Monday Morning Cheerleader: Ashley Danielle of the Tennessee Titans Cheerleaders
By Steve Mazzucchi
Esquire
With Tennessee suddenly rolling, a second-year Titan-eer weighs in on a QB’s rise from depression, a running back’s Michael Jackson-style moves, and a city’s insanity for missing a $100 million man
Undefeated. That’s what the Titans are since running back Chris Johnson claimed they could win ten straight, since Vince Young regained his starting QB job, since a Peyton Manning jersey-wearing Jeff Fisher told a charity function he “just wanted to feel like a winner.” If all that hadn’t come on the heels of an 0-and-6 start, Nashville might be more excited. But after C.J. (232 total yards, two TDs), V.Y. (239 total yards, one TD pass), and the D (two picks returned for TDs) led a 41-17 romp over the Bills, the melody is merry in the Music City.
And so is Titans cheerleader Ashley Danielle, a former dance instructor (“I used to teach Steve McNair’s son hip-hop”) and part-time seamstress (“My dream is to open my own boutique”) who sews her own swimsuits for the team calendar and even crafts some of the squad’s costumes (“It’s a little cheaper to pay me than somebody else”). A Nashville native who has rooted for the franchise since it arrived in ’98, Danielle gets real about a team — and a town — experiencing its most topsy-turvy season yet.
ESQUIRE: Huge win over the Bills to raise the Titans record to 3-6. What were the keys to victory?
ASHLEY DANIELLE: The Bills had a few injuries on defense and offense, and a lot of penalties, and we capitalized. Their lack of good football enabled us to turn things around, and we were all over their quarterback. Having Vince Young back at QB has definitely changed things for the better. The receivers are receptive to him, and there have been more plays downfield. I never saw Kerry Collins go for a 40-yarder. Vince and Chris Johnson are like a tag team, and people just can’t stop C.J.
ESQ: In the three straight wins, Johnson’s compiled 600-plus yards and six TDs. Yes, that’s against the Jaguars, 49ers, and Bills, but what makes him so good?
AD: Every time C.J. gets the ball, the crowd goes wild. He’s like Michael Jackson. But he’s also a very humble player and a great person. Sometimes, instead of running north/south, he’ll run east or west. He loses yards that way sometimes, but he also finds holes. And unlike some speed guys, he’s not afraid to take a hit, or hit defenders.
ESQ: The Titans started 0-6 after going 13-3 last season. Was everyone kind of in shock?
AD: You have no idea. Nashville turned into a ghost town. Tumbleweeds everywhere. It was just bad all around. When they win, we line up near the visitors’ end and dance them off the field, and we weren’t able to do that. We couldn’t do a touchdown dance. We couldn’t even do a first-down dance. Some of the girls are, like, you know, “Yay!” They don’t know what’s going on, but I actually watch football. I have NFL updates sent to my phone, so at halftime, I know what’s going on across the league. It’s been fun to get back to winning.
ESQ: Do you think losing star defensive end Albert Haynesworth to the Redskins was a big factor in the early-season struggles?
AD: Honestly, I don’t. I love Albert to death. He was probably the best in league, but he’s one player. When he was here, he was pretty much always hurt. And now he’s hurt for the Redskins! I wasn’t caught up in the hype. He’s a good person, but to pay him $100 million? That’s insanity.
ESQ: Have you noticed any changes in Young since his alleged breakdown last season?
AD: I want to state that it’s not alleged. I do recall seeing him a few times a little depressed. Fans were brutal to him last year — it had to have been a shocker for him. I could tell, and I only see him for appearances and on the field. He’s much more social this year, a little more back to himself, how he was when he got to Nashville. I can imagine he’s excited to be playing again.
ESQ: Young also made headlines this summer when he told Esquire he’d be the next black QB to win the Super Bowl, and that he’d be in the Hall of Fame. Was that craziness, cockiness, or simply confidence?
AD: I remember thinking, This man is crazy. You have to have confidence in order for it to happen, but that’s something you should say to close friends and family. But he’s a good guy. I hope that it does happen.
ESQ: What did you think of the Jeff Fisher-in-a-Peyton-Manning-jersey soap opera?
AD: I thought it was hilarious. We had just gotten our butts kicked six games in a row — might as well have a sense of humor about it. I made light of it. The fans here in Nashville did not. The talk of the town was, “Will he be the coach next year?” But as long as we’re winning, everyone is happy. And we haven’t lost since.
ESQ: Johnson’s prediction doesn’t look as crazy as it did a couple weeks ago, but it still seems far-fetched. What’s the feeling on the sidelines?
AD: I’ve been skeptical. Yeah, that would be nice, when pigs fly. As long as they play like they have the last few games, ten straight would be good, but you’ve got to look at the matchups and take it one game at a time. C.J. can have his one little cocky moment. If they keep themselves humble, it could happen. Anything’s possible.
