Dear Mr. Tyra & Ms Herring,

We are a collective of active and engaged University of Louisville Alumni. We have been organized online for quite some time but with the recent developments concerning the Spirit Program it is time for us to engage, mobilize and support our university more than ever before.

Our time at UofL was a very big part of our college experience and the lessons we learned from this exceptional, competitive and decorated program have literally changed our lives.

Cheerleading taught us the importance of commitment, sacrifice, working together, time management & the value of goals. Acting as an ambassador for the University prepared us for work life and set the tone for the type of people we wanted to be.

The competitive nature of UofL meant that We were driven to give our absolute best, push beyond limits, and settle for nothing less.

James, Misty, Calen & Will have worked so hard to maintain the caliber and excellence associated with the program. They have the complete and total support of our vast & engaged alumni community.

You may not realize this but Louisville is the heartbeat of the Cheerleading World. Our graduates are among the industry’s best coaches, athletes, event producers, judges, industry experts and more. The impact Louisville cheerleading has had on the ENTIRE spirit industry is undeniable.

Our alumni have been waiting for the opportunity for the cheer program to stand in its own right. We hope UofL allocates our coaches administrative assistance, a fair budget, access to scholarship, in-state tuition equivalencies and student athlete services that will allow us to rival the very best schools in our country, and attract our sport’s best talent.

We are ready to mobilize and support you - but cheer can no longer stand behind dance but WITH DANCE as an equal, and our leaders - James, Misty & Calen need the chance to build on the program they have maintained over decades. We would like to open dialogue with the university as how we can shape the future and assist in every way possible.

We urge you to support our Cheer Coaching staff as you rebuild and reframe the spirit program for the future.

Hundreds of athletes flock to Louisville, Kentucky each year to be coached by the best and learn at one of our country’s finest post secondary institutions.

Our legendary cheerleading program is a launchpad for many young people. It is crucial that it continue to operate under the direction of its experienced, decorated and loyal staff with direct support from the university and its Athletic Department.

Sincerely,