The year 14 Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders quit

It's a part of Dallas Cowboys history you may have forgotten or never heard. But for a few tense days in 1989, the fate of the cheerleaders hung in the balance.
The year was 1989. In February, Jerry Jones becomes the new owner of the Dallas Cowboys. He fires Tom Landry and Director of the Cheerleaders Suzanne Mitchell resigns. Tensions are high. June brings rumors about Jones' plans for changes to the squad.
"We had no idea what he was about," said Ezelle. "All we knew was that there was talk about us being in beer commercials and sponsorships, and that our uniform might get skimpier than it already was, and that we could fraternize with the players. That's when we made a stance and decided that we were going to quit."
On a Thursday night, 14 veterans of the squad quit. 23 rookies were left with the weekend to decide their fate. The women felt that those plans went directly against the team's wholesome image. The news of their walkout became a huge local story.
Read the whole story here: www.wfaa.com/article/news/198...

[@fredricksmith-something.2125]

They get shit for pay. No insurance and no job security... They all deserve better. They are also professionals.

[@kerteeveeyuh]

All that information is public knowledge and if you continue to push for it and go on to be apart of it you get what you get. However most of these women are professionals in their careers and this is an extracurricular that helps them rub elbows with some elites in their field sometimes. These women can’t care about the money

[@redd-iveee4400]

Kertivia Spurgeon yea and it’s not like they don’t know the pay. Many of these girls come back year after year after year to get on this squad. So it must be worth it for all of them

[@kerteeveeyuh]

REDD-IVEEE yep they are just passionate about the organization and really want this.

[@vsusanmoon]

Yes it’s public information and they know going in how much they make but it is still way underpaid to dance, maintain weight and figure, do hair and nail, not among them uniform, travel and injury. So while it’s certainly not a job like a plumber it is said job that should be paid well enough if you get injured and you can’t dance or afford to look the part. Another one of the main reasons for why “ you like pay women less”

[@chelsea-su1ym]

Well they want to do it, they know the pay so....

[@bettyjohnson4875]

I wish somebody would tell the true story of the "Forgotten 10" the girls from 1971 Super Bowl VI. I was in that group. We were the last to cheer for the Cowboys in the Cotton Bowl and the FIRST DCC to set foot in the brand new Texas Stadium to cheer the Cowboys of 1971! We went to New Orleans with the Cowboys and played the Miami Dolphins! Winning our first Super Bowl in 1971. We do not have glamour shots or any of what they have now. We were 10 girls high school seniors from Dallas area high schools. 5 black girls and 5 white girls! 7 of us are still friends to this day and return for DCC reunions each year. We did not know what the organization would become, we just cheered and danced to the end having a blast. We are never included in videos because we were under Tex Schram who led the Cowboy organization back then. Dee Brock was our director and our dance coordinator was Francis Roberson Dallas Lincoln High School. What a thrill it was and we were so young getting ready to make our way in life. It's a great story someone should tell. I know it won't happen, but I'm telling it now! Lol. CHEERS FOREVER!

[@anahletoa6692]

:(

[@ElizabethT45]

Your story would make a fantastic movie! There have been so many "scrappy team made up of unknowns wins big" movies made about football teams, why not a movie about a team of 10 young women getting to do something so unique?

[@bettyjohnson4875]

@@ElizabethT45 I never thought of that! We were so young and just excited to be a part of the team! We are all Moms and grandmothers now, but can still do a couple of moves! Lol. Thank you for saying that.....appreciate you. 😊

[@jessicabrown8158]

That's incredible! I agree that it would make a great movie

[@juanabarragan245]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oKmYqWaod8d2brs in this video they talk about it

[@Shrlyn777]

They deserve better, without them the show would be boring...I would say they should be getting paid at least $25/hr

[@ABCD-vm1mx]

These women have to meet a high standard criteria, they do charity work, be professional dancers with a background in acrobats, hip hop, and classical technique. They also have strict rules to follow. It’s pathetic that they get paid the bare minimum.

[@jonathanalmaraz191]

$25/hr is really fair

[@xoxolovechristielynn]

That’s approximately what they do make. Their salary is 75k a year and they can earn more doing extra appearances.

[@SUGAR_XYLER]

@@xoxolovechristielynn 😂🤣🤣 no they don't ! Their wage was increased to $400 per game...... that's all !!

[@lunchablecheese5931]

@@xoxolovechristielynn they aren’t ALLOWED to do separate stuff, so check your facts lady

[@gemum4219]

They aren't paid sufficiently enough to consider this more than a volunteer position.

[@SaulBadd]

And yet hundreds and hundreds of beautiful and talented young women try out for the team each year . I guess they think it's worth it, huh?

[@fluffytail6355]

@@SaulBaddthat’s no excuse, dude

[@ericasfreind]

She is looking pretty good for being at least 50

[@suttonm9673]

I wad thinking the same she is smoking hot

[@dragonlegion7815]

Plastic surgery that's why.

[@daryl6659]

More like 60

[@allieb770]

If Jerry Jones wanted to support the DCC Cheerleaders, their pay should be a lot more. MINIMUM $1000 each a game/appearance for entire team, $200 per night practice, $1500 per appearance for the Show Squad. THEN & ONLY THEN will the women, that are required to be the best, be recognized by their employers as the best. There is SO much asked of these women. Not to mention 'weigh-ins'. How about some REAL DIGNITY & APPRECIATION FOR THESE WOMEN???

[@fluffytail6355]

Agreed and now his greedy daughter, Charlotte, is in charge of DCC (she hired Kelli as Director) and she’s as stingy as her father is! You would think a female CEO would do what’s right for women, but not that miser!

[@isabellavalencia8026]

The fact that they only get paid 15 an hour and 150.a game from a franchise that is worth over 4 billion is criminal!!!

[@1D0N]

Funny how the 20-25 year old women looked much older back then, than today’s 20-25 year olds

[@Khloe_dancer_model]

Very true.It was the hair and makeup.Something about that...they looked OLD.

[@livmorgan2231]

I agree 100 percent

[@aicc1728]

Right? ! Was thinking the same thing.

[@gymnast1910]

I'm trying to understand how being allowed to fraternize with the players would have been beneficial to the cheerleaders. Unless the spirit of that was to relax the rules around having to leave an establish when a Dallas cowboys football player entered the building. That is unfair to me bc the woman would have arrived there 1st. Or not punishing just the women when they are caught with the players. That sided rule is especially sexist

[@touchdowngirl1575]

Wow you still look like you could cheer!!! Love the top notch Dallas Cowboys Org Go Cowboys!!!

[@sarahallen476]

TOUCHDOWNGIRL157 I

[@andream9470]

The funny thing being that the uniform did in fact temporarily change in the 90s with that horrid v-cut in the front of the shorts. Every time I see a clip of that I get concerned someone's shorts are gonna slip off because naturally there couldn't be a belt.

[@shinada2]

It's time for the veterans to all unionize, too. They should make at least as much as Rowdy each year.

[@__eganista6372]

True but they go into this with eyes wide open. A prestigious organisation that already has women working within it, so why don't they say something? because they also know what they're going into and they work for their positions! No woman should be 'handed' something "just because" - that's just plain elitism and supremacy.

[@brandonwhite4184]

🤣

[@01denese]

They're lucky they were able to quit and come back. Not a lot of companies would tolerate that as an example to the other girls.

[@ontxtteredwxngs]

So a cult

[@MelissaRae1975]

WHOLESOME outfit OMG

[@davidwinslager6266]

Jerry Jones is a first class jerk. You don’t fire someone like Tom Landry with a phone call!!

[@anthonycampos8057]

David Winslager he owns the damn team, he can do whatever he wants

[@paleo704]

Landry needed to go. Previous owner also wanted to fire him

[@kennyrudolph4712]

Ryan C Yes, Ryan C, and the only reason that Bum Bright didn't fire Tom Landry is because general manager Tex Schramm would not let Bum fire Tom.

[@SaulBadd]

Love Landry, one of the greatest coaches of all time but it was time for him to ride off into the sunset. That said, he knew what was coming and wanted to shape the narrative for what I guess could only be sympathy for his cause...he was finally found, hiding out on a golf course.

[@temkawilliams1224]

@@anthonycampos8057 He's a coward!!!

[@hayley8715]

So nobody quit in the end then!?!

[@Simple5.0]

No one wants change especially at a job.

[@rickiwills1]

Why is this video edited all over the place???

[@marinaschmitt4095]

I was confused too

[@katiebradley5004]

Don't care for them but you gotta stand up for what's right.

[@mistytruman9566]

Mike Saxson in the background, the old days...America's sweethearts number 1.

[@jcdova29]

They were 22 years old. They had no clue but I can understand their concerns. Jerry fired the legendary coach Landry.

[@SaulBadd]

And rightfully so. I forget the actual records, but I believe he had just two winning seasons in his last seven yrs. Besides, get over it, it's ancient history.

[@urmom-zl3cp]

2:13 How do you make those poms

[@stayroxy]

the fact that their body takes such a toll that they need surgery, ( hip knee surgeries etc)that alone ... should mean a decent wage.. I mean why put your body through all that life long health issues for no money ?

[@GetBenched2010]

I thought the walkout was over Jerry wanting to ditch the uniforms and replace them with tube top bikinis.

[@wandasteeves5239]

Too bad we can’t hear her opinion

[@simply-living8523]

Why don't the DCC organization talk about this now?

[@rissa_rarity_611]

Because it was the 80s. That was forever ago at this point.

[@maddensporthorses3467]

you need to work on your audio.

[@nikkic0509]

He should have changed what DC Cheerleaders get paid.

[@SUGAR_XYLER]

🤣 Dancing and prancing isn't work...I used to dance 4 hours straight, non-stop!

[@phokimlong3723]

@@SUGAR_XYLER I can dance all day, but this is work and these girls are considered performers/entertainers. Each team requires a certain amount of athleticism and aesthetic. If you think it’s easy or fair, you should try out for a pro dance team.

[@fluffytail6355]

@@SUGAR_XYLERthen you weren’t doing it right 😂😂😂 any drunk can dance and prance for hours - big deal, lady 🙄

[@nplindgren]

Nobody is going to mention the shot at :23 seconds into the video? Not sure that's the image the ladies wanted to convey.

[@gart9680]

I've just watched the film: Daughters of the Sexual Revolution: The Untold Story of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders & it was fascinating. I'm not American, so wasn't brought up with a cheerleading culture, but, for me, *Suzanne Mitchell is a heroine & true feminist* & I'll tell you for why: There is nothing wrong with utilising human beauty for entertainment purposes, in fact, its inspirational. It just so happens that nature has chosen the youthful female form to be above all other forms of beauty. There is no problem here, as long as these young woman have a *'safe space'* to offer their beauty to the rest of humanity & if that's the case, humanity will benefit - humanity will be inspired. Now! Here's why Suzanne Mitchell is a heroine & true feminist - she provided that safe space. She didn't just talk about; she actually did it. These safe spaces are only threatened when the likes of Jerry Jones get their hands on them. *I'm not a Dallas Cowboys fan, but, I'm a fan of Suzanne Mitchell's Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.*

[@marklumpkin3654]

The year the Dallas cowboys got 14 new cheer leaders. Lol

[@superbwater78]

I read that Jerry wanted a cheerleader to go on a private plane with him and his coworkers and she refused and quit also. It scared her to go alone.

[@iceangel3602]

I just wasted almost 4 min. Of my life on this.

[@kopfjager9431]

Fake new, 30 years ago.

[@Carol-D.1324]

Neha B. You too?!?!

[@VilyRose]

Jeez the audio is absolutely horrible

[@serenatiscareno976]

I think to myself speaking of myself as a professional graduate and cheerleader you believe you've had everything at heart with your own ;at your own place in your own home along side smiling with own family that was all not hard to do .keep on going to school never fight off anything but smoking cause it leads to oalvauaryn cancer.thanks to my doctors I'm still alive after a grandmoul sezier

[@birdv.378]

That's why she said that she DISAPPOINTED the why DCC organization is going down it's going down

[@zuleicaprado2656]

Brennan on what she said during this season?

[@Lizzie-ve7kt]

I think they should go back to the older shorts, the way they are now it isn’t even a pair of shorts, it’s barely more than a pair of underwear. I mean the older uniform at least had some additional coverage and I think the tops and vest have pretty much always stayed the same I just think it’s got to be more comfortable when dancing and kicking to have actual short shorts rather than what they have now.

[@slessard770]

I'm surprised Jerry Jones hasnt gotten sued for Sexual Harrassment

[@SaulBadd]

I'm surprised you managed to find your way online.

[@katherineknapp6604]

Ok, we are not "America's Team" whoever came up with that was forgot about the other teams in the US! And the first warning sign about jones was that he fired legendary Coach Landry! Channel 8, please do your research a little more thoroughly next time. With that said, go Dallas Cowboys!

[@CheerAngelLeShea]

Dallas’s nickname in the 60s was “America’s Team” as they were the dominate team in the NFL for a time. When Landry’s protégée Dan Reeves coached for Denver Broncos - Dallas began to loose that title. But Dallas taught the Broncos how to become a winning team and from there we had an actual league instead of one team to rule them all

[@sheridan1887]

shorts are shorter than short!

[@MichaelSmith-jw8qw]

I'd never give that up, it's too hard to make the squad

[@blitzkrieg634]

Jerry Jones, nfl palpatine

[@SaulBadd]

BlitzKrieg, the resident idiot of KZbin.

[@luvsilly60]

I think the Raider Cheerleaders are the hottest. The diversity and incredible athletic shape is art.

[@nymike06]

Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders are #1

[@kaloveshoran]

100% agree

[@mah4769able]

He sounds like Judge Roy Moore

[@mamachip]

His lifestyle would make Hefner blush.

[@Deva080]

There IS or WAS Nothing Ever wholesome about those uniforms. Always skimpy.

[@donbrassco301]

My man was 💰 and he was putting them in money 👸👸👸👈

[@GTAnativeInXboxAndPlayStation]

These women are hot! Go Cowboys!

[@selenadavis1307]

So why is there no audio during the interviews???

[@tomwalkingstick5395]

Um yes there is

[@user-vw1hv3co4q]

I think 100 dollars an hour including practice. Meet and greets and photoshoots should be alot more.

[@shelbyluver]

Holy volume issues!! You can barely hear the interviews, but then the reporter comes on like a freaking megaphone! Fix the video or take it down!! 😳

[@cecilhenry9908]

They stood up for standards at that time. That was great. They have sold out now. Very sad.

[@SaulBadd]

Sold out? How so? They get paid more than the previous ones did, get much more exposure and there's not many other things to put on their resumes than "Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader". I'm sure the ones who aren't married have gone on to be successful in whatever field they entered.

[@DMS-pq8]

Jerry Jones being in the hall of fame makes me want to puke

[@SaulBadd]

Well, just swallow your bile b/c whining about things you have no control over is the mark of a little girl, not a man. Which one are you?

[@kdtrey5isabeast]

Like they're not replaceable lol

[@kathyadmire6919]

mikevickisabeast Women NEVER seem to be appreciated for their worth or value in ANY profession they choose! But ONLY from men!!!

[@jessierabbit]

It actually is quite hard when it's during the season. They only have so many replacements.

[@lindacarbone9576]

Can anyone please explain to me why these very beautiful educated women choose to be a cheerleader in the 1st place ? I can't even listen to the video because it's just tethering . After some of the stories I've just read about the Dallas cheerleaders i will ever watch or support there program on CMT .

[@melrose7365]

LINDA CARBONE they wanted to be a professional athlete (cheerleading)! It wasn’t their fault that they’re underpaid and sexualized. Unfortunately they aren’t even able to profit from their own image.

[@tonyeason7900]

What a joke.

[@valeriebarbalace6137]

400 women audition for this team annually. They obviously don't care what they are paid. They are encouraged to have a job outside of this. It is all about the prestige of being a DCC!!!!

[@kerteeveeyuh]

Valerie Barbalace exactly and anyone of them that complains about the money is crazy because if they really thought they could live off being a cheerleader is crazy. They just want to be apart of something that they feel is worth their time and energy

[@Angelaaa1015]

Plus they do it for networking and getting noticed

[@catseye1009]

B.S. Who wants to work for pennies? The out of pocket cost are tremendous and so are the standards all are expected to meet. Pay them!

[@rowenaizony3178]

Boring DCC, they do the same song and dance every season. BORING>>> There are other teams who do a much better show. You would think they would change it up. It so for the corporate Who Howws...Poor girls cant have an honest opinion about DCC, Im sure they have to sign a confidentiality clause for silence for all of time. Glass ceiling at its best. Someone needs to bust that sh*** down.

[@fortheloveofgod7258]

👂🏽Hear, Hear!👂🏽

[@LeonAllanDavis]

I stopped watching when Jerry Jones started lying. Which is whenever he opens his pie hole.

[@keepabreast081291]

These women don't age.

[@TheSlackerElite]

Jerry pay these women.

[@nextchamp8101]

Yeah and 14 others are lined up...if you don't like a job leave

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

Oh maybe in the future they might eventually come back

[@sharonvanderkaay198]

All the uniforms need to be changed as it’s the men ceos , wanting them so revealing to please the corporate men, they are sexualising them, they are gorgeous girls the body can be celebrated with out being so reviling. They have to mix with the VIPS who’s to say these men don’t take advantage of these girls and they can’t report it because they could loose their spot on the team. I bet there is a lot of this yet to come out of it, I prefer to watch the other cheerleaders who do pyramids they look much classier. Their hair is tied nicely up much more stylish than flicking everywhere, and the choreography celebrates dance not pole dancing.

[@wwhs1928]

I would trade the cheerleaders for Superbowl win.

[@NSMO647]

Jerry was trying to pimp out the cheerleaders to his oil cronie friends.

[@fortheloveofgod7258]

👉🏽Did he try, or did he do it?

[@lootsmcgoots436]

It’s a job based on attractiveness mostly. They’re going to need to fire the over weight ones, or the old looking ones, or that ones that talk too much and don’t follow directions enough because it is bad for business. If you choose a job that is based on your objective physical requirements and subjective attractiveness then the expectation needs to be that you will be held accountable for those two things.

[@keithpurduecroft]

Jerry Jones...anti-American.

[@anthonycampos8057]

Keith Purdue You....dumbass

[@robertrobinson-9161]

Give them some cash punk 💰💰💰💰💰💰💰

[@busywl69]

lol!!!!!

[@busywl69]

I love the internet qwerty keyboard sexual preference experts lol 😂😂😂😂

[@rachelhodge9197]

Just silly............

[@rodrigobotti1219]

And who cares? 🤔

[@brittneyjoy5878]

Dallas is not America’s Team

[@michaelweston2285]

if only he paid them as much as he spends on his face

[@mariejones3913]

Getting pimped aint easy 😹

[@ernestvaldez3039]

Green Bay Packers are American team? Doesn't even sound right .

[@tiadavenport5465]

They make 75K a year today. Things changed.

[@Lildarlin1]

not so

[@biancablast8153]

Nope

[@tomwalkingstick5395]

Absolutely, not. They make $15 a game!

[@johnnygoodfellow9153]

Why do they even have cheerleaders they dont even do anything

[@kathyadmire6919]

Johnny GoodFellow I have no words for your Incredibly stupid ignorant comment towards these Professional athletic dancers!!!

[@JoinTheProgress]

The show "Solid Gold" aired years before this with dancing ladies, wore far less, were still respected, and/but def seen as sex objects, as scantily clad women always will be seen. The DCC were *always* seen as sex objects. Griping about slightly less fabric when you're already just about naked is a bit obnoxious. Then again, third wave feminism was right around the corner, so this could be the early hints of that realm of emotional psychosis.

[@potdragon8091]

So...they over reacted to rumors, then a man explained reality to them, and they all calmed down. Typical female drama. Good thing a man was there to calm their little hissy fit. Way to take a meaningless stand for a non issue and then capitulate! I wonder how many of the quit team tried out the following year?🙄

[@gasoflastman8249]

The Green Bay Packers are American's team!!!! But theses women are fucking hot!

[@GTAnativeInXboxAndPlayStation]

Gas of last Man are you fucking high? Fuck Green Bay!

[@stephaniem1415]

Cowboys are America's team. Everyone knows that.

[@15haleyk]

Stephanie Munoz lol cowboys wish they were America’s team