In the beginning, it was just a lot of yelling. But cheerleading has evolved since students in raccoon coats first started sis-boom-bahing. Sideline leaps and chants have become part of genuine competitions showcasing serious athleticism. And those contests have expanded from the United States to the rest of the world. Now comes news that cheerleading has received provisional recognition by the International Olympic Committee, a pinnacle in its history, which dates to the 1800s. Here’s a look back, and ahead, at the world of cheerleading.
What is considered the very first college football game, between Rutgers and the College of New Jersey (now Princeton), takes place in New Brunswick, N.