Ellington

by Merrell McGinness

We come from the U. of C. Great football fans are we. No rival team that hears us scream shall ever victor be. We’ll shout with might and main. Come on, we’ll win the game. With courage true, we’ll dare and do. For dear old U. of C.

That’s the song football fans were singing in 1909, according to the book “University of Chattanooga—Sixty Years” written by Gilbert E. Govan and James W. Livingood. Back then, fewer than one hundred students were enrolled and they were either playing on the field or wearing blue and gold in the stands. Cheer squads would not rally the fans until a few decades later.

A photograph in “The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga: a Pictorial Review” captured the image of two smiling cheerleaders in 1931 who wore hats, conservative sweaters, long skirts, white gloves and pretty shoes. It was a far cry from the uniform Carla Hill Roy wore when she cheered for the University of Chattanooga from 1955-1958.

“We wore a one-piece outfit fringed at the bottom of the skirt and fringed at the sleeves, belted, with a big C on front,” she says. “I remember one year at a game in Mississippi we nearly froze to death in those little uniforms. After that, we got sweaters!”

Hill Roy says at that time, cheerleaders were not required to do complicated stunts, although it was a bit nerve-wracking to audition before a selection committee comprised of physical education faculty.

“All we needed was a big mouth and a friendly disposition,” she says.

Despite having the fans of Xavier University hurl Osage-orange fruit at her cheerleading squad, Hill Roy says her cheerleading experience was “a time of great fun in our lives. The University was small enough that we all knew each other.”

Not only was Hill Roy the senior captain of the squad, she was named homecoming queen and Sweetheart of Sigma Chi, all the while staying true to her longtime love and future husband of 50 years, the late Dr. William Roy. Upon her graduation, Hill Roy taught school for eight years, supporting the couple when her husband completed dental school. She also helped Dr. Roy with the Inter-City Dental Clinic of Chattanooga, recently renamed the Dr. Bill Roy Mercy Dental Clinic.

Among Hill Roy’s favorite memories is leading the football players onto Chamberlain Field on game day, one she shares with the head of the Teacher Preparation Academy at UTC.

Give me a ‘C’!

Cheering in the 70s

Dr. Valerie Rutledge, head of the Teacher Preparation Academy at UTC, cheered with mascot Chief Moc-a-nooga from 1971-74.

“Chamberlain Field was the center of activity and, because it was located in the center of campus, a wonderful gathering place for students and fans of UTC,” Rutledge says.

Unlike Hill Roy, Rutledge’s squad was required to do splits, cartwheels, a range of jumps, and different types of partner stunts. Another difference Rutledge recalls was a requirement to maintain a specific grade point average, which kept the squad in good standing as university students. Failure to maintain good grades placed a cheerleader on probation with possible dismissal, Rutledge says.

School spirit at UTC has changed since Rutledge stood atop a human pyramid.

“There are still individuals who are very supportive of UTC athletics, but today there are many more teams in different sports, the presence of women’s sports has increased dramatically, and it seems that some people are often more invested in specific sports as opposed to supporting all athletics,” Rutledge says.

Rutledge taught in Hamilton County Schools from 1974–1995. She has just completed her 15th year at UTC in the College of Health, Education and Professional Studies.

“During my tenure as a cheerleader, we played several teams from very large institutions, for instance, Auburn University, in football. In fact, I took my first airplane ride when we went to LaFayette, Louisiana to play in a basketball game there.

“Over the years I cheered, I developed some lifelong friendships with people on the cheerleading squad, friends in the band, and players on the various teams. It’s still nice to see them and to learn, in many instances, what career paths they have chosen and where they are now. In fact, a number of them still support UTC sports and can be found at various events throughout the year,” Rutledge says.

Go Mocs go!

Cheering in the 80s

Without a doubt, Chris Chambers says cheering played a major role in his success as an educator. Chambers cheered from 1985-1988 with mascots Chief Moc-a-nooga and a moccasin better known as The Shoe.

“Cheerleading not only helped me pay for college and prepare for a career, it also provided an opportunity to gain additional life experiences. By working as part of a team, I enhanced my personal and professional skills and developed my performance-related talents,” Chambers says.

Male cheerleaders may make those complicated partner stunts look easy, but Chambers confesses it was difficult learning to stunt.

“I had to build my lower body strength — the secret to most lifts is all in the legs. Our only requirement was that you be able to lift your partner, whomever that might be. I was fortunate that I had the prettiest and not the heaviest!” Chambers says.

Chambers’ degree led to teaching elementary school for seven years, followed by ten years as a principal. He currently works for the Walker County, Georgia, Department of Education as Coordinator of Student Services.

Let’s dance!

Sugar Mocs move UTC into the 90s

In 1990, Jean McCarthy established a new era of cheer, ushering in the Sugar Mocs dance team. Each year since, up to thirteen young women help electrify the crowds with a variety of dance skills and showmanship. Comelia Franceschi joined the Sugar Mocs in 2001-02.

“I was a ballet dancer growing up and cheered both middle and high school. Although I was decent at both, I didn’t think I had gone through enough training to dance at the collegiate level. My dorm-mate

and I decided it would be fun to just try out. Neither of us were really expecting to make the team. When I got to the tryouts, I was just blown away at the talent of the current Sugar Mocs and that of the other girls trying out. They were amazing and so passionate! At that moment, I decided to take the tryout seriously and give it all I had. I thought it would be so awesome to make the team in hope of becoming as great of a dancer as they were,” Franceschi says.

After practicing several times a week for several hours each practice, Franceschi says her group really came together as a team, with guidance from the longest running Sugar Mocs coach, Terry Denniston. Now the executive assistant to UTC Chancellor Roger Brown, Denniston took the Sugar Mocs to three national competitions where they twice earned spots in the top ten.

Franceschi has had the opportunity to dance in local plays and church performances. She says she “would love to one day be able to assist with a dance group.” Since graduating from UTC, she has taught kindergarten and first grade for six years.