Pittsburgh Steelerettes
Encyclopedia
The Pittsburgh Steelerettes were a cheerleading
squad in the National Football League
, serving as the cheerleaders for the Pittsburgh Steelers
during the 1960s. The squad eventually disbanded, and the Steelers to this day are among the few NFL teams that do not have cheerleaders.
From their beginning in 1961
until their demise in 1969
, all members of the Steelerettes were full-time students at Robert Morris Junior College
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
. Robert Morris was a small Junior College without a football team who had unofficially adopted the Steelers as "their team". An administrator at the College, William Day, also served as the entertainment coordinator for the Steelers. It was his idea to hold tryouts at the College and select a group of young coeds to perform on the field.
By the late 60s, Robert Morris' student body had grown and the school now had its own football team. The decision to disband was a joint decision between the Rooney family
and Robert Morris. The last squad of Steelerettes left the field after the 1969 season
, the first year of Hall of Famers
head coach Chuck Noll
and defensive tackle "Mean Joe" Greene
.
While the team still does not have cheerleaders, in 2007
the team unveiled the next-closest thing to cheerleaders: mascot
Steely McBeam.
Cheerleading
Cheerleading is a physical activity, sometimes a competitive sport, based on organized routines, usually ranging from one to three minutes, which contain the components of tumbling, dance, jumps, cheers, and stunting to direct spectators of events to cheer on sports teams at games or to participate...
squad in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
, serving as the cheerleaders for the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
during the 1960s. The squad eventually disbanded, and the Steelers to this day are among the few NFL teams that do not have cheerleaders.
From their beginning in 1961
1961 Pittsburgh Steelers season
-Schedule:- Week 1 : Dallas Cowboys :at Cotton Bowl, Dallas, Texas* Game time:* Game weather:* Game attendance: 23,500* Referee:* TV announcers:Scoring Drives:...
until their demise in 1969
1969 Pittsburgh Steelers season
The 1969 Pittsburgh Steelers is what many consider to be the turning point of this once-moribund franchise. 1969 was the first season for Hall of Fame head coach Chuck Noll, the first season for defensive lineman "Mean Joe" Greene and L. C...
, all members of the Steelerettes were full-time students at Robert Morris Junior College
Robert Morris University
Robert Morris University is a private, coeducational university in suburban Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1921, the school was named for Robert Morris, who signed the Declaration of Independence, and helped finance the ensuing war with the British.-History:Robert Morris...
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. Robert Morris was a small Junior College without a football team who had unofficially adopted the Steelers as "their team". An administrator at the College, William Day, also served as the entertainment coordinator for the Steelers. It was his idea to hold tryouts at the College and select a group of young coeds to perform on the field.
By the late 60s, Robert Morris' student body had grown and the school now had its own football team. The decision to disband was a joint decision between the Rooney family
Rooney family
The Rooney family has been the majority owners and operators of the Pittsburgh Steelers football team in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania since the formation of the franchise in 1933. Art Rooney was the founder and owner of the team until his death in 1988; ownership of the team was then transferred to...
and Robert Morris. The last squad of Steelerettes left the field after the 1969 season
1969 Pittsburgh Steelers season
The 1969 Pittsburgh Steelers is what many consider to be the turning point of this once-moribund franchise. 1969 was the first season for Hall of Fame head coach Chuck Noll, the first season for defensive lineman "Mean Joe" Greene and L. C...
, the first year of Hall of Famers
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
head coach Chuck Noll
Chuck Noll
Charles Henry "Chuck" Noll is a former professional American football player and coach, and a member of the Sid Gillman coaching tree. He served most notably as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League from 1969 to 1991...
and defensive tackle "Mean Joe" Greene
Joe Greene (American football)
Charles Edward Greene, known as “Mean Joe” Greene, is a former all-pro American football defensive tackle who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL. Throughout the early 1970s he was the one of most dominant defensive players in the National Football League...
.
While the team still does not have cheerleaders, in 2007
2007 Pittsburgh Steelers season
The 2007 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the 75th season of the Steelers franchise. The season saw the team improve upon their 8–8 record from 2006, finish with a record of 10–6, and win the AFC North Division...
the team unveiled the next-closest thing to cheerleaders: mascot
Mascot
The term mascot – defined as a term for any person, animal, or object thought to bring luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name...
Steely McBeam.