Earlier this month, the Tennessee Titan’s Cheerleaders had the opportunity to become more formally acquainted with the media and learned about some of the downfalls of social media thanks to News 2’s John Dwyer.
Stacie Kinder, Director of the Titans Cheerleading Squad told Nashville’s News 2 that the team is made up of teachers, figure skaters, students and accountants, just to name a few.
Professional cheerleaders are most often seen performing on game day in front of thousands but many people look over all of the work that goes into each performance. During the week they spend hours practicing and training, as well as make numerous public appearances. In addition, these women work to teach the Junior Titans Cheerleading organization and appear on the coach’s weekly show.
As with any professional sport, all athletes are constantly watched under a microscope and how they carry themselves toward the media says a lot about how the individual acts off the field. Many people tend to overlook this, but media training certainly has become more prevalent in the professional sport arena and will only continue to benefit people on the receiving end.
“We never know when a camera and microphone will be stuck in a girl’s face. So she needs to be prepared for that to happen so she comes across as the intelligent, articulate, sophisticated young woman that she is,” Kinder said.
Many of the cheerleaders said the job, just like any other profession, is demanding and time consuming.
“Definitely because I’m a mother and there’s definitely those hours I don’t have with my daughter at night,” Stephanie A. said, adding, “Thank goodness she still goes to bed at eight-o’clock so I don’t miss a lot of time with her.”
Twenty-five women make up the 2011 Titans cheerleading roster, including 10 rookies.
The Titans play their first regular season game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on September 11th.
