Behind the scenes with America’s true team: The Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders
By: Laken Litman
USA Today Sports
May 22, 2014
ARLINGTON, Texas — There’s a certain aura about the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders.
On a sunny Saturday morning in May, more than 500 women from all over the world—New York, Miami, Australia, Japan—came to try out. There were recent college graduates, triathletes, Laker Girls, former Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers cheerleaders, and dental hygienists. One girl said she races off-road monster trucks for fun. Another had recently returned from serving eight years in the military.
They gathered near a makeshift dance floor overlooking the west end zone of AT&T Stadium in hopes of becoming what they believed to be the pinnacle of performance—a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader.
The tryout process is grueling. Those 500 women on Day One will ultimately become 36-39 by the time football season begins in the fall. A pretty face and a dance background doesn’t necessarily make one qualified. These women must be smart, charming, entertaining, and most importantly, know the organization inside and out. They even have to take a test about the history of the organization, the NFL, and current events.
The squad is an important component of the Dallas Cowboys brand, and the women hand-picked to wear the iconic star spangled uniform represent the franchise. They’re also the personalities America sees when they watch “Making the Team,” a reality show on CMT that follows the squad around during tryouts.
And Jerry Jones’ daughter Charlotte Anderson is the president.
Since the late 70s, the Cowboys have been “America’s Team” and the cheerleaders have been “America’s Sweethearts.” Even though the football team only has only one playoff win since 1996, the cheerleaders help continue to make the franchise world famous.
“Everyone knows that uniform,” said Jackie Shaw, a cheerleader hopeful from Waco, Texas. “They’re an American tradition.
