Every year, college basketball teams around the nation have one game marked on their calendars before the season even starts. This game means everything because it's the one and only game every player and fan has thought about and remembered ever since the last meeting. Each team waits for another chance to take the floor and either taste victory or dread defeat.
For the Virginia men's basketball team, that game is this Saturday against Duke.
Fans, however, sometimes miss the big picture of what goes into making Virginia basketball the strong program that it is today. You see them at every game, basketball or football, home or away, yet most people do not realize their preparation. They provide the excitement and spirit that fills either Scott Stadium or U-Hall with fans and enthusiasm every home game.
The Virginia varsity cheerleading squad and the Virginia varsity dance team play a major part in creating this tremendous atmosphere for the team and its fans.
"I do it because of the fans," senior cheerleader Jason Detwiler said.
The cheerleading squad is comprised of 30 members, split between two units, with the blue squad having eight couples and the orange having six. Both squads cheer at football games, but the team splits up so both the women's and men's basketball teams have support whenever they play.
The Virginia varsity dance team also is split between a blue and orange squad with 27 total dancers. Performing at Virginia football games and both men's and women's basketball games, the dance team provides the same coveted support as the cheerleading squad.
Both the cheerleading squad and the dance team spend several hours practicing and rehearsing each week to make sure they are at the top of their games.
"The Virginia dance team practices two nights per week for two hours," dance team coach Tara Tibbs said. "We use this time to learn and polish a new halftime routine for every game as well as new time-out material."
The cheerleaders maintain a similar routine.
"We have two practices every week -- usually about three hours," Detwiler said.
While most fans and students have preconceived notions about members on either team, some members would like the truth to be told.
"Well its considered varsity activity but it's not NCAA," Detwiler said.
And the teams won't settle for just the same old trite cheer and dance numbers.
"The majority of the material the team uses is original choreography, which requires additional preparation by the team outside of the scheduled practices," coach Tibbs said.
No matter what the public thinks, the dedication that these athletic and talented students have is apparent in why they cheer.
"It's part of my life here," junior cheerleader Jen Nixon said.
The dance team also has strong opinions about their role in University athletics.
"I hope that the students and fans of the University appreciate all the hard work and talent required to be a member of the Virginia dance team," Tibbs said. "The dancers are excellent role models for their peers and the young Cavalier fans."
With the Duke game fast approaching, both teams look to prepare for such a pivotal game in their usual routines and attitudes.
"The dancers prepare equally for each game, whether we are facing Duke or Big Apple Basketball," Tibbs said.
Don't think the cheerleaders don't feel the importance of the Duke game.
"Hopefully they'll make it three years in a row," Nixon said.
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