|
Ex-athletes
find new success in cheerleading Senior Josh Johnson, once a 225-pound center for the TCU football team, is now a 210-pound cheerleader. And Johnson said he is having the time of his life. “I liked football, but I like what I’m doing a lot now,” Johnson said. “The upside to cheerleading is that there is less time involvement, less commitment and you still get to be around the football atmosphere without all the constraints of being a football player. I enjoy the challenge of having a new sport.” Johnson isn’t alone in his thinking. Senior Tim Rodgers and his twin brother, Matt Rodgers, played basketball in high school. But once in college, they both joined the cheerleading squad. Matt Rodgers joined his sophomore year and Tim Rodgers joined the squad the following year. Tim Rodgers’ only regret is that he didn’t become a cheerleader sooner.
“The nature of cheerleading is totally different from anything you’ll ever do,” Tim Rodgers said. “I don’t care how good of shape you’re in. After you stunt, you’re going to be sore because you use the muscles you don’t normally use.” Matt Rodgers said cheerleading is the ideal sport for men. “You have the best seats at the sporting events,” Matt Rodgers said. “You get to hang around very cute girls (who) are a lot of fun. Also, most of the guys on the squad will agree that (why) they stay is that they get to hang out with guys too. It’s like our own little fraternity.” TCU cheerleading coach Jeff Tucker said since he was a TCU cheerleader in 1995, more and more men, especially ex-athletes, have started getting involved in the sport. “When I cheered here, we had some ex-baseball players and a couple of ex-swimmers,” Tucker said. “When you look at the males that are in this sport, there is a lot more than there used to be. These guys aren’t wimps. They’re 200 pounds or better, and they can lift girls all day long in all types of difficult moves.” Tim Rodgers said the sheer amount of exertion and number of injuries that cheerleaders receive lessens the idea that men cheerleaders aren’t masculine. “They think that guy cheerleaders are the guys who couldn’t hang with basketball and football,” Tim Rodgers said. “I’ve talked to football players who, for one reason or another, got involved in cheerleading, whether it be an injury or something that prevented them from playing football. “I hate the stereotype that it’s not a sport and it’s not really athletic. While it is drastically different from football and basketball, I just think it should get a little more recognition as far as athletics go.” Tim Rodgers said his parents have been supportive of his decision to join the cheerleading squad. “Whereas some fathers would say ‘Yeah, my son is a football player, and he hits people and makes plays,’ my father says, ‘Yeah, my sons throw girls around for fun,’” Tim Rodgers said. Laura
McFarland |
