University of Texas Austin - Cactus Yearbook (Austin, TX)

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I UP AND DOWN: Billy Whiteley, physical education senior, instructs defensive tackle Roger Fritcher on the Stairmaster. TOOLS OF THE TRADE: Lance Gay, kinesiology freshman, prepares an adhesive ap- plicator. CURLING: Russell Sadberry, kinesiology senior, advises junior quarterback Richard Hogeda on how to curl properly. UNDER WRAPS: Aaron Maxwell, biochemistry freshman, tapes a player to prevent injuries. photos by Richard Goebel Trainers 178

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CHEERLEADERS WORK HARD To PLEASE CROWD As the camera panned over the crowd, it paused briefly and focused on a perky cheerleader bedecked in orange and white and adorned by a small, painted longhorn on her cheek. The job offered occasional television cov- erage, a great social life and even weight loss. Sound too good to be true? Well, it was. Behind all the glitz and glamour, there was a great deal of hard work and energy expended in the ac- tivity of cheerleading. To prepare themselves for the up- coming season , all the cheerleaders had to take time out of their summer va- cations to attend a required cheerlead- ing camp. In 1989, the cheerleaders attended a camp at Southwest Texas State University, sponsored by the Uni- versal Cheerleading Association. Both the football and basketball squads earned superior ratings at the camp competition. In addition, the football squad garnered first place honors in the fight song competition. After summer camp ended, it was not too long before the sports season be- gan. Rehearsals and workouts were physically exhausting, and time- consuming as well. Cheerleaders spent two days a week rehearsing before the games. In addition to attending re- quired rehearsals, the cheerleaders met an average of two to three days to work out and use weights. After rehearsals and workouts, the cheerleaders were then responsible for organizing pre-game pep rallies and at- tending all the games. During the sea- son, cheerleading takes up to 20 to 25 hours a week, said basketball and vol- leyball cheerleader Danny Callahan, prebusiness freshman. Once the cheerleaders reached the games, their main goal was to elicit crowd response and preserve university traditions. We wanted the crowd to get involved more. We also wanted the fans to know the words in the fight song are GO! Horns! GO! as opposed to the alternative, said football cheerleader Dede Matocha, zoology senior. Moreover, the cheerleaders tried new techniques to invite crowd participation and spirit. The football cheerleaders in- troduced a new cheer this year; how- ever, it didn ' t go over too well, Matocha said. We did, however, use a lot more signs, and we did more with pyramids this year. These techniques seemed to be very effective. In addition to all the required ac- tivities, the cheerleaders also made many public appearances and helped in several charity events and community service activities. The Austin Police De- partment, the Sunshine Kids and the Texas Intensive Care Unit for termi- nally ill children were some of the or- ganizations that benefited from the time donated by the cheerleaders. Of course, all the hard work did pay off. Cheerleading is the best way to get involved. We get to meet the Texas Exes and lots of other people. People recognize me as a cheerleader and in- troduce themselves to me. It ' s great! said basketball and volleyball cheerlead- er Shaun Bridgewater, communications sophomore. A great social life was not the only benefit that cheerleading offered. Rig- orous exercise and workouts helped to keep the cheerleaders in excellent phys- ical condition. One of the Bevo mas- cots, who simply went by Michael to protect his secret identity, said that cheerleading helped him to lose weight. It keeps me in great shape. I lose an average of three to six pounds every game. At one particular game I lost seven and a half pounds, Michael said. Texas cheerleaders deserved the rec- ognition they received. Behind each TV appearance, performance and so- cial function there was a great deal of muscle and sweat. We work very hard to be good representatives of the Uni- versity. It is a great honor to exemplify to other students what the University of Texas is all about, said Bridgewater. Rebecca Noel I Cheerleaders 177

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TRAINERS PREPARED FOR BLOOD, SWEAT TEARS Often overlooked by the fans, stu- dent trainers were the unsung heroes of the athletic program. Dedicated to making athletes perform better, the football trainers endured long hours and the pressures of maintaining a com- petitive sports program. All trainers had past experience, usu- ally gathered in high school training programs, but the UT application pro- cess was rigorous. We sent in resumes, had to get recommendations and in- terview with the head trainer, Billy Whiteley, physical education senior, said. After selection, the trainers began the season with a refresher course on first aid procedures. The course dealt with handling stretchers and athletes who received spinal injuries on the field. Trainers were encouraged to ob- tain CPR certification, and many were certified Emergency Medical Techni- cians. Next, trainers prepared for a rigor- ous schedule of practices and games. A typical week of training takes up to 30 to 40 hours, Tim Moore, physical ed- ucation senior, said. The trainers worked as many as six hours a day on weekdays. On Saturday, game day, the trainers arrived six hours prior to the competition, stayed the duration of the game and, afterwards, remained an hour to two hours. The trainers also worked one to two hours on Sundays. The hours spent on the job were di- vided into many duties. Pre-practice ac- tivities consisted of treating old injuries and taping the players for the upcoming workout. It takes about an hour to an hour and a half to tape everyone, Rus- sell Sadberry, health education senior, said. Once practice began, the trainers provided all the water and Gatorade the players needed to prevent dehydration. They were also prepared for any in- juries that occured during practice. After the practice session, trainers began rehabilitation treatments such as deep massage, ultrasound muscle stim- ulation, ice and whirlpool treatments, and cleaned up the usual field injuries such as cuts, bruises and abrasions. Then, the trainers cleaned up the train- ing facilities. During games, the trainers divided duties according to classification and experience. Freshmen dispersed water and Gatorade, sophomores worked the benches, juniors worked the sidelines and seniors worked on timeouts and field injury assistance. Training was hard, time-consuming work; however, the rewards were nu- merous. The trainers were part of the team ' s victories and established many lasting friendships. Getting to know the guys and the friendships you form that ' s the biggest reward. Winning is secondary compared to helping people recover from injuries and gaining their friendship and respect, Whiteley said. Rebecca Noel DATA ENTRY: Russell Sadberry, kinesiology senior, updates data concerning the athletes on the computer. photo by Richard Goebel Trainers 1 79