Name: Brianna Smith
Major: Kinesiology
Hometown: Shelby Township, MI
Brianna Smith is a sophomore at MSU who is also on the Michigan State coed cheerleading team. She tried out for the team the summer going into her freshman year and has made countless memories and friendships since. Like other sports at MSU, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the team — it has not been allowed to practice or cheer at games. But, Smith is excited now that B1G Football is back.
How has it been not being able to cheer or practice due to COVID restrictions?
Smith: It’s been really upsetting and sad. I was looking forward to getting better and growing as a team this season, so not being able to do that has been really tough. Hopefully, we’ll be able to get back soon.
How has COVID negatively impacted this cheer season?
Not being able to practice. Cheer is one of those sports you can’t really just go in the backyard and do. You need mats, other people, a routine, a coach. It’s just very hard to find ways to practice this sport safely, without a structured environment.
What are you most looking forward to now that the B1G is playing football again?
I feel like football brings people together and gives us something to do and look forward to during the week, so just being able to watch the games and support them. It will give people something to smile about during this terrible time.
Describe the emotions you felt when you heard football is back.
I was overwhelmed with joy and also kind of shocked. I didn’t really think there would be a way for football to come back. I thought I was dreaming, and it just seemed totally out of the blue and unexpected.
What is your favorite part about cheering for MSU?
Representing something bigger than yourself is really cool and being able to meet people who have similar interests as you. I feel like my cheer team is more of a family, so it gives me people who will support me and each other. It just makes the university seem less huge when you have a smaller group of people you can be around.
What do you think will be the biggest challenge when you can go back?
I think the biggest challenge will be just getting back what we have lost over quarantine and the pandemic. Cheer is one of those sports that is a lot of muscle memory, and since a lot of us haven’t done it in so long, it might be more challenging to get that muscle memory back. Just rebuilding and getting back to the place we were before COVID hit.