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Long
leads more than cheers A potato blocking Super Frog’s airway meant opportunity for cheerleader and graduate student Carl Long. Head cheerleading coach Jeff Tucker said Long finds opportunity in every challenge he faces in life. During breakfast one morning on the trip to Annapolis, Md. for TCU’s football game against Navy in September, Long was able to save Super Frog’s life when he choked on a piece of potato.
“Everyone around (Super Frog) backed away and wasn’t able to do anything, but Carl was already giving him the Heimlich (maneuver) before I even looked to see what was going on,” Tucker said. “That’s the kind of person Carl is though. You’re always well in hand when he’s around.” Long, 22, graduated from TCU in May 2000 with a degree in history and a minor in special education. Tucker said it’s obvious by his chosen career path about what kind of person Long is. “I’m glad there are people out there like him,” Tucker said. “He’s patient and methodical. I know there’s no such thing as 110 percent, but if there were, he would give it.” To say that Long, a native of Anchorage, Alaska, has adjusted well to Texas would be an understatement, Tucker said. “When I came here, I just did what I wanted to do,” Long said. “Cheerleading has been so completely different from anything else I’ve tried.” Long also has found other activities on campus that he has devoted his efforts toward. He said he considers joining the TCU cheerleading squad to be one of the best things he’s ever done. He has been the vice-president of Programming Council, an Orientation Student Assistant, a resident assistant, vice-president and co-founder of Pi Kappa Phi, and two years after joining, he is a co-captain of the co-ed cheerleading squad. “Carl is someone I would vote for Senate or Congress,” Tucker said. “He’s someone people naturally pick to follow.” Being a solid leader is especially important to cheerleading, as the basis of the sport is all about the presentation. “He doesn’t just try to look good, he’s a true performer,” Tucker said. “What I really love is that he’s never publicly complained about anything, and that’s a reason why people look up to him.” One experience Long recalls as a stand-out performance was during a cheering duel in the football game against Southern Methodist in November. “It was absolutely amazing out-cheering (SMU),” Long said. “I’m incredibly proud that we were able to show off our hard work during the game.” Having hard work pay off is just one benefit Long reaps as a result of his accomplishments. Long said he doesn’t consider the positive results of his hard work as benefits. “I just do what I do,” Long said. “I don’t multi-task because I need to focus on one thing at a time, no matter what it takes. I also have great friends who put up with me.” I feel lucky I’m able to have so much. It’s really difficult to balance everything.” But the balancing act that is Long’s life, includes welcomed challenges. When Long first began cheerleading he said that the physical demands were his greatest personal challenges. “It’s a hard thing to master, and not every guy can do it,” Long said. “The exclusivity makes it like our own fraternity, yet the relationships are still that of teammates.” Out of all the male cheerleaders, Tucker said Long’s athleticism is one of the best he’s seen. “He is (physically tough) and is very resilient,” Tucker said. “He also puts safety first, and that must be a dream for his (stunting) partner.” Long’s stunting partner DeDe Cullum, a junior elementary special education major, said she feels safe in Long’s hands. “He’s aware of the dangers that are involved with the difficulty of our stunts,” Cullum said. “But I know he would sacrifice himself before he’d let me get hurt. We have a solid trust.” Although Long’s life is full of challenges, Tucker said his need to experience all that life has to offer him is unique. Long plans on receiving his graduate degree in secondary education in May. Although Long’s college life will end soon, his quest for making the best out of every opportunity seems endless. Colleen
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