Over the River and Through the Woods to…

the Associates Network Coliseum?

Story and photos by Samurai Raider Raiderdrive.com/BayAreaSportsdrive

April 27, 2003

Remember singing “over the river and through the woods to Grandmother’s house we go” as you took that long-anticipated journey to visit that little gray-haired old lady?  Can you recall the unforgettable image of her garbed in that flannel dress, her quaint little slippers, her hair tied up in a neat bun, cooking over an open stove, with streams of smoke curling in the air like misty spaghetti?

Well, for one soon-to-be born child, the trip to Grandmother’s might be quite different.  It might entail battling freeway traffic on the way to the  Network Associates Coliseum in Oakland, CA.  And if the fates shine down favorably, when this child, due this coming November, sees Grandma, the latter will be sporting silver and black, and wearing white boots; and it will be her black flowing hair that will be swirling in the air as she cheers for the home football team.  Yep, this Grandma might be a Raiderette!

It is perhaps symbolic that--now that her first grandchild will soon be born--the forty-year-old Kathy Ferrin is looking forward to the re-birth of her Raiderette career.  Even before the former 1986 LA Raiders cheerleader knew that she would be a grandmother, she was preparing to break the stereotype associated with aging.  This year, Kathy had planned to attend the tryouts with daughter Karrah to fulfill her dream to be both a mom and a Raiderette big sister to her daughter should they both make the squad.

However, when her daughter became pregnant, it was time for Plan B.  And just as many moms,

 especially when they become grandmas, often take the place of their daughters to maintain family traditions, Kathy decided to go it alone and try out for the 2003 squad--without her daughter by her side. Kathy was really hoping that she and and her daughter both would do a mother-daughter routine.  “But I’m now going to be a grandmother," she explained, "so I decided to still come, and come as a grandma instead of mom-daughter.”

But to tryout again for the Raiderettes was not a spur of the moment decision for Kathy.  It  had been brewing ever since the2002 tryouts last May, when she was there to watch the auditions.  It did not take long before she was volunteering her time and energy to help the hopeful candidates polish their dance routines.  She became excited watching the girls and just wanted to pitch in and help them out.  “That’s what started it up all over again for me being here [ 2003] with all the energy," Kathy explained, "and I knew I was going to come back next year.”  

Of course, the last time Kathy had auditioned was back in1986; thus it would be quite natural for her to have been apprehensive.  “I really wasn’t nervous until I got here,” Kathy said in reference to the 2003 tryouts held at the Oakland Airport Hilton.  “It was kind of funny…because it had been seventeen years since I had felt that feeling in my stomach again.  When I got here and saw all the beautiful women and that I was actually going to be up there and doing it…the feelings go through you again.”

Aside from the thrill of regenerating those feelings, what else motivates a forty-year-old mother, and soon-to-be grandmother,  to put this kind of

 pressure on herself again and compete against some women half her age?

“What motivates me really is that now I am actually in the time in my life where I can really come out and enjoy it and really appreciate it and go back and be in front of the fans.  I wanted to wait until my daughter actually grew up; and I do thank God that I still have my health and my youth and I am able to do it at my age, come back and show up.  And really to appreciate the whole thing.” 

Back in 1986, Kathy was working full time and trying to take care of her daughter along with many other personal issues.  But now, she feels that she “can really devote time” to giving it her all.

At age twenty-four, when she first became a Raiderette, Kathy began her serious phase of physical training and dancing, activities she has stayed with right up to the present time.  So, when it comes to the rigors of cheerleading in the NFL, Kathy declared, "I’ve missed it ever since, and I knew one day that I would come out here again."

To come out at age forty and be able to relate to some of the younger women, and to act as youthful and as energetic as they are, and to show the same enthusiasm, certainly makes a statement about the aging process and shatters the stereotype about being too old to engage in certain activities.  In fact, she gives younger women an image to emulate.

Kathy has strong sentiments on the subject of aging and being a role model:  “I think it is a wonderful thing…to let them know that it doesn’t matter how old you are.  If you’re able to go out and do it and to be able to perform.  And I think it is something to be said about maturity, also, to be able to go out and have the maturity and be able to conduct yourself in a more mature  way.  I think it’s wonderful and I think it’s something that they would look up to; and hopefully they would be able to do it themselves.”

It is no accident that the younger women at the tryouts seemed to gravitate around Kathy, who works as a loan consultant.  “I’m not threatening…I look at them and I talk to them and I communicate with them.  And I make them feel very comfortable.  And I’m very open with them, so they do seem to come over to me and feel very comfortable with me because there is not that…competition--well there is…" Kathy trailed off with the implication that the younger women saw her more as a mentor than a competitor, even though they would be fighting for a space on the squad.

Still in the role of a consultant, Kathy was available whenever the younger women wanted come to her and talk to her and get her advice.  "I guess that’s still part of being a mother.  My gosh, these girls are my daughter’s age.  I feel like I’m looking at all my daughters,” she admitted with a knowing laugh.

As far as being a mother figure and a grandmother figure, Kathy concluded:  “I think that’s a wonderful concept, 

Whether Kathy once again becomes a Raiderette is not as important as the example that she will be setting for women her age and for her grandchild, who will one day learn that this Grandma has set the standard of family values for both this grandchild and her mom to learn and live by.  

Now that Karrah will soon be a mother herself and will have to demonstrate a measure of independence, will the nineteen year old be able to handle the responsibility? Kathy has supreme faith in her daughter:

 “Love and family is where all is rooted and established in life; therefore, I know she will be okay.  I am not a mother so much any more, but a friend.  Now the grandmother in me can flourish, and I know the mother in me--the discipline--has paid off.  Now I can be a grandmother, and I know my daughter will listen wholeheartedly.  She knows that I will always be there, and our roots will be instilled in her and my grandchild forever.”

Kathy concluded with this message to her daughter: "Karrah, never forget your family and the values that have been taught to you, as this will allow you to pass on the simple things that mean so much in life.  Love, Mom/Grandma.”

Now, that is some motherly/grandmotherly advice we can all live and profit by!

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