It’s the feeling you get when you are on a rollercoaster as you slowly rise higher, waiting for that stomach-turning drop. You are anxious, nervous, but most of all excited. I get that feeling every game day. Slowly the clock ticks as you wait to hit the field. Only on this rollercoaster, there is no impending drop. The high of adrenaline never ends.
The preparation for a game begins well before the actual day, aside from the two-a-week practices we have had since April. I tend to follow the same routine each time; I guess it may be a superstitious thing. The night before, I strategically pack my Heys suitcase with all the necessities. It is imperative that everything goes in the right place, otherwise things can get utterly chaotic. I have a list that I follow, so I don’t miss one of the many things needed, from my boots to my pom poms to my Jolt energy drink and the amethyst key chain all the cheerleaders have.
Of course, I try to get to bed early the night before. It never happens. I am always way too excited for the game. The next morning, I wake up at 9:00 a.m. if it’s the usual 7:00 p.m. kickoff time, listen to the radio for a bit and mentally prepare myself for the day ahead. I change out of my PJs and into sweat pants, an Argos t-shirt (getting into the spirit of things) and my fuzzy pink slippers. For breakfast, it is always the same: an egg sandwich on an everything bagel and a glass of orange juice. After that, it is time to shower and get ready.
Our call time is typically 3:30 p.m. to be at Rogers Centre. Between then and on-field practice at 4:00 p.m., the girls and I hang out, talk and get ourselves settled into our usual spots in the change room. We then hit the field for an hour-long practice. We quickly rush back to the change room, get changed into our game day uniform, have a quick meeting, I text my mom to tell her I love her and remind her to watch the game, and then we head to different promotions all around the stadium.
By 6:45 p.m., we are waiting to hit the field to perform the “subway dance”. For each game, we rotate squads having one squad in the stands and the other two dancing. So when you see the cheerleaders in the stands, yes, they are the “real” Argos Cheerleaders. Before each game, we are given an itinerary that includes the exact moment we dance and when we do promotions. Sounds pretty simple, right? Wrong! What would take anyone else around 2 minutes to walk takes us about 15 to 20 minutes. Along the way, we stop to talk to fans, take pictures and sell calendars. Let’s say that a promotion is going to happen at the 9 minute mark in the 2nd quarter, it is best to leave after the 1st quarter break to make it there on time.
Of course, there is so much more involved in game days. But I don’t want to give away all the inside secrets right away. So next time you come to the Argos game, know that there is a lot more than meets the eye.