"Student's spirit runs high"

By Matt Nascone
Assistant Sports Editor
September 16, 2004

Erin Richardson, head cheerleader for Auburn, has been nominated as a contestant in a national spirit contest.

The second-annual Athlon Sports "Sideline Spirit" contest comprises cheerleaders from the BCS conferences.

Richardson will represent Auburn and the Southeastern Conference in the first round of the competition.

She said she is excited to be representing her school.

"I feel proud to be representing Auburn and the SEC in this contest," she said.

The contest spans the entire college football season. It involves four rounds of three weeks each and a final round from Nov. 29 through the National Championship game in the Orange Bowl Jan. 4.

The participants can get to the final round one of two ways.

First, each winner of the four initial rounds makes the final round. Second, each representative with the most online votes in her conference makes the final round.

The winner of the contest walks away with a photo shoot in the 2005 Athlon Sports College Football Annual and $1000 donated to her school's cheerleading program from Athlon Sports.

Richardson, a senior majoring in nutrition and food science, said she hopes she can help the Auburn program.

Susan Nunnelly, faculty adviser for the cheerleaders, said this contest is a good way to gain support for the squad.

"This is a good thing that Athlon is doing to bring support to one of the largest support groups football teams have - cheerleadersleaders," Nunnelly said. "It gives us a lot of exposure, and it is a good way to see how many fans will participate in contests."

Nunnelly also said that she supports Richardson in any way possible.

"She is a very good student athlete, and she is a very good representation of Auburn," Nunnelly said.

Richardson said she hopes being nominated for this contest can help the Auburn cheerleadersleaders get noticed in the national spotlight.

While the cheerleadersleaders do not participate in the National College Athletic Association championships, they do a lot of work for the community.

"I hope this contest will help us get recognition for the work that we do," Richardson said.

Lindsey Jolly, Richardson's roommate and fellow cheerleadersleader, said having Richardson nominated for this contest is great for the Auburn community.

"I think it is a great honor to have our head cheerleadersleader nominated," Jolly said. "They picked her picture from a ton of other girls."

Jolly, a junior in marketing, has cheerleadersed alongside Richardson for three years at Auburn.

She said Richardson is a great leader and an organized person with a lot of goals.

Derek Starr, Richardson's cheerleaders partner, said she will do anything for someone in need. Richardson and Starr also cheerleadersed together at Briarwood Christian High School in Birmingham.

"She really loves the University," Starr said.

Richardson said the nomination made her proud other people were able to see how much she loves her school.

"It's a really big honor," she said. "I bleed orange and blue, and I want everyone to know that."

She added that she is awe-struck at having her picture be what people will associate with Auburn.

"It is an honor to have people think of Auburn when they see me," Richardson said.

The five other contestants will represent Purdue University, the University of Maryland, University of Southern California, Oklahoma State University and Boston College in the first round.