimateCheerleaders: What is your current fitness routine?

Amber: My current fitness routine involves lifting three to four times a week and five to six times a week of either low or high-intensity training. I like to train high volume while also changing my workouts constantly. Going to the gym is something I look forward to after a long day of classes. I have always enjoyed being active and am usually surrounded by people that are also constantly active. The gym can sometimes be my social hour!

UltimateCheerleaders: Tell me about your prized DJM-800? I have no idea what you would do with it. How do you use it?

Amber: Ha ha. Recently, I have had to let go of my passion for music in the form of deejaying. With cheering and competing in school, I was stretching myself too thin. My DJM-800 is a professional mixer that is used to mix and blend music during live shows between my turntables. It is an amazing mixer, and I couldn’t have called myself “DJ Siren” without it!

UltimateCheerleaders: You have lived in a smallish town and a city. Tell me; are you a country girl or city girl? What are your dream places to live when you are done with school?

Amber: I am definitely a country girl! Of course, when I was young I sometimes wanted that life of a New York City girl, but as I have gotten older, I have realized how much I loved growing up on a farm and appreciate living in Nashville now. Nashville is great because it is a big city with lots to offer, but it has that small town feel to it.

After school, I wouldn’t mind staying in Nashville or going back home to live in Colorado. I do miss my family, the mountains and the weather Colorado has to offer.

UltimateCheerleaders: As year two of being a Titans Cheerleader closes, tell me what comes to mind of what it has been to your life, as far as friends, memories, busy calendars, hard work, and your overall feeling about the two seasons?

Amber: These last two years of cheering for the Titans are something I am so grateful to be able to have had this opportunity. I have grown so much on a personal and professional level and have made some amazing friendships. My rookie class has some of the most amazing girls I have ever met, and being the youngest, I have learned so much from them. I couldn’t ask for a better group of girls to share in these exciting experiences. Being a Titans cheerleader is hard work and sometimes includes a high amount of pressure, but the people you meet and experience of being out on that field on game day is completely worth it. There is no experience like cheering on the field for a professional sports team while being part of a professional live entertainment show.

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Thanks Amber and Huey for adding a big dose of holiday cheer to UltimateCheerleaders! So if people hear some clickity-clacks on their roof this Christmas Eve, who knows, it could be Huey helping out with transporting presents to all the girls and boys. And if Amber rides along, maybe the tapping sounds are her performing some dance routines to keep warm. In any case, you better be good UltimateCheerleaders readers, it is that time of year!

Thanks again to Amber and Stacie Kinder, Director of the Titans Cheerleaders for all of their help! And more photos of Amber from the Titans-Patriots game are at this link.