Some of the greatest football fans in the world purchase seats on the fifty-yard line, but only a select few actually have the privilege of touching the turf. Brandi Jones does not have to imagine standing four quarters on the sidelines of a football game: she was a professional cheerleader in the NFL.
Jones shares a unique perspective from the fifty-yard line as she offers an intriguing look into a professional cheerleader’s role on game day. Jones, who started cheerleading at a young age, leads others through her personal journey as she discovered a love for cheering, trained and prepared for the game like an athlete, and fiercely competed for spots on squads. While demonstrating that cheerleading is not really all about hair and makeup, Jones highlights behind-the-scenes realities as she details grueling practices, promotional appearances, and skill requirements, proving that inner strength and grit determine whether a cheerleader succeeds or not.
The View from the Fifty-Yard Line shares a former NFL cheerleader’s take on the successes and failures, ups and downs, and glory and pain she experienced while cheering for some of the greatest football teams ever.
[The View From The Fifty-Yard Line at amazon.com]
By Don Maines
Houston Chronicle
Fans of the Houston Texans cheerleaders know her as regal newcomer “Elizabeth,” but Summer Creek High School students know Elizabeth Gardner as their reading teacher, “Ms. G.”
“The first thing students ask is if I can bring a player in to meet,” said Gardner, 25.
“They think it’s cool I’m a cheerleader.
“They don’t just see me as an authority figure.”
Gardner, who lives in the Galleria area, credits time management with allowing her to start two new endeavors – cheerleading and teaching – in 2014, and she plans to enter tryouts March 28 for next season’s squad.
“It’s a three-round process,” she said.
“I believe we have the largest cheerleader tryout in the NFL, with about 1, 500.
” They pick 50 finalists, then narrow the squad down to 33.”
At Summer Creek, Gardner teaches classes to prepare students for this spring’s State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness test of reading skills, and she teaches practical writing strategies for filling out job applications, composing business letters and sending emails.
The 2010 graduate of Prairie View A&M University has completed course work at Texas Southern University for a master’s degree in speech and communications, but she’s still writing her thesis.
“It’s about the influence the media has on African-Americans who are in a relationship,” she said.
“The main thing I focus on is the traditional view that a strong, single woman has to be submissive to a man when she becomes a wife.”
Gardner added, “I’m single, but I have a boyfriend, and he’s very supportive and understanding about my schedule.
“I’m the one who chose to be busy.”
Gardner grew up in Missouri City and majored in dance for three years at Houston’s High School for the Performing and Visual Arts.
But she saved her senior year for a more typical high school experience by transferring to Bellaire High School, where she was a cheerleader.
“I got to cheer at football games and be part of homecoming and everything,” she said.
During her freshman year in college, Gardner advanced to the third round of auditions for the TV competition show “So You Think You Can Dance.”
In 2011, she joined a local dance troupe, Motown & More Revue, which performs at Miller Outdoor Theatre.
Gardner doesn’t share the dissatisfaction of cheerleaders from the Oakland Raiders, Cincinnati Bengals or Buffalo Bills, who sued their bosses last year, alleging they’re paid less than minimum wage, incur personal expenses and have to make unpaid appearances.
“It’s not a big expense if you stay close to the stadium, which I do, and we have a lot of great sponsors,” she said.
“They take care of us.”
Gardner was Miss Southeast Texas 2013 and placed sixth at the 78th annual Miss Texas Scholarship Pageant in Allen.
She hopes that teaching will prepare her for her ambition of becoming a professional speech and media coach.
“It all does run together,” she said.
“Hopefully, I will start on the college level, getting athletes used to the camera and how to handle social media.”
A former Miss Texas, Bellinda Myrick-Barnett, who coached Gardner in 2012, said, “There is an innate regal quality about her that I don’t think she yet even understands.
“She is, normally, very low key but there is an essence of ‘star power’ inside of her that is waiting for just the right flame to ignite.
“When she truly finds that ‘star power’ or fire, there will be nothing that can stop her.”
[Elizabeth at HoustonTexas.com]
An Orlando Predators Prowler
The Chiefs Cheerleaders traveled to London for the Super Bowl
By Rachel Santschi
KCChiefs.com
The Chiefs Cheerleaders spent time across the pond this weekend, to celebrate the Super Bowl with UK fans at the NFL Super Bash. Twelve cheerleaders traveled to London and performed at various events during the week, including a premiere club soccer match. They also did radio interviews, toured the city and visited Wembley Stadium.
“We were thrilled for the opportunity to visit London and be a part of the NFL’s Super Bash,” Stephanie Judah, Chiefs Cheerleader Director, said. “We had an amazing experience exploring the city, taking in the culture, meeting NFL fans and performing at a soccer match and the NFL’s Super Bash. It was a great time and we are so thankful for the opportunity.”
Day One: The group arrived in London and immediately headed to the NFL’s UK office. Each cheerleader had a one-on-one interview to give more information about themselves and their trip to London. Following the interviews, they enjoyed a few delicacies of London as they taste tested all kinds of famous dishes.
Day Two: The group visited Talksport Radio Station as guests on the morning show. The girls discussed the Chiefs upcoming trip to London in November and touched on their passion for the organization and the support of the Chiefs Kingdom.
They had some laughs as well, when they played a trivia game called ‘CheerLeader or CheerLiar.’ The girls would describe a dance move and the radio hosts, Alan and Mickey, would have to decide if they were telling the truth or fibbing.
Following the radio appearance, the girls headed to Wembley Stadium. They toured the stadium and filmed some promotional commercials and photos for the upcoming Chiefs game. The girls were astounded by the stadium and since all the seats are red, they were reminded of Arrowhead Stadium and the “sea of red.”
Day Three: On Saturday, the cheerleaders were invited to the West Bromwich Albion vs. Tottenham Hotspur match at Hawthorns Stadium. The cheerleaders formed a ‘guard of honour’ for the players as they made their way onto the pitch and then they performed at halftime. They also presented the team with a Chiefs football.
“The environment was amazing,” Judah explained. “The fans were singing and chanting the entire game, even with no music. It was wild. We were so glad we were able to experience it and be a part of it.”
#Chiefs Cheerleaders performed at halftime at the @WBAFCofficial vs @SpursOfficial match today! #ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/lajji4UNSe
— Rachel Santschi (@KCChiefs_Rachel) January 31, 2015Day Four: Sunday morning the girls were able to take in the sights and show off their Chiefs Kingdom pride. They visited Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, London Tower as they took the Red Bus Tour around town.
That evening, the girls arrived at the NFL’s Super Bash where there were over 2,000 UK NFL fans in attendance to celebrate the Super Bowl. The cheerleaders signed autographs, met fans, handed out posters and performed at pre-game and halftime.
“It was such an incredible experience and an amazing trip to London,” Judah noted. “It was an honor to perform at the NFL Super Bash and watch the Super Bowl with all the fans. We even met some Chiefs fan; it was great to see that the Chiefs Kingdom truly knows no bounds. We can’t wait to visit again in November and cheer on our Chiefs.”
A Washington Redskins Cheerleader
By Sarah Page Kyrcz
NHReigster.com
Camille Kostek was still riding the winning wave the morning after the New England Patriots won Super Bowl XLIX. With front row seats to the big game, the Killingworth resident and Patriot’s cheerleader reveled in her team’s victory over the Seattle Seahawks, 28-24.
“I am completely exhausted,” said a very hoarse Kostek, via phone from her hotel in Phoenix. “It was an indescribable feeling. It left me speechless. I wish I could live in that moment for a lifetime.”
Together with her team of 27 other cheerleaders, Kostek, 22, says the game day routine is exhilarating, yet physically exhausting. She is one of 18 who make up the dance squad.
“During a dance routine, it’s like doing cardio for a long time. But, you’re just so lost in the moment and focusing on the choreography and perfecting every move and putting on a show for the whole crowd that you get, you really just truly get lost in the workout,” she explained.
Referred to as a “game day hangover,” by Kostek and her fellow dance team members, “you feel like you danced your body off and we all are waking up today (Monday) so sore and achy. Muscles are hurting that we never knew existed.”
Having their moment of fame to perform in front of the entire stadium during the first half of the game was exciting and exhilarating as the group showed off what they had been practicing. And then there’s the 100 million viewers who might catch them on bouncing on the sidelines in a quick television shot.
“It was just us performing and then in the second half the Seahawks had an opportunity to do their one minute end zone routine,” she explained. “We did the one (routine) that kind of showed off a lot of things that highlight our team. We did jumps, splits and high kicks and a kick line and our dance routine just shows a lot of high energy.”
As a communications major at Eastern Connecticut State University, Kostek is often called upon to represent the team in interviews. “It’s great for me to speak on behalf of the team and do things that I went to school for.”
Since the cheerleading job is part time, she works part time at Madison’s Ciao Bella boutique. Their Instagram account, shopciaobella, highlighted her trip to the Super Bowl with the message, “Good luck to our girl Camille tonight at #SUPER BOWLXLIX love from your #ciaobellamadison #family!”
Back in Phoenix, the celebration went on into the wee hours of Monday morning and Kostek was a part of it all.
“We were fortunate enough to be the team that got to stay there (stadium) until not only the end of the game, but the COMPLETE end of the game, until everybody was cleared out of the stadium — just in awe and celebration,” Kostek said.
She said that being on the winning team was extra special, but that just getting to the Super Bowl was celebration worthy.
“Either way, after the game, we were going to celebrate just making it this far,” she said. “We knew that in order to truly enjoy ever last moment of being in Phoenix that we had to win and we did!”
While Kostek’s family did not travel to Phoenix and watched the game from Gillette Stadium, she said she has a special bond with her fellow cheerleaders that makes it feel like she was with family at the game.
“I call them my NEPC sisters,” she says. “NEPC stands for New England Patriots Cheerleaders. So we’re all NEPC sisters.”
As for her relationship with the players, there is a “no fraternization” rule and therefore any connection to them is limited to public or charitable appearances on behalf of the team.
On the sidelines, cheering the players on is hard work and physically exhausting, yet Kostek said she and her teammates “get front row seats to the game, essentially.”
“We turn around and face the crowd between plays and during time out and between quarters, two minute warnings to perform.”
And perform they do.
“Although a lot of our dancing feet were so tired from like dancing the entire game and practicing all week and very little sleep, being up for every appearance that we were asked of,” said Kostek. “None of us even wanted to sleep, because who wants to sleep when you’re in Phoenix for the Super Bowl week!”
A member of the New York Jets Flight Crew
Our friend Phil from the Buffalo Pro Cheer Blog has the latest from the last Bandits game, including The Bandettes with Ironman and Hawkman:
