Spring Break
Looking ahead for the UConn cheerleaders
Kevin Duffy
Issue date: 3/3/09 Section: Sports
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Though it will be difficult for UConn athletics (especially the basketball teams) to duplicate the success of this season, 2009-2010 has plenty of potential as well.
Sure, Donald Brown and his 2,083 rushing yards have moved on to the NFL, but the duo of Andre Dixon and Jordan Todman, along with a more wide-open passing attack, should be enough to keep UConn football in the thick of things. On the defensive side of the ball, UConn returns seven starters, including standouts Scott Lutrus, Lawrence Wilson and Robert Vaughn. A nine- or 10-win season is certainly within reach.
Obviously, this is "the year" for the top-ranked men's basketball team. But even when A.J. Price, Jeff Adrien and Craig Austrie graduate and Hasheem Thabeet inevitably declares for the NBA Draft, there's still a boatload of talent on the roster. Kemba Walker will be one of the best point guards in America next season. Jerome Dyson will be back. So will Stanley Robinson and Gavin Edwards. Make no mistakes - UConn will be a contender in 2010.
And then there's the women's team. Unless Maya Moore feels like jumping ship early for her $30,000 in WNBA money, she'll be in Storrs for two more years - which means two more potential National Championships.
Clearly, most of UConn's major sports teams are in good shape for 2010, except for one: cheerleading.
To put it bluntly, UConn cheer is - for the lack of a better word - screwed.
The harsh realization set in during Saturday's "Senior Night" basketball game versus Notre Dame. The Huskies were in a groove, the crowd was bumping, the pep band was, well, being the pep band. Then, during the under 8-minute TV timeout in the first half, all six male cheerleaders trotted onto the court to be honored.
First it was Ron Clark, followed by a loud applause. Then Matt Golod. Then Jared Christopherson, the odds-on favorite to win MVP of the squad this year. The applause continued, but lightened up a bit.
Then Mike Colonnese. Then Bobby Karat. And then Anthony Parrish. (All of this information was obtained on cheerleading.uconn.edu. Yes, that really is the address).
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