Put your hands up for the Auburn cheerleaders as they prepare for the upcoming football season.
There is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes of an entire football program, and the cheerleading squad is ready to lead the team to victory this fall.
"I think my favorite thing about football season is getting to run the team onto the field before the game," said Mallory Sigle, a senior in exercise science. "It's an incredible feeling when the whole stadium is screaming and the pump-up video is on the jumbo-tron."
Many cheerleaders agree the excitement of the intro video while the team is running into Jordan - Hare Stadium is priceless.
"I'm looking forward to this football season when they play the intro video just before the run-out from the tunnel," said Drew Petrey, a senior in accounting. "I think it sends chills down everyone's spines."
Everyone's nerves differ when entering a packed-out stadium.
"I've never been particularly nervous in front of a packed stadium, but mostly because it all seems so surreal," Petrey said. "I think all Auburn fans get goose bumps before the game, whether they're on the field or not."
Brooke Erickson, a senior in early childhood education, said she was nervous the first home game she ever cheered, but now it is all excitement for her.
"It almost feels like a dream," Erickson said.
She said being that close to the players is an amazing feeling, and you are able to feed off their excitement and adrenaline.
"I get nervous every time I am in my uniform, but especially when you are surrounded by more than 87,000 people in Jordan-Hare Stadium," Sigle said. "It is definitely a good nervous, though. You realize how big and great the Auburn family is. I'm sure this year I'll still be just as nervous, and I hope that feeling never goes away."
The Auburn family has a large impact on many people in various ways as well as building true Auburn relationships.
"Being on the field with the athletes is a fun experience, especially if you get to know some of them," Petrey said. "It is a lot more fun to cheer for people you know."
Erickson said she is looking forward to the game day atmosphere because it is neat how the entire student body, community and others come together to support Auburn and the coaching staff.
There are many hours and dedication put into the squad by each individual cheerleader.
"We practice three days a week for about two hours a practice," Erickson said. "Practices consist of the entire squad practicing cheers, band songs, pyramids and partner stunts."
Sigle said they are expected to work out and run outside of practice at least two times a week, although most people do it more. They also spend time with their stunt partner to do any work they need to do.
The cheerleaders prefer to watch the football game from the field and do not seem to be missing out from the student body atmosphere.
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