Cal State Long Beach cheerleading team stripped of title amid cheating scandal [Updated]

[Corrected, 5:30 p.m.: A previous version of this post misspelled the word "cheerleading" in the headline.]

The Cal State Long Beach cheerleading team forfeited its national title and its coach was fired after an administrator discovered that a former student competed with the team, officials said Wednesday.

The nationally recognized team competed April 9 and 10 at the National Cheerleaders Assn.’s competition in Daytona Beach, Fla., and won the title for its division.

But the non-student who competed had graduated in December and was ineligible to participate, said Christina L. Esparza, communications coordinator for Associated Students Inc. at Cal State Long Beach.

The non-student’s participation was revealed after the team’s advisor noticed him while watching a video of the performance.

The school has terminated its contract with Coach Eric Anderson, who had been with the team for 10  years, Esparza said.

“It’s unfortunate,” she said. “The team is a fantastic team, and I believe we would have won the championship anyway.... I just hope we come back strong.”

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-- Paloma Esquivel

Comments

[Stephanie]

I am not commenting on the article itself. However, I am commenting of some of the not so comments directed toward cheerleading as a whole. As a mother of a Liberty University cheerleader and one that was a part of a 5 time state championship team, you people have no clue how athletic these kids are! We are not in the era of sideline cheerleading of waving pom-poms around.

My daughter is all of 5'2" and one of the fittest people I know. She can partner stunt a girl her own size unassisted. That is pretty darn athletic to me. They have extreme stunting that they have to learn, tumbling classes, practices, and very rigorous workouts on a daily basis just to prepare for games outside of competition.

There are also injuries that come with cheerleading as well. Again, my daughter has had 2 concussions, shin splints, torn ligaments, and elbow hyperextensions. This was all with her feet on the ground. Some have suffered lots worse.

Cheerleading is athletic and is a sport! The only thing that has held them back from being recognized by the NCAA as a sport is that it does not have consistant regulations across the board. Examples would be that rules everywhere are not the same and some schools have different competition seasons.

These kids need the credit and support that they deserve. So please, enough with the negative comments about cheerleading.

[elizabeth Barra]

The really sad part is that the coach may have thought the kid was still eligible because requirements were met in December but graduation was in May. Did the kid "graduate" early or just finish his/her requirements for graduation early?...and then to be politically correct and fire a coach who has done so much for the school and built up such a good team- I betcha the case is that the coach thought the kid was still eligible...and the political climate took over where the coach was wronged and the administration had no guts to take a true stand.

[Stan]

This story is similar to one of BYI basketball team having its best player quit.

[ex-Cheer Sponsor and Cheer Mom]

As an ex-sponsor, I would have known before we competed this person wan't eligiable.....so why just fire the coach? Football and basketball coaches have done worse and not gotten fired....oh thats different because it is not a "SPORT" right? Let me tell you folks that think it is not a sport.....these people work hard physically training just as hard as everything else called a sport and should be recognized as a sport. Anyone who thinks it isn't, is just selfish, stupid and a moron. Hours of working out, running and practicing like any other sport. Do I think the coach messed up, yes. But so did the sponsor. Firing is a bit hasty....but both should be fired because the sponsor should of known their team!

[Cheergrl]

Its really sad cus cheerleading is an awsome SPORT.... :|

[Susan]

You people who don't have a clue or don't care should keep your mouths and posts to yourselves. As the mother of a competitive cheerleader who went to College on a Athletic and academic Scholarship, competitve cheeerleaders work extremely hard if not harder than other athletes in order to win National titles. I also have sons that played baseball, football and wrestled. My sons worked extremely hard on there on there sports. My daughters teams worked there buts off to get ready for all ther competitons. The thing is there are many college teams for guys that have treied to get away with cheating but you don't hear about that very often, So please don't make comments about things you don't have clue about. Have a great day .

[toobad4u]

this isn't Ohio State, is it!!!

[michael]

The real news here is the integrity of the School. I would want my kids to go to a school where right is actually right, not left.

[bill jablonski]

Rear Eric
Thank you for recollecting errors that have been made when, :it was thought to be right" Your not alone in this way and there are numerous 12 step programs that one can find highly rewarding from constant effort. Perhaps you like self have become ,"complaceint " before. If one thought Sheen /Lohan may be met it cant be all that negative;there is growth if one gets honest.
The School Board follows directions and the examle/decision is the orderly way,may you have your own in the future..

[Mary]

It is refreshing to see that at least one administrator in the university system has some intergerity. Now if only football, basketball, etc. would follow.

[Ports]

This is ridiculous. There should have been no disqualification. The person is a student until he/she actually walks with his / her classs at graduation. My son also was not allowed to actually graduate until he got his diploma in May.
Change the stupid rules!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Aerielle]

I don't understand why this is a big deal if they walk in spring, although finished w/ classes in December.. lame rule.

[Bruce Cortez]

When ethics and honesty are seen to have more value, and are more important than an award, to me that's the win.

Individuals, and groups cheating are seen as the norm. When people make the effort to correct a wrong, and give credit to the real winning team, that won without cheating, we should all take notice of how hard it was to be honest.

I would be proud to have my child associating with an organization that teaches and encourages doing what's right, even when it's not always the easiest thing to do.

[JUSTAMOM]

I agree with the cheer coach. If you are not interested why bother to make a tacky comment. If only you knew the hours spent and the training these cheerleaders (both male and female) go thru to learn routines and perform in the professional manner they show. I am the mother of two cheerleaders in high school and I know how this must have been the hardest thing the squad could do. Shame on you tacky posters, just go out and try some of their routine and see if you breathe hard or sweat a little.

[ryder daneils]

wow i bet the guy who was cheating is really sry now!!!lol not!!!!!!!!!

[candice]

Nice post CheerCoach. It is true if you don't care then why did you even bother to comment. The student should have been allowed to compete because competitions do not coincide with semesters. As long as the student attended classes that school year, they should be eligible to compete. They worked hard to get where they are and to have a competition after their graduation date and say that they are ineligible, it not just. To make things fair competitions should be held in the beginning of the school year!

[kismag]

This is a perfect example of extreme legalism.

[N K A]

Eric's been cheating for YEARS...he just finally got caught...

[kismag]

Ah, and yes, why the „advisor” who discovered the „cheat”, didn’t this before and not after? And where were the authorities of the college and the tournament?

[Robert Lothrop]

What was the real problem here? Division 1 College athletes have been competing in sports and not going to school for as long as I can remember.Couldn't the kid have enrolled in an on-line graduate level bee-keeping course after the fact? Her again, it's been happening with college athletes forever

[JRH]

First of all, if you don't know the sport (yes sport) then you should keep your opinion to yourself. The ladies and gentlemen involved in the sport do more conditioning, practicing and have higher standards than any other sport.
Second of all, good for Cal State Long Beach for taking action. Many sports teams would have overlooked the student and kept the title.

People care because this article shows that there are still some out there that are doing the right thing.

[formercheermom]

I can't believe that sooooo many people claim they do not care about this story but sooo many of you have commented!
My daughter was a cheerleading for JV N Varsity for her high school and their team was AWESOME and won numerous local and state championships! I think cheerleading is a dangerous "SPORT". I challenge any none believer to be thrown in the air and trust that the people below will caught you without hitting the ground!
There's alot of time, effort, trust and practice that goes into any cheerleading team.

[catt]

okaay. that's cheating. people dont think its a big deal because they aren't/weren't cheerleaders. if you were a cheerleader you would be pissed and disappointed. im a cheerleader and this upsets me, alot. cheerleaders are nothing like they are portrayed in movies like bring it on.

[Kaitlyn]

Just because somebody is not interested in the rather meaningless cheerleading forfeit because they broke the rules doesn't mean they're not interested in making a post about how such articles shouldn't make the front page. Learn how to deal with opposing opinions and quit trying to shelter yourself by asking them not to post because you personally don't want to read it.

I find it hard to believe that all the cheerleaders didn't notice. "Oh hey... didn't you graduate in December?" The cheerleaders should know their team as well as the rules. Not to mention the actual member herself who had graduated and continued to compete.

I don't mind cheerleading not being seen as a real sport. Not sure why so many people here are getting so bitter and worked up, saying, "go try it yourself and see how easy it is!!!" Nobody has said it is easy, but just because something makes you sweat and has a degree of difficultly doesn't suddenly mean it should become a sport and that other factors shouldn't be considered. For instance, cheerleading is way too subjective in terms of scoring.

[Chell]

To those of you who are saying "Who Cares? Its just cheerleading. Its not like its a real sport." , are missing the point!

They not only admitted, but corrected a wrong doing. Has the whole point of honorability and honesty vanished from the world? No. Perhaps our politicians and the CEOs of major companies should take a page out of this schools book.