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Spotlight on Former Athlete: USL Sweethearts – 1960-81 – performance & service dance teams
Sweethearts added to campus life for 21 years
By Bruce Brown
Written for Athletic Network
A headline in the 1970’s described them as “Cajun Cuties,” which, of course, was sexist by today’s standards but no less true in any era.
They were the USL Sweethearts, the dance team that added glitz to Ragin’ Cajuns athletic events from 1960-81.
Members of the troupe will gather for a Sweethearts Reunion during homecoming weekend Nov. 1-2, and the number of participants is growing as word about the event has spread.
“A lot of the members have different last names now, so it’s harder,” said Karen Strenge Segura, reunion publicity chair. “But we’re getting good response. It has mostly been word of mouth.”
A Facebook page has helped, along with notices on the Athletic Network and Segura’s public appearances on local media.
Segura has remained active in dance since performing with the Sweethearts from 1979-81, and has a unique view of dance teams at the school through the years.
“When I stopped dancing at UL, I moved into teaching and performing full-time,” she said. “I’m in my 37th year. I never looked back.”
She can look forward, though.
Segura’s daughter Gracie performed with the Ragin’ Jazz, the modern, up-tempo morphing of the Sweethearts concept, and is currently helping to construct routines for younger sister Callie Rose and the dancers at Lafayette High.
While others may not have stayed as close to dancing as Segura, the Sweethearts will still have plenty of stories to share.
“Being in the Sweethearts helped me a lot,” said Chris Becnel, a member from 1968-72 who went on to make her mark as a coach and dance team sponsor at Lafayette High and Comeaux High. “I was from the little town of Norco. I was into everything – cheerleading, band – but I was introverted.
“The discipline helped me a lot.”
That discipline included maintaining a 2.0 grade point average as well as meeting weight requirements geared to height and body type – “You had to be athletic,” Segura said – to say nothing of being sure to be there for every practice for fear of losing a chance to perform.
“Performing with the Sweethearts really started opening doors for me,” said Opelousas product Sherry LeBas, who performed from 1967-71 and was choreographer as well. “I learned sometimes it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.”
LeBas, who went on to serve for years as a coach and administrator in the Ragin’ Cajun athletic department, recalls needing special permission to get time off for a birthday meal with her folks, so structured was the Sweethearts’ world.
But, gradually, the dancers had a voice.
“The officers and dance instructors set the tone with the choices we made,” LeBas said.
The Sweethearts members would practice 2-4 hours a day, 8 hours a week, for a 2-minute dance routine, often coordinated by band director and sponsor Jack Arceneaux.
Wearing their trademark red outfits and white boots, the troupe added capes one year as well as white plumes on their heads.
“When the wind would blow, it was pretty hard to keep your head still with those plumes,” LeBas said. “Then there were those heavy majorette boots.”
It’s hard to imagine today’s Jazz performers trying some of their moves in the restrictive outfits worn by the Sweethearts – yet another sign of changing times.
Sweethearts performed at Cajun athletic events, as well as New Orleans Saints games, local parades, the initial Bacchus Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans and made countless other public appearances.
They were also a service organization, a fact often overlooked.
“It was so rewarding,” Becnel said.
“We had an impact on the University and the community,” Segura said.
Lifetime friendships were formed, too, as with many athletic teams.
“I met Sherry,” Becnel said, “and she was so ‘me.’ We both loved to dance, and we even have the same birthday.”
“Opelousas was probably a lot like Norco then,” LeBas said, reflecting their shared small town backgrounds and values.
When fans attend Cajun athletic events, they know to expect a rousing rendition of Aretha Franklin’s “Respect” performed by the band and dance team. That tradition began with the Sweethearts.
“(The song) ‘Respect’ came about in the fall of 1968,” LeBas said. “Jack arranged it for us.”
“We were so excited,” Becnel said. “People really responded to it, They wanted us to dance to it at every game.”
Coordinating routines with the band and fitting them into events was a tenuous thing that required work, just as effort was needed to stay relevant in their performances.
“There was a change in choreography, to more jazz than high-kick,” Segura said. “We didn’t veer too far off the path. We alternated the newer with the old. We also had to coordinate our on-the-field choreography with the band.”
Always, though, there was the Sweetheart Strut, those red outfits, white plumes and boots, and 50 young women working hard to make it look effortless.
Now with the Ragin’ Jazz, it’s a different approach in a different era, but with much of the same discipline and work ethic.
“I’m proud to have something in common with Gracie,” Segura said. “A dance team is still a dance team.”
True, but the USL Sweethearts will always have their own, unique place in history. * * * * * * * * * *
Please click the 2013 Sweethearts Reunion link in the Ragin’ Cajuns Reunions and Special Events banner on the right of the news box. The digital photos and the video of the Recognition Social have been posted. Also, the digital photos for the Homecoming Parade have been posted. For more photos, please visit USL Sweethearts on facebook. USL Sweethearts Reunion – Schedule of Activities Friday, Nov. 1 6:30-8:30 p.m., Recognition Social, Petroleum Club Ballroom Saturday, Nov. 2
8:30 a.m., Decorate trucks for the Homecoming Parade
10:00 a.m., Homecoming Parade
3 p.m., pregame Ragin’ March around stadium 4 p.m., Cajuns vs. New Mexico State, halftime introduction of Sweethearts * * * * * * * * * * * Some of the reunion committee members at the August 15th meeting at the Hilton Garden Inn – Lafayette/Cajundome Please click here to visit the USL Sweethearts facebook page for many of the photos of past teams, small groups and individuals who were known as the Sweethearts. Created by Patti Segura Daigle it includes the commemorative T-shirt, the parade banners and much, much more. Please click the Photo Gallery, Dance Team, any of the 1960-81 years to view additional photos of the Sweethearts…all they want is a little RESPECT! * * * * * * * * * *
Our rich athletic traditions were entrusted to the vision, hope, loyalty, and dedication of those former athletes and we will forever owe them a debt of sincere gratitude. May God bless each of them and their families.
Anyone with information, materials, pictures, memorabilia, etc., of the university’s former athletic program participants is requested to contact Ed Dugas at athleticnetwork@louisiana.edu Thank you.
The Photo Gallery Link located on the left side of the home page at www.athleticnetwork.net contains over 12,000 pictures of former and current athletes and support groups. Just click on photo gallery and when the menu appears, click on the sport or support group you wish to view. The years of pictures posted for that team or group will appear and you may click on the year you wish to view. One click on a thumbnail picture or narrative and it is enlarged; a click on the enlarged photo and it reverts back to the thumbnail. The Athletic Network seeks to post pictures of each team and support group for each year they represented the university. The stories of the previous honorees featured in the Spotlight on Former Athletes have been moved from the News Page to the Archived News Page. Please click on the title of any current news story, then the Archived News link in the upper left to go to the Archived News Calendar. The Spotlight on Former Athletes announcement has also been placed in the profile of each honoree, excluding the pictures. 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009
Ed Dugas served as feature writer. January – Tim Thompson Men’s Basketball 1957-61. February – Gene Bacque Baseball 1956 & 57. March – Dr. Louis Bowers – Tennis 1956-58, Track 1955, Coaches 1964-66. April – Dr. Carter Lomax, Jr. Tennis 1974-76. May – Johnny Morris, Jr. Football 1927-29,Men’s Basketball 1927-30,Track & Field 1928-30, Golf 1927-28, Coaches 1947-49 . June – S.L.I.I. Athletic Pioneers I July – S.L.I.I. Athletic Pioneers II August – 1912 – A Special Year – First L’Acadien September – Glenn Davis Lafleur Football 1966-69 October – Bill Bass – Boxing 1938 & 39, Football 1938-40, Coach 1971-75 & 1983 November – Tom Nolan – Cross Country & Track & Field 1971-76, Coaches 1978-83 December – Military Personnel – Military Page posted 2008 2007 Ed Dugas served as the initial feature writer and continued until Bruce Brown began writing in 2010. Peace, Ed Dugas Ed Dugas, Research Coordinator (337)482-0999
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