All work and play…

… Make the SU Cheerleaders some of the best around.
For years when one tuned in to the National Cheerleading Association’s (NCA) national championship competition, the only faces seen were those of petite, blond-haired, blue-haired girls.
Throughout the entire competition you may spot one or two … maybe at most five brown faces. But those days are over. Everyone who tunes in the last weekend in April will be treated to a performance by the Southern University Cheerleading Squad, the number two-ranked squad in the nation.
The group of 17 individuals competed in the NCA national competition April 4-6, in Daytona Beach, Fla.
“I could not believe the entire weekend! It was like I was dreaming,” said James Smith, who has been coaching the SU cheerleaders for the past eight years.
When Smith took over the squad eight years ago, it had been all-female for 20 years. In his eight years here, he has transformed the team into a coed cheerleading powerhouse not only amongst other historically black colleges and universities, (although they do have three Black National Championship titles under their belt), but is also a force to be reckoned with in any capacity.
“We are now a premiere, top rated cheerleading program … I am proud to coach such a wonderfully talented, hard-working set of young people,” said Smith.
The SU Cheerleaders are now the highest-rankingall-black cheerleading squad in nation, surpassing their own record last year, when they were ranked tenth in the nation. Grambling State University, who was also present at last week’s competition, is currently ranked 11th in the nation.
The Southern cheerleaders are indeed a special group of athletes; many of them can be found up before daylight running to stay in shape or hitting the weight room between classes. They endure hours of practice to perfect dance routines, coming up with new and innovative cheers and chants for every situation.
For instance, when a player on the opposite team misses the goal by mere inches, the next thing heard is: “You missed the whole goal, you ain’t mad is you, huh what!”
They can also be found in the Women’s Gym nightly pushing the envelope trying more difficult stunts and tumbling passes designed to wow crowds from all over.
“The squad is so dedicated to being the best,” Smith stated ” … I am forever grateful that God has allowed me to be in their lives.”
The team is so dedicated to becoming, being and staying the best that they often seek out the help of others in order to make themselves better at what they do.
“A couple of the guys and I traveled to Mississippi about a month ago to work with a gymnastics instructors in order to improve our tumbling abilities,” said Roy Youngblood, a native Baton Rouge, who transferred from Northwestern State University.
But in the end all of their hard work and dedication paid off. Their reward: Being named one of the best in the country.
“I am so proud of them, I think this award is outstanding,” said Terral Jackson, director of student programs. “They have worked very hard and they are now seeing the fruits of their labor. And be reminded that this was not a black competition; this was a national competition.”
“The only thing that could make this moment better is if we would have won first,” Jackson said laughingly.
“I felt like I was on top of the world when they called our name,” said Tremayne Baker of Atlanta. “It gave me joy to see people actually wanting to see us perform. It shocked a lot of people to see us do as well as we did, us being an all-black squad from an HBCU.”
The squad credits their coach with being a large factor in their journey to the top.
“James is incredible, he comes up with routines in his sleep,” Jonine Moch, of Shreveport once said.
Smith just brushes the compliment off saying he couldn’t do it without such a wonderful group of young people.
 
Cheerleading Tryouts
For those interested in being a part of the Southern University Cheerleading squad, tryouts will be held April 27, at 8 a.m. The clinic will be held April 22-26, beginning each day at 5 p.m. For an application packet please visit the Student Programs office, located on the second floor of the Smith-Brown Memorial Union. All questions can be directed to James Smith at 225-354-3478 (home), 225-892-2508 (cell) or Ms. Cain 225-771-2940.