We all know that our favorite college football teams are already preparing to go to war for their chance at a national championship this year. But what you probably do not know is that those babes in sequins you see on gameday are already spending hours upon hours preparing to take the field. That is right, the University of Alabama Crimsonettes of the Million Dollar Band and the University of Alabama Crimson Cabaret Dance Team are already gearing up for next season! These ladies work extremely hard just to audition, but that is just the beginning! They have to complete and teach dance and baton camps, rookies have to learn everything that the veterans know, and then they have to learn halftime routines.

The Crimsonettes are world-renowned for being the pretty girls with big hair and sparkly bikini costumes that twirl and lead cheers with the Million Dollar Band. As a former member of the MDB I have many close and dear friends that performed in Bryant-Denny as Crimsonettes. They begin preparing for their auditions in January and compete for "THE t-shirt" (when a contestant earns her spot, she earns a shirt with Crimsonette written on it) in April. They spend months learning and perfecting their routines which they will only perform for the judges twice! I caught up with a Crimsonette and one of the captains this year, Abbey Minor, to ask her what it's like to prepare each year for Crimsonettes and for the football season. This is what she had to say, "When conditioning for the season, we all commit ourselves to be in the best physical shape possible. This allows us to have endurance to get us through long gamedays." Abbey said she and her fellow captain Melea Beasley are most excited about welcoming the new members into the sisterhood and helping to mold them into members that meet and uphold the expectations and traditions of this organization.

Melea Beasley, also a Captain, is also a nursing major! I asked her how she balanced the demanding schedule of being a Crimsonette and the overall difficulty of nursing school. Here are some words of wisdom from Melea, "I try to stay ahead of the game with my nursing assignments, I practice our Crimsonette routines at home, I study on the bus traveling to away games, and I make a study schedule each week to make sure I am studying every day." She is balancing a rigorous rehearsal schedule with the craziness of nursing tests and clinical rotations in the local hospitals. "I make time for Crimsonette and nursing school because they are both my passions. When I have a passion for something, I really try to make time for it," Beasley said.

After finishing up her first year on as a Crimsonette, I asked Paige Robertson what the most memorable part of her Crimsonette journey was to date. She said: "No question watching Alabama win the National Championship. It was unreal and so amazing to get to be a small part of that experience and those traditions." Paige is an upcoming sophomore who is really excited to take the field in Bryant-Denny again in just under 100 days!

University of Alabama Crimsonettes 2016-2017

Image Credit: Abbey Minor

Now, I couldn't finish up this article without telling you about the amazing dance team we have here at the University of Alabama. The Crimson Cabaret is so much more than just basketball halftime performers, they are some serious athletes! These girls practice, practice, practice! I caught up with a Cabaret member, Katrina Fotovich to learn more about the program and to see what it has been like for her as a member. Katrina told me so much about how much rehearsing and practicing they do. Three hours a day, four days a week, and they have 5:30 A.M. workouts twice a week to keep themselves in pristine condition. Their audition process is much like the Crimsonettes and they too hold open auditions in April. After selecting a team they begin to work during the summer on preparing for UDA camp in July and then move on to learning routines for band songs and basketball games.

Katrina Fotovich, University of Alabama Crimson Cabaret Member

Image Credit: Katrina Fotovich

Katrina had very similar things to say about Cabaret that my friends on Crimsonettes have said. It is such a joy and such an opportunity to be a member of this prestigious team. One of the things that Katrina told me about this organization is that "there really is no off season." They are constantly preparing and practicing for something, which she said can be challenging due to learning how to manage her time effectively. Katrina thinks that time management is the hardest part about being a member of the Crimson Cabaret, but it has taught her how to effectively plan and take care of her studies while enjoying all that this organization affords her.

So next time you think being a Crimsonette or being a part of the Crimson Cabaret is just a bunch of girly girls in sequins and sparkles, think about how many hours went into learning and perfecting those routines and cheers. It does not just happen overnight. These ladies are athletes of the highest standard possible. Next season when you see them on the Quad on gameday or at the next basketball game remember to thank them for working so hard, congratulate them on what they have achieved and accomplished, and really watch and see just how talented these ladies of halftime really are!