When Michael Galyean danced in front of 105,000 spectators at the University of Tennessee stadium on October 29, 2022, he never would have imagined that his boyhood dream would come true.
Galyean wanted to stay a cheerleader in high school, but he was unable to do so. He finally got his chance almost twenty years after graduating from high school,
when he was invited to surprise the audience at a football game with a dance performance by the University of Tennessee dance team.
It would be an understatement to say that Galyean posted this on Instagram, calling it ‘a dream come true,’ and it has received over 45,000 views.
Galyean described his experience in the caption, writing, ‘I applied to and got admitted to Tennessee and Kentucky,
and I chose these institutions purely on the basis of their cheerleading programs. When I visited UT,
I still recall saying to myself, ‘I’m choosing UT because I’m gonna cheer on those sidelines one day,’
as I rounded the corner of campus and saw the enormous Neyland Stadium. I never went out for the squad as a timid, insecure freshman, and I’ve always regretted not achieving my boyhood goal.’
Galyean admitted to Newsweek that the University cheerleaders intimidated him. ‘I knew every cheerleader in the state and then to just see the beast that is [University of Tennesee] cheerleading,
I just went, ‘OK this isn’t for me,’’ said the man. Galyean completed her education, obtained employment, and temporarily put her cheerleading career on hold.
One of his college dancing classes is part of his further training. He stated that in 2021, he lost his job in retail, having worked there for more than 20 years.
That was when Galyean knew it was time to start after his interests. ‘So, I’ve spent the last year just throwing darts, whether it’s been the TV work that we have here in Knoxville,
in front of and behind the camera, trying different things,’ he explained. ‘I host events around town, I work with different dance outlets.’
Galyean knew that Kelley Tafazzoli, the Spirit Program Director of the dance team, was looking for ways to improve the fan experience because they had worked together.
‘The UT Spirit Program contacted me to let me know that they were thinking of doing a ‘little’ including acting and dancing during the upcoming game,
and that I was the first person that came to mind. In the Instagram post, he said, ‘I said… say less.’ He laughed and continued,
‘Kelley just knew that I have a history of being a showboat.’ ‘I guess she felt comfortable that I would do the role well and with respect.’
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