By Kylie Metzler

Messenger Staff Member

As the start of football season begins at Placer High School, rally girls can be found at the sidelines of each game. They may have been created to put pep into a football player’s step, but others may argue that they are causing a commotion.

A rally girl signs up to make a bundle of gifts for varsity football players and makes signs to support them at their game.  Although you can voluntarily sign up to be a rally girl, it is limited to girls only. Recently, people have began to wonder as to why guys are unable to sign up.

“We’ve tried it before, but nobody ever really goes for it”, admitted leadership teacher Mike Sabins when asked about the topic of rally boys.

Another issue going around campus is that of football players referring to their assigned rally girls in ways that could be seen as demeaning or sexist. Unfortunately, some students feel that these accusations make the idea of rally girls as a whole unnecessary.

Sophomore Natalia Avalos emphasized, “I don’t think there should be rally anything. I have heard football players and other girls in general make vulgar comments about the rally girls.” Avalos further stated, “You have to shower them with gifts basically. And why can’t guys sign up?”

Although the idea of rally girls seems to be receiving some negative backlash, others truly believe that the concept of rally girls is great as a whole.

“No, I haven’t heard anything bad. I just hear them talk about how they’re so happy that they get the little baskets that we give them”, revealed Charlotte Vandagriff, a rally girl. “I just think they feel more special when they get a basket from a girl,” Vandagriff added.

There is also minor speculation about how much money the rally girls spend on the basket they make. The average amount spent by rally girls is fourteen dollars.

Compared to the rest of the student body, the football players themselves may have an entirely different perspective.

“No, I don’t think they’re demeaning. There could even be rally boys, maybe for the girls sports”, mentioned junior varsity football player Kabongo Scott.

Whether you feel indifferent, upset, or happy about the idea of rally girls, they appear to be here to stay and they may evolve over time. Sabins reassured, “We want it to be a positive thing.”