When Brendan Bice decided to join the Republic cheer squad, it meant giving up football and all that went with it.
“It was kind of hard to quit the football team because of the idea of brotherhood. You’re out of your comfort zone. The stereotype, it’s really hard to fight,” Bice says.
Bice’s decision paid off this spring, when he made the cheer squad at Louisiana State University. He’ll join the team next fall, and will be on one of the biggest sports stages in the country — SEC football games.
“LSU has 24 guys right now, so you get the brotherhood aspect back,” Bice says. “You get a respect for the sport after finding how difficult it is to do all the stunts and tumbling.”
In addition to learning a new respect for the sport, Bice says his participation in cheer has made him a better all-around student and person.
“It’s put me on a platform to represent my school. Once you realize people are watching… you’ve got to work harder in the classroom and be smarter outside of school, because people are watching you.”