CMT Blog: Archive

During this week of training camp, we are headed into the final stretch. Judy and I have discovered and developed the potential of the girls that have made it this far, but for some that is not enough. They have been exposed to the qualities of showmanship that are expected of Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders, and tested to their limits to see if they have the power and stamina that is required for the job. At this point, we are out of time, and the reality is that the "good" will go home, because we are looking for "great."

Calling the names of those we need to see in my office puts just as much pressure on Judy and me as it does on the girl herself. It's not easy explaining to them that in spite of all their hard work and effort, that their best is not good enough to wear the DCC uniform. This is a decision that is necessary and inevitable for the momentum of our team. At this point the exploration and developmental phase is over, and now it's the DCC name, brand and quality at stake.

During our office "meetings," I have to prepare myself mentally and emotionally for the uncomfortable nature of each conversation. Professionally my decisions are very well thought out ... to the tune of eight weeks of scrutinizing and lots of opinions, but come meeting time, I have to communicate the unfortunate decision with confidence to everyone in the room. If you could feel what I feel, you would understand the nature of my hesitation, facial expressions and deep breathing.

Releasing our final two training camp candidates was difficult for everyone involved. Alyssa said it best: "I did my best, I had fun, and there was nothing more I could do to change the outcome." I became fond of Alyssa during the process, and I hope she will come back next year ... with more experience, more confidence and more power.

With final cuts behind us, 36 ladies are one step closer to being on the team and reaching their milestone of wearing the boots on game day. Each season I try to find a unique way to say "Congratulations, you've made the team!" This year, I was so tired of making notes and comments on the girls' photos that when we finally agreed on our 2008 roster, I decided to give the girls my tired and tattered set of director's photos as a "ticket to the game" and a sign that we were through comparing and evaluating and it was time to celebrate! Meanwhile, our assistant director, Rachel Durbin, had prepped the DCC locker room with permanent nameplates, poms and photos as a symbol to the DCC that this is your room, these are your teammates, and you belong here. The cheers and tears when the girls saw their newly decorated locker room complete with uniforms, nameplates, poms and official photos was overwhelming for them and was one of my favorite moments of the season. Like parents on Christmas morning, we anticipate this day just as much as the girls themselves!

In my final game day speech I remind the girls of the legacy they represent and why they belong here. At this point, they have to believe in themselves and their teammates. When their toes hit the turf, they need to have the confidence of a tiger, because there are still elements that could go wrong in a live situation.

Before a game, we all have performance anxiety in the form of butterflies, nausea, etc. Mine can be observed as the famous "uptight game day mode" facial expression! I'm under pressure and it shows on my face. All summer we have trained to prevent mistakes and prepared for perfection. Quietly, I hope and pray they are ready for new distractions: the loud crowd, network cameras, fans and football players.

The feeling I experience prior to leading the DCC out of the locker room for their first game day performance is similar to the feeling a parent experiences when sending a child out for his/her first day of kindergarten. As a parent, you do everything you can to prepare your child for the big day. As you watch them walk down the long corridor to the intimidating school doors, your heart stops. You can do no more ... They are on their own. All they have is their backpack, and what you put in their "backpack of experiences" is what counts. You trust that your influence and preparation will help them face their fears and accomplish their goals. On this day, I hope that Judy and I have filled each girl's boots with those experiences and adequately prepared them for a remarkable and life-changing year.

The end of the first game marks the beginning of a new life as a DCC. I want this experience to mean something to the girls, and I want them to feel the way I feel about our uniform, our legacy and our tradition. My hope is that at the end of the season, they walk away with the very rare feeling of a dream come true.

Cheers,
Kelli