The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, May 15, 1996, Page 5, Image 5
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CATHERINE MCINTOSH Staff Writer
For the average college student, the
21st birthday is a night of raucous
drinking full of the joy of being carded
and actually being able to show a valid
I.D.
Things were different for USC Nursing
student Tammy Lynn Baqui, who was
recently chosen as a cheerleader for the
Carolina Panthers professional football
team.
Baqui said, "We weren't told who had
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Tuesday, the night before my 21st
birthday. On my 21st birthday I had my
first practice. We started right away
because we want to be completely ready
for the first game."
Baqui was chosen from a field of 420
during an audition process that started
Marchl6and ended with the
announcements on April 2.
Baqui was a cheerleader at Lexington
High School and danced with the Carolina
Coquettes for two years before trying
out for the Carolina Panther Cheerleading
squad.
She said, "I had thought about trying
for the Charlotte Hornet Honeybees, and
then when the Panthers got here, it was
a dream of mine."
One of Baqui's friends saw a tiny
advertisement in the sports section of
the newspaper last year, right before the
Panthers started their season.
Baqui said, "I called and they gave
me the information but then they ended
up cancelling tryouts because they said
thev didn't have enough time to get a
really great squad together, and they
wanted to be competitive with big name
people like the Dallas Cowgirls.
"They waited a year and kept me on
their mailing list, and then let me know
that it was going to be in March."
Besides being evaluated on dance
ability, physical fitness, and appearance,
candidates were also chosen on the basis
of personal interviews and football
knowledge.
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"I'm really excited to be a part of
history, I guess I'd say. To be a
part of something that is a first;
to have a pro football team in my
own backyard: it's great. I'm
really excited, and I hope it stays
here."
Tammy Lynn Baqui, Carolina
Panthers Cheerleader
Baqui said, "They had the one-onone
interviews to make sure they had
intelligent people representing them
because a lot of our job will be to go out
and do public functions and represent
the Carolina Panthers in that way."
She said she knows many people
believe cheerleaders are bimbos, but she
hopes the increased exposure of
professional cheerleaders will help to
refute the stereotype.
She said, "A few weeks ago I saw an
ESPN special on the Dallas Cowgirls,
and it really showed that they are smart
women, not just pretty faces.
"Our squad has people as young as
19 years old to 33. There are nurses,
teachers, computer analysts, and one
woman has her own dance studio. There's
a lot of differences among us, but
everybody is really intelligent. They're
a lot of fun."
Charlotte has the Honeybees and
Dallas has the Cowgirls, but what will
the cheerleaders for the Carolina Panthers
be called?
Baqui said she doesn't even know.
"They were supposed to tell us that
night that we all made it," she said. "Well,
they're saving it. They're going to do a
really big promotional announcement
when they show our uniforms and
introduce us as a squad. Then they'll
give us the name.
"Nobody knows what we're going to
be called yet People are throwing around
names like the Pantherettes. I wish I
knew, myself. I'm really crazy to find
out."
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The cheerleaders will not perform at
away games and most of the Panther's
games will be on Sundays.
Baqui said, "Really, the way it works
is that the better teams play on Monday
nights. TTiats not to say that the Carolina
Panthers aren't good, they're just new.
The Panthers had a 7-9 season last year,
a record which is considered very good
for an expansion team."
The cheerleaders are employed by
Gary Richardson, the owner of the
Carolina Panthers. Their work contract
is part-time, and Baqui plans to continue
her nursing studies at USC.
She said, "School is very important
to me, and I'd have to say it comes first.
Fm going to try this balancing act for
this year, and if it's my style, IH stay.
Fm sure 111 enjoy it."
Baqui will have to try out again next
year if she wants to stick with the squad.
She said, "They want to keep it
competitive and make sure they have
the best people they can have. They really
believe in hard competition."
Baqui said she feels especially inspired
by her former high school cheerleading
coach, Elaine Elliot, who just finished
her first year as USC's cheerleading
coach.
"She was a real stickler," Baqui said.
"She taught me to always be on time and
to go after things with all my might; not
to be timid, because sometimes I would
be. She taught me to believe in myself.
She's conquered a lot of things, and if I
could be half the way she is then m do
okay in life."
Baqui is looking forward to being a
cheerleader for the Panthers, whether
performing energetic routines at games
or doing promotional and charity work
on their behalf.
She said, Tm really excited to be a
part of history, I guess Fd say. To be a
part of something that is a first; to have
a pro football team in my own backyard:
it's great. Fm really excited, and I hope
it stays here."
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[ Wednesday, May 15,1996
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Tammy Lynn Baqui, a USC nursing student, was chc
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ROBERT WALTON The Gamecock
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