There is no doubt that one of the best feelings you will experience on the 40 acres is stepping into the stadium on your first game day and taking in the sea of burnt orange filled with cheering fans. For UT sophomore Destinie Mack that feeling is the energy that fuels her through the game as a cheerleader of UT’s White Squad. This past Saturday was Destinie’s 2nd opening game, but performing in front of 100,000 plus people never gets old for her. As last years “Rookie of the Year” for White Squad Destinie Mack is this weeks Campus Celeb!
What was your first ever game day like?
My first game-day experience was unique. I never cheered high school football, so the whole “game-day” experience was completely new to me. The feeling when I stepped out on DKR for the first time to perform was overwhelming. It was complete bliss. Pure joy. There is a lot to take in that first game with over 100,000 people in the stands. Once the game got started though, I felt completely in my environment. Here at Texas 90% of the time we’re on the field we do whatever feels natural and that’s what I really enjoy.
How do you prepare for game day?
To prepare for gameday we have tryouts every Monday to decide who will cheer the game that Saturday. Tryouts are at the beginning of practice & gameday groups are posted at the end of that practice. On Wednesday and Thursday practices of game week we practice all the stunts and pyramids we will do that weekend with all the people cheering that weekend. Starting on Thursday night I start hydrating and carbing-up. Having enough energy to last through the game is what is most important. On game day we arrive 3 hours early in order to greet the team as they arrive and pump the fans up. After that we go to our locker-room and stretch to warm up our bodies.
How would you describe the bond you have with the other cheerleaders?
Our team as a whole is really close. We all love each other like sisters. I know that sounds so cliché, but we spend on average 15 hours a week with each other. There is a lot of time for bonding and laughter with practices, games and appearances. During the year we grow into a family. I met my best friend, Lily Scroggin, through White Squad. A lot of us are such good friends that we end up living with each other. Even after spending 15 hours a week with each other at cheer events we all still hang out with each other outside of cheer. We are truly friends, not just teammates.
What is your favorite experience that being a member of the White Squad has given you?
My favorite experience that being a member of white squad has given me is every single football game I get to cheer. My favorite experience besides football, was traveling to Maryland with Women’s basketball last spring semester. We were able to fly in a few days early with the team and had a lot of free time to tour the city. We stunted in front of the white house and visited a plethora of museums. One night the women’s basketball team came up with a routine for us and it was hilarious!
What do you do in the off season?
With White squad cheering for football, women’s basketball, volleyball and soccer we don’t have a very long off season. In off season we have tryouts for the upcoming year. We help run UCA camps for high school and middle school cheer teams during the summer. During the summer we also have one week of two-a-days and attend a collegiate UCA camp at Texas State to learn new stunts and pyramids for the upcoming year.
What do you plan to do after college?
I do not think I plan on continuing my cheer career after college. I am pursuing a degree in Accounting at McCombs. I plan on getting my master’s degree in college before I go work full-time anywhere. I also would like to get my CPA right after I graduate. I want to do public accounting for an oil and gas company when I graduate.
What aspirations or goals do you have for this year?
This year I would like to cheer every home football game. I also aspire to travel to at least one women’s volleyball or basketball tournament. Every year white squad votes on who they want to be captain & co-captain in the upcoming year. I would really like to become co-captain for next year. That’s something that you can obtain with your commitment throughout the year. Outside of cheer I would like to study abroad in Prague this year with McCombs and earn at least a 3.5 GPA.
Tell us why you love UT?
Wow. Why do I love UT? This is probably the hardest question for me to answer. I’ve changed my answer maybe 17 times at this point, because there are so many reasons to love UT. It is an amazing school. It is not only nationally ranked but also globally ranked. The sports here are out of this world. The longhorn is the most known school symbol in the nation. People know who we are. Football is just pure greatness. Even when our record is not amazing game days are still loads of fun. Our volleyball team is amazing. The games are almost always sold out & so much fun to go participate in. Austin is beyond beautiful and has so much to offer for every single person.