We spent the day at in Strahan Coliseum with the UCA and UDA college staff as they polished and prepped their demo routine for the season kick-off. The first of the summer, the pressure's on to build a routine that makes a lasting impression. Here's a look at Day 0, the final day of practice.

We will LIVE-STREAM the routine today at 1:00PM CST--don't miss it!

The demo connects cheer and dance together, coed and all-girl… Every facet of what you would see at a game day is represented here, and you're going to see them perform as one team. - John White, Director of College Programs

8:00AM:

You can hear the musical sound of alarms dinging in unison in the dorms at Texas State. It's time for the UCA & UDA college staff to put on their practice wear and prepare for the first full-out routine of the summer. Muscles are sore, spirits are high and there's no time to waste. The demos will be performed in front of hundreds of college athletes, marking the beginning of a new season.

9:00AM:

A sea of colorful university team t-shirts slowly wander around the big blue mat in the middle of the gymnasium floor. The athletes are stretching and warming up for walk-throughs. Staff has been prepping for days to perfect their performance. Today, it will all come together.

10:00AM:

Stunts are in the air and baskets are flying. Skills are looking good, and the groups are working out the kinks. The room is filled with energy and a little bit of fun--it's almost time to go all out.

11:00AM:

WOW--the staff has already perfected most of the routine! The pyramids are new and impressive, and the baskets look really sharp. The dance staff is cleaning up their performance in the upper gym, and will join the cheer staff after lunch for a run-through. 

BREAK TIME!

The Gatorade station is busy; the staff are ready for a well-deserved break. It's lunch time on Day 0. The cheerleaders and dancers rush out the doors to grab a bite and recharge--the most difficult part of the day is right around the corner. Tony, Jeff and the rest of the camp leaders have high expectations.

2:00PM:

After a few laps around the gym and some time to stretch, the staff are back and ready to roll. Partners warm up their stunts and groups regain their focus. It's go-time.

3:40PM:

APPLAUSE for a nearly perfect full out! After some challenging moments and adjustments to the routine, things are really coming together. The vibe is intense; there's a lot of pressure to hit.

5:59PM:

The sun is going down and there's no time to make changes to the routine. It's time to build presence and confidence. The UDA staff are now on the front line performing their hearts out, and the routine is starting to look like an impressive performance that's been in the works for months.

We're ending on a good note tonight. I think everyone should feel pretty confident heading into Day 1!" -- Joshua Baker, UCA Staff & UK Cheerleader