Falcons cheerleading caps Pike's great year
By Bob Labbeee, The Huntsville Times
Shannon Pike experienced a year of great change in 2005. The year began with Pike completing her fifth year as a physical education teacher and cheer coach at Bob Jones High School, and it ended with her getting engaged to her boyfriend of five years, Chad Landman. In between, Pike left her job in education, moved to Atlanta to work as an outside sales representative for Atlanta Party Plus, and became a member of the Atlanta Falcons cheerleader squad.
"It's been a great change for me. I couldn't have set this up any better," Pike said. "My life is now in great balance."
To understand how Pike feels about being a Falcons cheerleader, look back at her childhood. She said she remembered having a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader outfit and always wanting to perform in front of a crowd. While attending Sparkman High School, Pike was a member of a national championship cheer squad. She earned a scholarship to cheer for the University of Alabama where she soon became a member of the university's dance team, the Crimson Cabaret. In her senior year at Alabama, she took over as coach of the dance team, and it finished third in the nation. She earned a bachelor's degree in physical education.
Pike became the P.E. teacher at Bob Jones, where she became coach and choreographer of the Patriots' cheer squad. For five years, she worked with cheer squads at Bob Jones and helped the school's cheerleading program to win many awards.
But Pike wanted more. She needed a change.
Pike quietly made her way to Atlanta last April, where she was among 475 young women trying out for 39 spots on the Falcons cheerleader squad. Through strenuous and nerve-racking tryouts, she made the squad. "I needed a change and to make more money," Pike said.
She moved to Atlanta last June. "I just didn't want to stay in education, and I wanted to live in the big city of Atlanta. I knew there were business opportunities and dance opportunities there. Besides, Chad had lived in Atlanta for two years."
Pike said it took her awhile to make the break from Bob Jones and to try and adjust to her new life. But being a Falcon cheerleader is what Pike said, "is an outlet from everyday life."
'Fun and entertaining'
Her full-time job combines with her part-time work with the Falcons. Atlanta Party Plus serves all kinds of special events in the area, many of which involve the Falcons. As a cheerleader, she gets paid $75 per game. The commitment each cheerleader makes to the Falcons includes attending a dance training camp, making every practice possible and never missing a game. Each member has three basic cheer outfits, and she must learn about 30 dance routines.
"We're more dancers than cheerleaders," Pike said. "It's fun and entertaining, but my feet would really hurt from wearing the high heel boots we wear along with our short skirt outfits. I've learned to live with it, and it's no big deal."
As for their always well groomed hair and makeup, Pike said, "Camps are held for most of the cheerleaders throughout the NFL, which feature experts in hair and makeup who give the cheerleaders tips on taking care of ourselves during performances."
Pike said she works out a lot to stay in shape. "I run, lift weights and do some sort of aerobics," said Pike, who is 5 feet, 7 inches tall and 122 pounds. "After all, at age 29, I'm one of the oldest members on the squad. I know I won't be able to do this for a long time, but it has given me numerous opportunities to meet some great people and enabled me to experience things in life I had dreamed about."
'Respect for women'
Her fans, mostly men, are always cheering with and for her. Once as she was coming out onto the field, Pike said, "This family asked me to come over and visit. I did and was presented with one of the most unusual requests: autograph a man's face." Pike said, "I did, with a Sharpie pen. That was certainly unusual."
As a Falcon cheerleader, Pike has made numerous personal appearances where she said each squad member makes most of their money. Each member is also required to work 18 appearances at no charge. Pike added, "I like those. It gives me an opportunity to give to the community in which I live. It's great to represent the Falcons. It is an organization which shows respect for women."
