2007 SPiN College Cheerleader of the Year: Arkansas' Laura Cole

EDITOR'S NOTE: Arkansas' Laura Cole won the 2007 SPiN College Cheerleader of the Year title by defeating Houston 54-46 in the championship round. Thanks to everyone who participated in the tournament.

Laura Cole
Broadcast journalism and pre-nursing at Arkansas
Hometown: Rogers, Ark.

Congratulations to Laura Cole. (US Presswire)

SPiN: What’s the best, little-known fact about your school?
Cole: "The people. Something that makes Arkansas unique is the people. Everyone is friendly, outgoing and loves to meet new people. I’d just introduce visitors to my friends and lots of fun traditions, like the Hog Call. (Laughs) Go Hogs!"

SPiN: How long have you been cheerleading?
Cole: "I’ve been in Pom Squad at Arkansas since a freshman. I’ve been on national cheerleading associations since high school, so I have been a cheerleader before."

SPiN: What’s the best thing about being in the Pom Squad?
Cole: "Performing in front of 80,000 people at football games is so much fun. We get to perform at pep rallies and get to do halftime at basketball games."

SPiN: You were a first runner up as Miss Teen Arkansas in 2004. What’s harder – competing in a pageant or cheerleading?
Cole: "It’s harder to be in a pageant because you’re competing. I’m performing in the Pom Squad, not competing, so it’s fun. So it’s harder in that aspect, even though it’s in front of an audience. Pom Squad tryouts are a different story."

SPiN: Ok, so what’s harder, competing in a pageant or trying out for Pom Squad?
Cole: "Pom Squad tryouts. (Laughs) I just want to be in the Pom Squad more than I want to be in a pageant, personally. I think we just want to make it so we can experience what being in Pom Squad is like and get some great memories. For example, in Pom Squad tryouts, there’s more dances to learn with less time to practice than in a pageant, where I have weeks to prepare."

SPiN: How active are you in pageants? I see you were a Miss Arkansas 2007 Delegate.
Cole: "I’m really not anymore. I did a few when I was 14, 15, 16, then I stopped for a few years. Last year I did two pageants: Miss University of Arkansas And Miss Northwest Arkansas because they’re two prelims for Miss Arkansas. I won Miss Northwest Arkansas, so that allowed me to go to the Miss Arkansas pageant last summer. I haven’t been there before, so I wanted to see what that was like."

SPiN: What’s the most irritating cheerleader stereotype?
Cole: "Stereotypically, people assume you’re stuck up. (Laughs) You know, the Mean Girls stereotype. Everyone thinks cheerleaders are pretty, so she’s stuck up, not nice ... the ‘popular girls’ stereotype. It’s probably for a reason; some girls might be like that, but that’s something that’s always a challenge. I’ve had to deal with that for years, but all I can do is try to be nice to people and try to break that stereotype."

SPiN: Do you plan on cheerleading or competing in pageants after college?
Cole: "I’m going to definitely concentrate on my career. I’m excited to be a nurse and I’ll have a lot of great memories. I’m having fun now, but after college I want to concentrate on my career."

SPiN: What’s your favorite movie/TV show about cheerleaders?
Cole: "You know, I think that will be Center Stage. I love, love that movie. The dancing is just passionate in the movie and every time I watch it, I just want to dance. I just fall in love with dance even more. (Dance) is my passion and it makes me realize how much I love it."

SPiN: If Hollywood made a cheerleading movie and you were the star, what actress would play you?
Cole: "I’d like to say maybe Jennifer Aniston. Hopefully her because I’m the kind of person that’s real. She’s also classy, nice and a real person and I hope that I’m the kind of character she’d portray."

SPiN: What do you think about Bring It On?
Cole: "I think it’s hilarious, I love it. (Laughs) The funny thing is I think it’s pretty accurate in a lot of ways. You can go to a lot of national cheerleading competitions, look around, and there’s a lot of squads that are serious about it. You can devote a lot of time and energy to these national cheerleading teams. Even young girls and gymnasts get started in national cheerleading leagues and grow up with it through high school -- it’s intense. You get to sit back and realize it’s just cheerleading, but some people forget it’s a fun activity and take it a bit too seriously."

SPiN: Who’s the best looking athlete in sports and why?
Cole: "You know, I think Roger Federer. I’m not like those girls who are into those big football players. I think Federer is pretty good looking."

SPiN: Who’s the most famous person you’ve met?
Cole: "I haven’t met anyone famous personally, but one time in New York, I saw Robert Redford. I took a picture with Jermain Taylor (the boxer) at an Arkansas football game. I was cheering and he was in the sidelines. Of course, I’ve met Darren McFadden." (Laughs)

SPiN: What’s your favorite cheer to fire up the home crowd in a close game?
Cole: "Of course I’d have to say Hog Call! That fires up Arkansas Razorback fans."

SPiN: Do you have something to say to the people who’ve voted for you throughout the tournament?
Cole: "I guess, ‘Thank you.’ Thanks for taking the time to vote and I appreciate it. I hope that I represent them and our state well."

College Cheerleader of the Week Archive

Regular season: Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9 | Week 10 | Week 11 | Week 12 | Week 13 | Week 14 | Week 15 | Week 16 | Playoffs: First round | Quarterfinals | Semis | National Title | Offseason: Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 Profiles: Arkansas' Laura Cole | Miami (Ohio)'s Megan Schwieterman | LSU's Katherine Whitty | Minnesota's Megan Jokinen | S. Carolina's Whitney Jones | Miami's Christina DeMaria | Mississippi State's Kylie Estes