Question: No Rings for our National Champion Cheer Squad?

[ElkhartTider]

Oh..? Is cheerleading a sport now? :conf2:

:biggrin:

 

[ART]

Ok, so this is the same group who cheers for the football team. I'm sorry, but if they are paying for the rings themselves the UofA should find a vendor to approve to make these rings and charge them a royalty to use the A. Then any other sporting or acedemic group who wins a national championship could purchase a ring. I asked once, but are there REALLY that many different clubs a NC could be won in? If so and they do win then it makes no sense to me not to at least make it possile for them to purchase it on their own. I agree with most of you if you let one group do it then they will all want to, but it's not like it's taking up space at the campus, actully they probably did win a trophy. Where is that being kept? I say they draw the University is right for not paying for the rings, but geez, let them use the script A!!

BTW - I don't have a daughter and was never a cheerleader so don't think I have a dog in this fight. It's just the right thing to do. = )

 

[UANAA]

Come on people, can we please quit bringing up 'other sports clubs'!!! The cheerleading squad is a function of the Athletic Dept, sports clubs (ultimate frisbee, hockey, men's rowing, men's soccer, wrestling, etc) are not functions of the Athletic Dept. Therefore, it should have no relevance what 'other clubs' may win NC's and start demanding rings.

 

[rizolltizide]

Do the cheerleaders "letter"?

 

[Croaker]

This thread is useless without pics...hahahaha

 

[DiamondDust]

Come on people, can we please quit bringing up 'other sports clubs'!!! The cheerleading squad is a function of the Athletic Dept, sports clubs (ultimate frisbee, hockey, men's rowing, men's soccer, wrestling, etc) are not functions of the Athletic Dept. Therefore, it should have no relevance what 'other clubs' may win NC's and start demanding rings.

OK, my apologies for the mistake in regards to club sport and such.

But the reality remains: It is not an NCAA sanctioned sport, and the University has a standing policy that they don't award rings to anyone who happens to win an event that is branded a "national championship" in such a classification. The University also has the right to say to withhold the licensing of the Script A.

Cheerleading is a function of the athletic department, but it is, first and foremost, designed to SUPPORT the other sports. My original solution was eliminate the competition side of things from the squad, and get cheerleaders who actually want to come here to support the teams. If they want to compete, go elsewhere. No one was forcing them to come here. I might sound harsh, but honestly, I've never been a big fan of the cheerleading squad at this school. Too many instances of them thinking they were much more important than they actually are for my tastes.

 

[bama579]

Perhaps a lawn tractor parade?

 

[theBIGyowski]

I have a buddy who was a Big Al...he wears an A-Club ring...which I assume means he was a letterman because I had to be in the A-Club to get my A-Club ring.

 

[Lost in TN]

:BigA:Let's not miss the main point here. "Our Team" the U of A Cheer Squad won the National Championship. I want us to celebrate EXCELLENCE! Regardless of whether you like, understand, or even care, they are the Very Best in the Nation! We need to set them out as examples to be followed, not belittle their effort. We do not need to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Let's celebrate the big achievement.

In the end I believe that the University will step up and do the right thing and make sure that they are properly rewarded. Congrats on a great accomplishment.:BigA:

 

[Alasippi]

If the cheer squad wears the scripted "A" as they lead the cheers at Bama football games, and if they are allowed to enter the national competition as a representative of the University of Alabama, and if they are allowed to wear the Alabama scripted "A" on their uniforms during this national competition, then I think it's totally stupid to say the Bama "A" shouldn't be allowed on their rings upon winning the championship.
The University should have bought the rings. These kids busted their butt for the U of A and they should be recognized as champions.
sip

 

[cwtgran]

If the cheer squad wears the scripted "A" as they lead the cheers at Bama football games, and if they are allowed to enter the national competition as a representative of the University of Alabama, and if they are allowed to wear the Alabama scripted "A" on their uniforms during this national competition, then I think it's totally stupid to say the Bama "A" shouldn't be allowed on their rings upon winning the championship.
The University should have bought the rings. These kids busted their butt for the U of A and they should be recognized as champions.
sip

Thank you I agree the Alabama Cheerleaders were representing the University of Alabama. They should be allowed to use the "A" on their rings. I believe the Coaches of all the sports respect these people and they appreciate all they do.It takes talent,hard work and a lot of practice to do the things they do. We go to the Baseball games and you do not see them there but they are at Basketball,Gymnastics,Football. so they do represent the University. They are National Champions.:BigA:

 

[T Town Tank]

Is there not a source where they could buy officially licensed rings like you would a class ring? This way they could have their championship rings and the university could still protect their trademark.

 

[DiamondDust]

If the cheer squad wears the scripted "A" as they lead the cheers at Bama football games, and if they are allowed to enter the national competition as a representative of the University of Alabama, and if they are allowed to wear the Alabama scripted "A" on their uniforms during this national competition, then I think it's totally stupid to say the Bama "A" shouldn't be allowed on their rings upon winning the championship.
The University should have bought the rings. These kids busted their butt for the U of A and they should be recognized as champions.
sip

I know cheerleading is not a club sport, but various other club sports (the hockey team being one) are allowed to wear the script A on their uniforms. They'd get the same treatment if they were to win the "national championship" of club level college hockey teams (Those that aren't varsity and play for the NCAA Championship).

Am I the only one here who finds a cheerleading national championship more mythical than a football championship? It's awarded by the Universal Cheerleading Association. I know that organization might be accepted amongst that community, but it's the equivalent of a group called the Universal College Quidditch Association deciding to award a national championship for the best college quidditch team.

Also, I direct you to this link:
http://urec.ua.edu/scracquetball.cfm

The racquetball club won their "national championship" in 2007 and three overall, and I don't seem to recall hearing anything about them wanting rings.

 

[DiamondDust]

Is there not a source where they could buy officially licensed rings like you would a class ring? This way they could have their championship rings and the university could still protect their trademark.

The University controls the sale of class rings.

 

[Titans&Tide]

actually i would make it even more simple- were the cheerleaders allowed to wear alabama uniforms? were they introduced as the University of alabama cheerleading squad? is the trophy they won displayed at the university? if so then it appears they were officially recognized by the university as representatives, and thus, if they want to pay for it themselves, should also be allowed to have an officially sanctioned emblem on their rings.

This...

 

[T Town Tank]

:biggrin:

Exactly!

Next thing you know a bunch of girls are going to get together and start a pageant club and begin insisting that all the training they do in order to wear their evening gowns and bikinis correctly for competition qualifies them to be considered "champions" when they win. And where are THEIR rings?!

I volunteer to judge the bikini championships :biggrin::BigA:

 

[T Town Tank]

Couldn't the university set up a deal with whoever handles the class rings so the cheerleaders could buy a University approved ring through them? I understand the university not providing the rings, but it looks like they would step up to the plate and help them get an approved ring if they want to pay for it themselves.

 

[USCBAMA]

Could solve the problem by making Cheerleading an NCAA sport/competition (why is it so different from gymnastics - which is also a judged sport with subjective scoring?), but that ain't going to happen The reason is complex and liberal courts are ruling against the idea. Title IX supporters, who pretend to want to expand athletic opportunities for all women, do not want a mostly middle class feminine sport tied to Title IX and fight hard to keep cheerleading and dance teams out of Title IX. Conversely, the various governing/sanctioning bodies of college cheerleading and dance do not want to give up control of their sport to the NCAA, so they fight making them NCAA sports. Sadly a lot of the Title IX issues with scholarship-heavy football could be resolved by making cheerleading and dance NCAA sports. Schools could keep some of the men's sports that they've had to cut to meet Title IX, and in many cases would end up actually offering more women's scholarships.

It makes too much sense so it won't ever happen.

 

[IMALOYAL1]

Also, I direct you to this link:
Student Affairs | University Recreation Center

The racquetball club won their "national championship" in 2007 and three overall, and I don't seem to recall hearing anything about them wanting rings.

I don't know enough to comment, but I will.... Don't they get a trophy or banner? What's wrong with the long time established award for their achievement?

 

[TideMan09]

I still think they should be allowed the rings..They put in as much Blood, Sweat, & Tears as the Gymnastic Team does..And really Cheerleading is Gymnastic with cheers kinda..Are the cheerleaders on scholarship??..