Girl, Don’t Go Away Mad. Girl, Just Go Away 🏈
Football season is back, baby, and along with it, the iconic cheerleaders who energize stadiums across the country. In Minnesota, the Vikings cheerleaders hold a special place — but their story connects to something much bigger than the NFL. From small-town competitions to Title IX, cheerleading is more than pom-poms and sidelines. It’s a reflection of American culture itself.
If you’ve ever driven through rural Minnesota on a Friday night, you’ve seen how big cheerleading is outside the professional spotlight. Competitions fill high school gyms, with entire communities showing up to watch routines that rival what you’d see on TV. It’s easy to imagine buses of talented young cheerleaders from around the state making the trip to U.S. Bank Stadium, not only to see the Vikings play but also to watch the pros who represent the pinnacle of their sport. For many of these students, NFL cheerleaders are role models — proof that their hours of practice and dedication can lead to something beyond their hometown.
Of course, being a professional cheerleader hasn’t always been glamorous. The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders became a worldwide brand in the 1970s and 80s, but behind the fame came grueling hours, low pay, and intense scrutiny. Stories have surfaced of how badly they were treated during that era, often being held to impossible standards with little support. That history lingers in every conversation about NFL cheerleading today — and it’s one reason fans sometimes wonder if organizations like the Vikings are doing enough to respect and support their cheerleaders.
Here’s a twist most people don’t know: the first cheerleaders weren’t women at all. In the late 1800s, cheerleading began with men on college sidelines — essentially part-coach, part-spirit leader. They organized chants, led the crowd, and set the tone. But then World War II and the draft pulled many men away, and women stepped in to keep the tradition alive. By the 1950s and 60s, cheerleading was widely considered a women’s sport, and the image of pom-poms and high-kicks had replaced the male-led chants of earlier decades.
Today, cheerleading is deeply connected to education and opportunity. Title IX — the landmark 1972 law requiring equal opportunities in sports and activities for boys and girls — helped elevate cheerleading as a legitimate athletic pursuit. While it’s sometimes dismissed as a “sideline” activity, modern cheerleading demands the same strength, discipline, and teamwork as any other sport. For many girls, it’s their first experience in organized athletics, one that builds confidence and skill they carry into adulthood.
Vikings, Pumpkin Spice, and the Season Ahead
So, when you see the Minnesota Vikings cheerleaders take the field this fall, remember: they’re not just performers. They’re part of a living tradition that stretches from small-town Minnesota competitions to the history of the Dallas Cowboys, from male spirit leaders of the past to the opportunities Title IX created for girls today.
