They say, ‘don’t mess with Texas,’ and it appears that goes double for Texas’s professional football traditions. The Dallas Cowboys, “America’s team,” apparently value tradition above all and don’t change all willy-nilly (which might explain why they’ve spent almost 30 years without winning a Super Bowl; tradition!).
And when one of their cheerleaders decided to put her hair up in a ponytail during practice, that innocent hairdo caused a tizzy.
Faith Ward, a rookie on the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader squad, broke ranks and turned heads during training camp when she wore her hair in a slicked-back ponytail. Usually, members of DCC wear their hair down, showcasing that traditional, large Texas hair that the cheerleaders are known for.
Fans were so taken aback by Ward’s ponytail that they flooded her social media with questions about why she was able to wear her hair up.
It was the DCC’s head's decision.
Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader Defends ‘Controversial’ Ponytail
"It's crazy because obviously the DCC hairstyle is out, fluffy, voluminous, luscious, long locks. I've broken that stereotype," Ward told ABC Perth. She then explained that Kelli Finglass, the Director of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleading squad, was the one who proposed that Ward put her hair up.
“So, I'm in rehearsal one of the days with my hair out and I am, you know, sweating after doing [AC/DC’s] 'Thunderstruck'," said Ward. “[Finglass’s] looking at me and she's like, 'You know what? I really want to see what your hair would look like tied up.'"
"I put it up for her and she really liked the way it danced, which was really cool because I was super excited about that," said Ward. "Your girl doesn't want to have her hair out, sweaty in her face [while] dancing."
Finglass continued to support this hairstyle as Ward went in for uniform fittings. “I walk in and she goes, 'You're giving Ariana Grande! Like, we need an Ariana Grande moment on the team," said Faith. “’Are you serious right now, Kelli? Like this is so exciting!' She's like, 'Yeah, but I want your ponytail longer, I want it blonder and then I want to see a cameo day where I prefer you be with your hair out."
So, the ponytail isn’t permanent. Ward said she waited to address the fan backlash because of the temporary status of her hairstyle.
"So right now, it's looking very hopeful that I will be a DCC with a ponytail,” she added. “But, we still have to keep an open mind to the possibility that I could be going back to be hair out. So we can't get too excited yet!”
Football fans got a glimpse of the rigorous rules and regulations governing the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders in America’s Sweethearts, a Netflix series offering a behind-the-scenes look at the famous squad.
The Cowboys’ preseason kicks off on Aug. 9 with a match against the Los Angeles Rams. The regular season begins with a Sept. 4 clash with the defending Super Bowl champions, the Philadelphia Eagles. The Cowboys’ home opener takes place on Sept. 14 when they host the New York Giants.