Florida cheerleaders get up off the ground

Fans that attended Wednesday’s Florida Gators basketball game may have noticed that the team’s cheerleaders were stunting on the court for the first time since school administration banned stunts and tumbling on Nov. 11 as “a proactive stance to protect the cheerleaders, who represent the University of Florida with enthusiasm and class.”

According to a source close to the cheerleading program, this change of heart is relatively minimal on Florida’s end and only occurred after athletic director Jeremy Foley reviewed a proposal created by the cheerleaders that outlined a number of stunts that contained “zero risk” and were maneuvers that even amateurs could accomplish.

The stunts contained in the proposal were “of elementary and junior high school level” but even with that being the case, approximately “90 percent did not get approved” by Foley and others involved in the decision-making process.

Stunts that Gators cheerleaders are now allowed to perform include shoulder sits, chairs and back handsprings. The cheerleaders are also optimistic that they can “hopefully prove there is zero risk to these stunts and [the administration] will eventually consider adding” to their repertoire.

Overall, the cheerleaders are excited for the minor victory but did hope to physically demonstrate other maneuvers they felt were equally safe rather than rely on a presentation to try and convince the administration.

Though they were not provided with that opportunity to showcase safe maneuvers, the cheerleaders are pleased with the minor changes and already felt less awkward performing in front of fans now that some athleticism is involved in their routines.

“Overall the team is very happy about the stunts, naturally,” the source said. “We would love to show our talent and athleticism to the fans but this is definitely a step in the right direction and we are just happy Mr. Foley gave us any chance at all to explain stunts.”