Spirit Squad of the 1980's:

In the late '70s, funding problems plagued ASUCD, and the Rally Committee and Yell Leading Team were abolished. In an effort to retain the spirit and service they brought to athletic events, Student Affairs started funding the Yell Leaders as the official university cheerleading program in the early '80s through what is now known as the Student Programs and Activities Center (SPAC).

When Kerry Smith joined SPAC as adviser to the cheerleading team in 1983, she and others wanted to boost the team to greater heights by diversifying its routines and introducing more contemporary choreography. At the time, there were six cheerleaders who performed straight-armed routines and sideline cheers. Meanwhile, other schools were incorporating sophisticated gymnastics and stunts.

Inspired by competitors' crowd-pleasing routines, Smith added basic stunts to the tryout criteria in May of 1984 and recalls that it didn't go over well. "Not everyone was happy about the change," she said, "but it was necessary for the team to advance. Even many of the high schools had stunt teams."

The Spirit Squad of the 1980's was one team, not yet separated into Cheer & Dance. Back then, the team did almost everything together, especially at USA Summer Camp in Santa Barbara, which proved to be more than just training for the year ahead, it was good times! In addition to the bonding at summer camp, the Spirit Squad went on team retreats to Lake Tahoe. In 1985, the team divided into stunt and dance teams that performed together but had different roles. From this, the term "Spirit Squad" was born.

Members of the Spirit Squad in the 1980's: