Life on the Eagles rah-rah squad
WHO NEEDS cheerleaders? After all, cheerleading is not a sport, cheerleaders are about as intelligent as a football, and worse, they reinforce gender stereotypes that should have been outlawed a long time ago.
I mean, they are just a bunch of dumb, cute girls with hot bodies shaking their pompoms. Right?
Wrong.
Professional cheerleading in the NFL requires more than a pretty face. You need intelligence, beauty and exceptional athleticism. Not to mention dedication, determination and discipline.
Besides several mandatory, three- to four-hour rehearsals a week, our own Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleaders work out daily and maintain a healthy diet while holding down full-time jobs and, in many cases, attending college, too.
The Eagles Cheerleaders are a diverse group of 38 young women of various ages and occupations, from chemical engineer to teacher, nurse and aspiring doctor.
Besides performing at all Eagles home games, the Cheerleaders travel internationally to visit troops overseas. They do special events, grand openings, corporate meetings, conventions, trade shows, charitable functions and other sporting events.
Cheerleaders must commit to do the job for a full year. They are paid by the hour for games, appearances and rehearsals, according to Eagles Director of Cheerleading Barbara Zaun. She declined to say how much they receive but said the squad is among the highest paid in the NFL.
Eagles Cheerleaders get national and international television and magazine exposure in publications like Maxim, FHM and Muscle and Fitness. They also are featured in an annual Eagles calendar; the 2007 edition will be released July 20.
Talk about multi-tasking! Whew, cheerleading is no joke - these sisters are holding it down.
Last week, I had the pleasure of talking to Eagles Cheerleader Stephanie (she didn't want her last name used), a 20-year-old junior at the University of Delaware. This determined young lady is plenty busy, as our conversation made clear.
Q. Stephanie, tell me what led you to become a professional cheerleader?
A. Well, first of all, I've been dancing since I was 3, and I've always been interested in staying fit. I'm also an athlete. I played field hockey and lacrosse throughout high school. I just always wanted to do it.
Q. So, do you work full time, too?
A. No, I'm a full-time student, studying dietetics with a concentration in pediatrics.
Q. Cool. So you want to be a doctor one day?
A. Yes, I've always wanted to be a doctor.
Q. What inspired you to go after this cheerleading dream? It is so competitive these days.
A. It's definitely competitive. You have to really stay on top of your workouts, dancing and stage presence. It's a total package. Besides that, I'm a real big Eagles fan. My whole family is.
Q. What are some things Cheerleaders are evaluated on?
A. Stage presence, dancing ability, physical fitness, beauty and intelligence. You have to be articulate. Most of the Cheerleaders have college degrees and full-time careers.
Q. What is a typical day like? What's your fitness training and diet routine?
A. Well, first of all I go to the gym five days a week and train for two hours, and we have rehearsal twice a week. I do 30 to 45 minutes of cardio, like running on the treadmill or elliptical. I do weight training, Pilates and other group fitness classes.
Q. That's like 10 hours a week for just your personal workout, and on top of that you have rehearsals too?
A. Yes, we have rehearsals twice a week for about four hours.
Q. Wow, that's a part-time job.
A. Yes, it's definitely a part-time job, and it's not just the rehearsals. I have to drive 45 minutes to Philadelphia, and we have eight-hour game days. We have to be there four hours before kick-off.
So for a 1 p.m. game we have to be there by 9 a.m. We have to rehearse the entire routine before the game.
Q. What about your diet? What's that like?
A. Well, I always eat breakfast. Typically, I eat a bowl of oatmeal. I get my carbs in early. And I eat every two to three hours. I eat everything, but in small portions. I make sure I get my protein, so I eat plenty of chicken, yogurt and dairy products. I try to stay away from processed foods and refined sugars because that will drain my energy. I really don't have a strict diet.
Q. So basically you guys have a low-fat, low-calorie diet, which you maintain all year long?
A. Yeah, but I still occasionally have things like ice cream. I'll just have a serving.
Q. That's the way you do it. Have your cake and eat it, too. So tell me, do you have to audition every year?
A. Yes, you have to audition every year - even the girls who have been on the squad for five and six years - because they want to make sure you are still on top of your game.
Q. Sum up for me what the Philadelphia Eagles are looking for in their cheerleaders?
A. They're looking for fit, beautiful, intelligent, well-rounded women. *
Comments (1)
I really enjoyed this informative article.
Stephanie, you go girl.
Posted by Patricia Franklin | July 19, 2006 5:04 PM
Posted on July 19, 2006 17:04