After reading the article on the cheerleaders, I feel sad for the team I used to belong to and then coached and angry because I was made to look like the cause of its problems.
Newsflash: Since I have not been involved with the program in a year’s time, I have nothing to do with its problems!
I never mishandled any money. That is evident in the deposits I made of fundraising money into the cheerleading account or seeing all that was done for the program. In what world is anyone going to give you a product for free? The money for the cookie dough had to be paid in full before the order was processed and shipped. It was our second year doing that fundraiser. There was a $2,000 deposit required before we got the calendars. The remainder was never paid because many of the cheerleaders never finished the fundraiser.
Otherwise, I accomplised much for the cheerleading program. In two years, I took a team that had not had a coach in years to new heights with little money outside of fundraising. We went from one co-ed team the first year that went to and won a competition, to two teams the second year, co-ed and all-female and one mascot, which was 40 people in all. There were lots of exciting new routines, new equipment, and more travel.
I can go on and on about my accomplishments, how I was mistreated, etc. However, the bottom line is that the program is in trouble. I don’t know what the underlying problems are, but I believe the top issue is the level of respect, care, and consideration cheerleading gets from Athletics which is where it was moved in 2001. Cheerleading, like any other sports program, needs a coach- among other things. Not seeing that or providing it is detrimental to the program. Instead of looking at other schools to see how much money their programs get, look to see what else they have that makes them successful.
I hope that the cheerleading program gets back on track, but once again, none of these problems are mine. Place blame where it is really due.LaToya M. Bailey
C/O ’98 & Former
Cheerleading Coach