Drill team faces antagonism from student section
Planoettes perform at a pep rally on Sept. 12. Photo by Terry Quinn.
November 9, 2014
Although the Planoettes and the student section are rooting for the same school, there have been tensions between the two — causing the drill team to have to sit with the band during football games.
It all started at the second football game of the season. The drill team sat in the student section for this particular game and junior Lieutenant Emmie Davis said that was when the tensions rose.
“The students were really rude to us,” Davis said. “When we walked down the field, they would give us these mean glares. I remember them chanting ‘Move the Planoettes, move the Planoettes.'”
According to drill team director Meredith Walraven, their original plan was to sit up with the band for all of the football games. However, they had to sit in the student section that night because bands from feeder schools were performing with the Plano band.
“They acted like that was the first time we’ve ever been in the student section,” Walraven said. “The Planoettes have been sitting there before I even started working here — eight years ago.”
However, over the years the student section has grown tremendously, causing the Planoettes to sit by the band during these games. According to Walraven, sitting next to the band ensures the well-being of her girls as well.
“We moved up for the safety of my girls,” Walraven said. “They booed and cussed at them. Obviously not everyone in the student section was doing this, but it was best for us to move and just let them be there.”
The actions of the student section might seem harsh to the members of the Planoettes, but Davis has been able to let their comments slide.
“At first I was upset about it,” Davis said. “But not anymore because we have more room by the band.”
According to Walraven, it is less hectic sitting by the band and it works out better for the drill team, but what the student section did was unnecessary.
“I didn’t like how it was handled,” Walraven said. “It was completely uncalled for, especially since those girls are their peers. I don’t mind moving up. It’s away from the craziness.”
DJ • Nov 21, 2015 at 1:13 pm
This is interesting. Our daughter is a Planoette and students up in the south end general section were absolutely disrespectful.
Trying to video tape the new routine w/ ladders, someone thought it was funny and amusing to throw skittles from 8-10 yards away and miss my wife taping and hit me several times. I blew up and run up to the section and yell out “Who’s throwing the Skittles!!” Everyone played dumb of course. This was not the 1st time items have been thrown. Every single game I always saw something being thrown (south end of the stadium) aimed at adults. I wanted to email the principle & staff of the incident but never got a chance to do it. So when reading this bit, had to share our experience and having to leave at half time.
This seems to be a big issue I hope in the school in the future would dedicate someone to be located at the top to monitor students throwing objects and removing them. Really sad when the true enemy trying to enjoy a home football game is the student section. Better off sitting over with the visitors.