Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, August 11, 1995 TAG: 9508110016
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: STACY JONES STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
And on the edge of the field, the Gold Rush - the pep component of Roanoke's latest minor-league football team - had gathered for practice.
Amy Rush, the 27-year-old director of the dance troupe, was giving her squad last-minute instructions.
Yes. The hosiery was coming in from New York. No. The girls didn't have to wear their hair in any special style.
By the way, don't call them cheerleaders, warned Marty Gordon, the Rush's public relations director.
``It's not politically correct,'' he said, none too convincingly. ``Sometimes I forget myself, but they're not cheerleaders, they're a dance troupe. They practice just like the football team.''
Speaking of practice, Rush, whose husband, Nick Rush, happens to own the football team, was eager to get started. Clad all in black, sunglasses included, Rush ordered the team into formation. Her blond tresses fell in a ponytail. Her large, gold, hooped earrings swung wildly.
Like Rush, the girls were outfitted in black. T-shirts, spandex biking shorts, socks, boots - everything was black. The regular season outfits will have a new color scheme - gold and black - and a lot more skin.
This is showbiz, you know.
``Our presence adds to the entertainment of the game,'' explained Rush, who owns a dance studio in Christiansburg. ``It's more than a football game. People are paying for a show.''
No one is paying the 12 women of the Gold Rush. The opportunity to dance is pay enough, said more than a few members.
``It's a great opportunity as far as training and being a part of the first minor-league team in the city,'' said 20-ish Devoria Thorpe, who works as a marketing representative in Christiansburg.
``In high school I marched in band and always supported school spirit,'' said 21-year-old Natashia Reed of Radford. ``I want to get some fan support for this team.''
Reed, who works at a Sears store in New River, said she has taken some flak from friends for her participation.
``They say, `gosh, you're 21 and you're a cheerleader,''' she said. ``There's not an age limit on being a cheerleader, technically, we're more of a dance squad anyway.
``All the girls are full of pizazz and energy,'' she added. ``We're all working hard to prepare and look good. As skimpy as the outfits are, you have to let your body look the best you can.''
In the midst of a routine, Marty Gordon roamed across the field, cordless microphone in hand, shouting ``Check! Check! Check!'' and practicing his delivery for game night. He was not happy with the sound system.
``The echo is terrible. I don't know if I can do this from the field,'' he fretted before disappearing into the stands.
On the football green, the women jumped, wiggled and kicked, occassionally interrupting their practice to grab an errant toddler who'd run onto the field to be with mom. Paula Abdul's old hit, ``Rush, Rush,'' played on the boombox and Thorpe joked about her teammates' boogie abilities. When asked if anyone had professional dance ambitions, she laughed and said, ``Look at us, honey. Look at us. We practice four times a week. We need to practice seven.''
Amy Rush was a tad more serious, urging her troupe to ``watch their lines.'' The women tried their best.
In one routine - a modern version of the ``Soul Train'' dance line - the dancers perform their own personalized choreography at the 50 yard line.
``I love to dance,'' said Jodi Skurupey, 21, an employee at Leggett's in the New River Valley Mall. ``Anybody who can dance and has the chance should do it.''
``Some people might laugh, but its been fun and I've met a lot of new people,'' said Heather Duncan, 26, a receptionist in Blacksburg. ``All the players really appreciate it and I'm sure the fans will, too.''
by CNB