Spirit squads: Unsung heroes of the sideline

On any given Miami University football gameday, the main attraction is the teams on the field. But the three teams on the sidelines put in countless hours of effort every year to achieve the fractional amount of sideline spirit fans get to see.

The cheer team, dance team and Shakerettes share a similar level of spirit and excitement from the sidelines throughout football games. Braden Cowger, a senior on the cheer team, defined this concept of the team being family.

“A lot of it is team culture,” Cowger said. “We do a lot of team bonding, we have our practices, and when you go through adversity together, you grow closer.”

The Miami cheer team cheers at home and away football games, all home men’s and women’s basketball games and select volleyball games. They practice multiple times a week to stay game day ready, and even practice over breaks and over the summer. During the winter, they compete at UCA Nationals in Orlando, Florida.

The Miami dance team is on the sidelines at football games and basketball games, but they also compete at NCA Nationals in Daytona, Florida. At nationals, they compete in the Jazz and Pom divisions and earned sixth in the nation in D1A Pom this past year.

The team practices four times a week for two to three hours each day, often in less-than-desirable practice spaces that they frequently share with other spirit squads. They are entirely student run and have to fundraise to pay for their choreographers.

Photo by Jessica Monahan | The Miami Student
Taylor Thornburg and the Miami University Dance Team on the sidelines during the matchup against OU

The Miami Shakerettes are the only spirit squad directly affiliated with the band. They practice four times a week, mostly with the band, but they also pay for space in the recreation center. Otherwise, they are not guaranteed a practice space.

The 22 dancer team is on the sidelines for every home football game and travels with the band for select away games. They also do basketball games, some hockey games and many other performances around the campus and the Oxford community.

For the amount of time and effort these teams put in, the members feel that their efforts are underappreciated by students. Madison Banks of the Shakerettes touched on this feeling of underappreciation.

“I think there are just so many spirit groups on campus,” Banks said. “There can be some confusion on the difference between all the teams on the sideline.”

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Photo by Jessica Monahan | The Miami Student
The Miami Shakerettes performance on the field in-between quarters of the Battle of the Bricks.

The two dance teams shared a sentiment that it’s bothersome when people confuse them with one another. The teams often have starkly different styles and want to be respected as two separate entities.

Most of the sideline stunts and dances at football games are used to practice for larger routines that are performed on a larger scale. Madeline Leatherman, a junior on the dance team, explained this principle.

“You’re engaging with the crowd, each other, the team on the field and the game itself, so there’s so much that goes into it,” Leatherman said. “We’re there to cheer on the team itself, but we’re also performing that whole time.”

All three teams agreed that cheering on the sideline is a rewarding experience, especially with a group that becomes family through long practices and games. These teams are known most for being the face of the university and feel incredibly grateful to do so while getting to do something they love.

rosente2@miamioh.edu