Lucy Greenberg
October 19, 2022
Maddy Brum and James Thomas gained overnight stardom in Netflix’s Emmy award-winning docuseries “Cheer,” but they recently traded their Navarro uniforms for scarlet and black.
It's a day in late September and I've arranged to meet the new Red Raiders for a drink at J&B Coffee, a local favorite. We order iced coffees since September in West Texas is a scorcher.
I've seen both seasons of “Cheer” on Netflix. Not a cheerleading enthusiast myself, I do enjoy great storytelling and the docuseries certainly tells an engaging narrative with characters who are loveable, scandalous and a bit of everything in between.
Plus, it's hard to look away when someone is tossed like a pretzel 15-feet in the air.
James and Maddy are now cheering at Texas Tech University with the Texas Tech Spirit Program and are students in the College of Media & Communication. Their transition to a new school this semester was anything but usual though. The friends were touring with “Cheer Live 2022” this summer, so the fall semester snuck up quickly.
"We weren't sure what to expect once we got here, because most of the Texas Tech cheer squad had spent time together over the summer and even had a camp together, and we missed all that,” James said.
The two worried that their absence might create a tough transition, but the Texas Tech squad welcomed James and Maddy with open arms.
“They've been incredible,” Maddy said. “This team feels like home.”
There have been more changes than just a new team, though. For Maddy, she's excited to finally attend college classes in-person. Since she began attending Navarro Community College right before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, she's mostly taken online classes.
“Sitting in a classroom with hundreds of other students wanting to learn the same things I'm interested in has been pretty cool,” she said.
The two friends also have had to adjust to being on a large university campus.
“All of Navarro is about the size of the science quad at Texas Tech,” James said. “So, coming to a school of this size was a bit of a shock, but in a good way.”
The largest difference, however, has been football games. Cheering at Navarro, James and Maddy would attend football games played on high school fields with perhaps 50 people in the stands.
The first time they walked into Jones AT&T Stadium, they knew this was a different ball game, so to speak.
“During the first football game of the season, we got on the field and were like ‘Oh, so this is college game day,'” Maddy said.
Outside of cheer, James and Maddy finally have time to look at their future careers and balance cheer with being college students. The two say cheerleading can be your entire life at Navarro, leaving less time for other interests. It was common to have two practices a day and if you cheered or worked for a club, you had to drive more than an hour into Dallas multiple times a week.
At Texas Tech, they are students first and cheerleaders second.
It's hard to know how that balance might have been different at Navarro if “Cheer” hadn't blown up like it did.
For those unfamiliar with the docuseries, it was produced by Greg Whiteley, who also produced “Last Chance U,” a similarly styled show about football. During the process of shooting “Last Chance U,” Whiteley observed the high-pressure world of competitive cheer and explored the idea of producing a show about it.
After some searching, Whiteley decided Navarro Community College was the perfect place to tell that story. That's when James and Maddy's lives collided with the narrative.
“The first year they filmed was different than the second,” James said. “When they first came in, they didn't really know what they wanted to do, so they filmed everything and kind of pieced the story together as they went. By the second season, they came in with a storyboard and vision. The second season was more action-packed and introduced more athletes than the first season did.”
Maddy traveled to Texas to sign with Navarro in 2019 and was filmed a little while there. The show was still shooting its first season, so Maddy had no idea what the interviews were for.
“They said it was for Netflix and I was like, ‘Sure it is' and kind of dismissed it,” Maddy said.
Then, the show was released, and it blew up overnight.
“I honestly wondered what I had gotten myself into,” Maddy said. “When I chose Navarro, the show didn't exist. I didn't enroll to be on Netflix, I enrolled to cheer.”
But James and Maddy were certainly grateful for the platform the show provided. It has given them opportunities to connect with athletes around the world and showcase their passion for the sport through the “Cheer Live 2022” tour.
“I think I can speak for both of us when I say the tour was the coolest experience we've ever been part of,” Maddy said. “Seeing a little girl crying in the front row because she is just so excited was a reminder of why we do what we do.”
The tour also provided the athletes an opportunity to see what the future of the sport could look like.
“It was great to be part of something that purely just got people excited about a passion we all share,” James said. “It wasn't competitive, it wasn't about being the best. It was a chance for us to celebrate a sport we all enjoy.”
In addition to supporting the ambitions of young athletes around the country, James and Maddy are excited to bring their strengths and influence to the Texas Tech Spirit Program.
“I hope anything we do from here on out with our brands or following, will help get Texas Tech the recognition it deserves,” Maddy said. “Since the spirit program isn't technically part of athletics, it struggles to get the funding it needs.”
The two won't stop maintaining their personal brands but are more focused on the Texas Tech brand right now.
“It's been eye-opening to be here because there are incredible, underrated athletes here and I just hope I can do my part in helping everyone get the recognition they deserve,” Maddy said.
And speaking of brands, the athletes are studying that exact thing.
James and Maddy are both majoring in creative media industries in the College of Media & Communication. Since they want to manage content for the cheer industry and other creative ventures, they feel creative media industries is the perfect route.
“The personal experiences we've had with the show definitely affect the way we absorb information in class,” James said. “It makes us think deeper about what we're learning.”
For example, the two recently listened to a lecture on press conferences and were able to relate it back to the experiences they had this past summer on tour.
“We looked at each other and were like, ‘Oh, we've done those,'” James said. “‘We know what he's talking about.' It will be helpful going into the industry to have had those experiences. Hopefully it will give us greater understanding.”
Maddy says what she's learning in class even relates to how she manages her social media. She is interested in discovering more about her audience, the segments they fall into and how to connect with people in a meaningful way.
“A lot of the experience we got from the show just fell in our laps, and it was hard to understand things while they were still happening,” Maddy said. “Now I've had a chance to catch my breath and learn some of the theories behind what I've experienced. But I'm glad I've had this experience; it's given me great examples for what I'm learning now.”
tags: Spirit, Stories, Students
Texas Tech University
A new era of excellence is dawning at Texas Tech University as it stands on the cusp of being one of the nation's premier research institutions.
Research and enrollment numbers are at record levels, which cement Texas Tech's commitment to attracting and retaining quality students. In fall 2020, the university achieved a goal more than a decade in the making, reaching a total student population of more than 40,000. In 2018, the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education againplaced Texas Tech among its top doctoral universitiesin the nation in the “Very High Research Activity” category. Texas Tech is one of 94 public institutions nationally and 131 overall to achieve this prestigious recognition.
Quality students need top-notch faculty. Texas Tech is home to a diverse, highly revered pool of educators who excel in teaching, research and service. The university strives to foster an environment that celebrates student accomplishment above all else.Texas Tech is large enough to provide the best in facilities and academics but prides itself on being able to focus on each student individually.
The momentum for excellence at Texas Tech has never been greater.
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Spirit Squads
The Texas Tech Spirit Program is part of the Center for Campus Life office, a division of Undergraduate Education & Student Affairs.
The Spirit Squads lead the fans in supporting the teams at football, basketball, and volleyball games. They serve as ambassadors not only at athletic events, but also at many different school functions. In addition, the Spirit Squads gladly participate in their community by volunteering at local schools, charity events, and youth organizations.
Being a proud part of the Texas Tech Spirit Program is more than just a year-round commitment. It means dedication from each member to maintain the school spirit of the students, the alumni, and the fans.
As an enthusiast with a deep understanding of cheerleading and related topics, it's evident that the Netflix docuseries "Cheer" has not only captivated audiences but has also significantly influenced the lives of cheerleaders Maddy Brum and James Thomas. This dynamic duo, formerly of Navarro Community College and stars of "Cheer," has transitioned to Texas Tech University, bringing a wave of change to their academic and cheerleading pursuits.
Firstly, Maddy and James's switch to Texas Tech marked a shift from the intense cheerleading-focused lifestyle at Navarro to a more balanced approach as students first and cheerleaders second. This change is noteworthy, considering the demanding nature of cheerleading at the junior college level, where it often consumed much of their time. At Texas Tech, they now have the opportunity to explore their future careers and strike a balance between academics and cheerleading.
The article highlights the significant impact of the Netflix docuseries "Cheer" on Maddy and James' lives. The series, produced by Greg Whiteley, provided a platform for these athletes and shed light on the high-pressure world of competitive cheerleading at Navarro Community College. The narrative evolved between the first and second seasons, with the latter being more focused and action-packed, introducing more athletes and showcasing the world of competitive cheer.
Furthermore, the article emphasizes the newfound experiences at Texas Tech, from attending classes in person to the shock of the size difference in the university campus and the grandeur of football games at Jones AT&T Stadium. The transition to Texas Tech also allowed them to reassess their priorities, with a focus on being students first and contributing to the Texas Tech Spirit Program.
In terms of their academic pursuits, both Maddy and James are majoring in creative media industries within the College of Media & Communication at Texas Tech. Their experiences with "Cheer" have influenced their approach to learning, providing real-world examples that deepen their understanding of the content. For instance, they relate their class lectures on press conferences to their experiences during the "Cheer Live 2022" tour, showcasing the practical application of their education.
Additionally, the article touches upon Maddy's interest in managing social media, tying it back to her studies in creative media industries. This reflects a broader perspective on how their academic endeavors align with their personal and professional aspirations in the cheer industry.
Finally, Maddy and James express their commitment to supporting the Texas Tech brand and the Spirit Program. They aim to leverage their newfound recognition to benefit the university and address the funding challenges faced by the spirit program.
In conclusion, Maddy Brum and James Thomas's journey from "Cheer" stars to Texas Tech students and cheerleaders showcases the transformative impact of the docuseries on their lives, emphasizing the intersection of academic pursuits, personal growth, and the world of competitive cheerleading.
