Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders with Super Heroes

Suzette Scholz with Spider-Man

Marvel Comics once featured the DCC in a story involving Spider-Man and The Incredible Hulk titled Southwest Showdown.

                             

The artist renditions above appeared in the comic book.  Here is a quick synopsis:

History: (Spider-Man and the Incredible Hulk in: Southwest Showdown) – While on assignment in Dallas, Peter Parker took time out to visit his high school friend Fran, a member of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders squad.  The two shopped at Sanger Harris before Fran left with the squad on a national tour.

While traveling on their bus, they got lost during a storm. Arriving at a military base they believed to be Fort Sage, they were invited inside by the nervous soldiers working for the Leader. While the rest of the team rested, Fran and Heather took a look around the compound, accidentally stumbling upon a meeting where they learned the Leader planned to take over a missile system and hold the country hostage. Fran called Peter for help, but was cut off by one of the soldiers.  When a trip to the real Fort Sage turned up no leads, Parker donned his Spider-Man outfit to search the desert.  There, he came across the Hulk battling a platoon of the Leader’s men.  He followed the soldiers back to their base, meeting up with Fran there.  While Spider-Man had some of the Cheerleaders dress in army uniforms to fool their way into other parts of the base, a very ticked off Hulk arrived.   The Leader engaged the two in battle from within a tripod weapon, while sending a legion of Battle Androids into the fray.  As a last ditch effort in defeat, the Leader launched a missile, which the Hulk promptly destroyed.  The real Fort Sage unit arrived and saluted the Cheerleaders for their hand in the situation. The next day, Parker was on the sidelines of the Fort Sage show as the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders shook their stuff.  After the show, Peter and Fran returned to the Sanger Harris store, where they giddily conversed about the back-to-school selection.

(Spider-Man and the Dallas Cowboys: Danger in Dallas) – After Spider-Man and the Dallas Cowboys defeated a plot by the Circus of Crime, the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders performed at the Cowboys’ football game against the New York Giants.  [Source:  marvunapp.com]

Not to be outdone, the modern-day DCC did a little a Super Hero action of their own of sorts.  When The Dark Knight Rises was released on DVD, the Batmobile Tour made its way to Cowboys Stadium (now AT&T Stadium) and a lovely quartet of Sweethearts were on the scene.  Sydney, Angela, Mackenzie and Jenna struck a pose with the Caped Crusader’s auto.

The only thing missing is a pairing of Captain America with America’s Sweethearts.  Now that would be both Super and Heroic.

CHEERS!

The Five Year Club

The average career of a DCC lasts 2 to 3 years so I’ve always delighted in those cheerleaders who had the willpower to stay longer and the total package required to accomplish that dream.  Because of this, some years back I started a page called The DCC Five Year Club that celebrates those women who have spent at least 5 years on the squad.  The record holder for most years as a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders is Vonceil Baker, one of the first DCCs who cheered 8 years.  Vonceil is one of my all-time idols and she is pictured below.

          

Next in line with 7 years are Vanessa Baker (Vonceil’s sister), Regina Tucker (below top) and current DCC Sydney Durso (below bottom).  Who knows?  Maybe Sydney will stick around long enough to eclipse Vonceil’s record.

                              

There was another trio that stuck around for 6 years.  They are Judy London, Trisha Trevino and Pennie Booker.  As for women who lasted exactly 5 years as a DCC, well, there are over 30 of them which is a tall feat considering they had to re-audition every year.  For pictures of these lovely ladies go the DCC Five Year Club link.

There is some controversy as to whether or not former DCC Christy Van Meter cheered a full 5th season.  I have been told yes and I have been told no.  But just in case she did, she is pictured below and I am still contemplating whether or not to add her to this exclusive club.

          

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that the newest member of The Five Year Club is current DCC Nicole Bulcher who is known for her dark curly hair and dimples.

Including Christy Van Meter there are currently 40 women in the DCC Five Year Club.  If anyone knows of a DCC who cheered five or more years who is not included on the tribute page, please let me know in the comment section below.

The Tie Front Blue Blouse

This is the third in a series on the evolution of the DCC uniform.  This time I’m focusing on the blue blouse that has stood the test of time.  Back in the day, we called them belly blouses because, well, they expose the belly.  Like other parts of the uniform, the blouse has undergone some subtle variations.  Early on, the upper part of the sleeve was more narrow (pic 1 below).  Now it has a puff where the shoulder meets the vest (pic 2 below).

    

The iconic lapel went from a double style worn by Shannon Werthmann (below left) to the current day single lapel worn by Sydney Durso and Holly Arielle (right).

    

There have always been three wrist area buttons on the sleeves to keep them in place during dance routine.  They have gone from smaller metal (maybe plastic) buttons in the early years to larger crystals in the modern era as compared below.

   

Probably the most noteworthy aspect of the blouse other than its trademark blue color is the front tie.  It too has undergone some transformation through the years.  It started out with a longer design that reached down past the belly button (two photos below top) to a shorter tie just above the navel (two photos below bottom).

                      

The DCC have pretty much kept their trademark puffy sleeves throughout the years.  I’ve come across fans who complain that the big sleeve look is outdated.  I disagree.  I think it blends in quite well with the rest of the classic look.  What do you all think?  Sound off in the comments below.