Editor's note: Blair Dunckel was first profiled in The State News on Oct. 12, 2004.
At Blair Dunckel's family's home, the MSU flag flies in the front yard — a white one for away football games, a green one for home games. His mother, Pat, a 1979 alumna, drives a car with a license plate that reads "MSU FAN," and his father's office is decorated in green and white.
"It's just a part of what we do," said Pat, who has bought football season tickets for almost 25 years.
But ever since 22-year-old Dunckel joined the MSU cheer team three years ago, it has been harder for his family to focus on the pigskin during MSU football games.
"I have to admit, there are times I'm watching the cheerleaders when I should probably be watching the game," Pat said.
Blair Dunckel stumbled into cheerleading after he felt something was missing in his life after graduating high school, said the park, recreation and tourism resources senior.
"It's hard to come to college and not have anything to do," said Dunckel, who played basketball and football while growing up.
In 2004, Dunckel followed a friend to an open workout for the cheer team.
"I tried it and ended up liking it — and have done it ever since," he said.
Plus, being a cheerleader has its perks. Dunckel has met sports celebrities, from famed commentator Dick Vitale to MSU basketball legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson.
This year, Dunckel appeared on television when he stood behind the ESPN College GameDay announcers with the rest of the cheer team.
During his three years on the team, Dunckel said he hasn't dealt with much narrow-mindedness from strangers about being a male cheerleader.
Instead, he said people are more impressed by his front-row seats at the games.
"Nobody really stereotypes it the way everybody thinks they would," he said. "Most guys would love to stand on the field in a football game."
In fact, the number of male cheerleaders has grown since Dunckel joined the team.
Before, only 13 or 14 men were on the cheer team, Dunckel said. Now, there's an equal number of men and women — 20 each.
"People on the team are bringing their friends in," Dunckel said. "It's starting to catch on a little more."
Just like any sport, cheerleading can be grueling, with weight training, 6 a.m. practices and injuries.
At the end of his first season, Dunckel injured his shoulder during an awkward toss and needed surgery.
"I'm just trying to keep it strong," he said. "I'm limited in what I can do. I can't cheer all the games."
But as he continues physical therapy, he'll see one more football season before he graduates in December.
After that, Dunckel has eyed other possibilities to cheer beyond college, perhaps for the Detroit Pistons basketball team, which has slots for male cheerleaders.
"It's all going to depend where I am with my career and how my shoulder holds up," Dunckel said.
