(CNN) - Much has been made of Republican presidential candidate and Texas Gov. Rick Perry's college experience as a "cheerleader" during his days at Texas A&M University. Except that Perry was never a cheerleader. He was a "yell leader."
Both are spirit organizations at college sporting events, but otherwise they're quite different, and Perry's role as a yell leader during his college days may serve as an early indicator of political instinct and electoral prowess.
The Aggie Yell Leader squad is made up of group of juniors and seniors who lead the A&M crowds in trained chants at sporting events with hand motions. Unlike cheerleaders, there are no high flying flips, nor are there traditionally women on the squad. The uniforms do not even have a color, but instead are simply white shirt and white pants.
But what makes the yell leader phase of Perry's formative life relevant in the context of the presidential race is the selection process. The yell leader is the highest profile student position on the A&M campus, and they are chosen in a fiercely competitive popularity contest within a current student body of just under 50,000. To have been one of the five students selected for role, at a young age Perry had to have demonstrated an ability to mobilize voting blocs (specifically the A&M Cadet Corps) and politick.
As the official yell leader website writes, "It is not uncommon for more than twice as many students to vote for yell leader candidates than vote in the Student Body President elections."
Read more about Perry's time at A&M in TIMEhere.
From CNN Politics
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Just like Reagan...use to be a Democrat before he got bought by the Big $ Special Interests.
As a UT horn, I'm just laughing hysterically at this. Parry on, Ricky.
Yell Leader = Rabble Rouser= Perry
Meanwhile.....is that Perry in that Dudley Doo Right outfit looking like a Canadian Mountie but eerily resembling something out of Hitler's Third Reich Youth Squad?
Excuse my rambling but the picture scared the beejeezus out of me!
Hummm, where have I seen this uniform before????
Gig em Perry!!!
reminds me of animal house ...
Cheerleaders are cheerleaders, no matter what you call them.
All this means is that you don't have to be as talented to be a "yell leader" at A&M.
An Aggie
now this is some real news.
Wow Bush was a cheerleader too look where that lead this country
Oh, good! His college years didn't go to waste!!!
bush and perry, both was cheerleaders at colleges... interesting.
This guy is really the best joke to come out of Texas since Dubbya! At least Dubbya was sincere.
Who cares we won’t vote for him
I guess Perry spent too much time practicing being a "yell leader" to pay attention to the most important aspect of college: Studying, or so says his grades. Great "Yell Leader" you Republicans have there. Not much on brains though.
Don't forget George Bush was a cheerleader too, and look where that got him.
I'm sorry, but even after reading this I don't think there is a big difference between a "yell" leader and a "cheer" leader.
Why is it we already know more about Perry's college days and extracurricular activities than we have ever known about Obama's???
Corporations looking for a clone of idiot Bush to be another mouthpiece for them and Perry more than fits as a Corporate whore that he has always been.
You would think that also people like the evangelical Christians would see through the whole religious hypocrisy that Bush also used on them with the help of Rove..
Now they get another arrogant idiot doing the same thing again ,Fools, all of them.
I wonder if he read any of those fake books behind him??
There is a big difference in what yell leaders do versus cheer leaders. But to know what they do you must attend Texas A&M. It is very easy for all of you to criticize something that you have no formal knowledge of.
Comparing his uniform (which is closely related to WW2 uniforms of the Army Avaition Corps) to the Third Reich is another idiotic statement from someone who has no idea what he or she is talking about. Aggies/veterans who fought and died in WW2 wearing the same uniform should be insulted to compared to the Third Reich.
SoCal Patriot
Why is it we already know more about Perry's college days and extracurricular activities than we have ever known about Obama's???
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Maybe if you took the time to read and research you'd be caught up on President Obama's college years, it's all out there just like his long form birth certificate. Those books aren't going to read themselves. PS – the days of the regressives claiming a monopoly on patriotism are long gone.
"and Perry's role as a yell leader during his college days may serve as an early indicator of political instinct and electoral prowess."
Oh my! Well, then ...
I agree Dominica mama. It IS rather similar to the Hitler Youth garb, isn't it?
[shudder]
Perry's campaign is quickly on the road to self desruction. Even Bachmann's verbal gaff's are minor comparing to the ridiculous "treasonous" and evolution v. creationism comments. Shame on the GOP/Tea Party for producing such a weak field of presidential candidates.
Somewhere in The Internet Web lies a clip about A&M Yell leaders not being female like at all other colleges. It's set to the Sesame Street tune of "One of These Things, Not Like the Other Thing". Some tech savvy person needs to find it & post it. Hilarious !
WOW. Another Texan and American Presidential candidate – twin brother to GW Bush!! Says it all about the intelligence of this man when you get elected as a "yell" leader and by more votes than the student body cared to give to the student leadership. Sounds about how GW got elected. God bless you all in America if this is the best you've got!!!!!!!!!!!