It has been a wild month for Auburn: 3 straight wins to finish the regular season, 3 straight wins to clinch an SEC tourney title, and then a 2-PT loss to Yale in the NCAA tourney last Friday. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Auburn cheerleader Millie Smoke about her team’s remarkable run.
You are from Birmingham, AL: what made you choose Auburn? I do not remember a day in my life where I was NOT a die-hard Auburn fan. From a very young age, I was dressed in Auburn clothes/hats/cheerleading uniforms. Being the 4th child in my family I have always looked up to my older siblings, all of whom attended Auburn before me and had the most incredible experiences. When it came time for me to consider my dreams for a college experience, I could not help but apply to Auburn: first and foremost…and nowhere else! I am so thankful that I made this choice and am so blessed to attend such an outstanding university.
You are majoring in exercise science with a minor in sport coaching: why did you choose those subjects? I have always been fascinated by anything in the medical world. Growing up highly involved in the sports world as a competitive gymnast, I had my fair share of visits to the doctor, orthopedist, and physical therapy clinics. I had great relationships with my doctors/physical therapists and gained so much knowledge from them. When I applied to Auburn, I knew I was interested in the medical field but was unsure of the exact major for me. As I dove deeper into many options for a career path, I landed on the desire to be a physical therapist. I decided to take the route of majoring in Exercise Science and will apply to graduate programs for a DPT sometime soon!
You are a junior: what is the post-graduation plan? Like I mentioned before, my plan is to graduate in the spring of 2025 and then attend graduate school to pursue a doctorate in physical therapy. While I am unsure of where I will get my degree or where I will live, I am sure of my passion to do physical therapy for a living. I would deeply enjoy getting to work with athletes, helping them functionally feel better and return to full performance in their sport.
1 of your hobbies is making delicious/nutritious foods: what is your specialty? I highly prioritize my nutrition and health. I have noticed, especially during college, that when I eat better I feel better. My very favorite meal to cook at home is a simple sheet-pan of veggies paired with either quinoa or cauliflower rice, topped with a nicely-seasoned, air-fried salmon filet or grilled chicken breast for dinner.
What was your favorite memory from this season: beating Alabama at home in February, beating Georgia on Senior Night, winning the SEC tourney, other? Every single Auburn victory is a blessing and amazing memory to be a part of. However, out of those 3, my very favorite would have to be the SEC Championship game in Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. It was truly something special: a one-of-a-kind type of experience that I will cherish forever. I feel incredibly thankful that I got to watch our Tigers win that SEC title! I have never seen first-hand more Auburn excitement/joy/pride/spirit than I did that day.
How does your school decide who gets to go to the NCAA tourney, and what will it mean to you to see your team doing its thing in front of a national TV audience? Our spirit coordinator, Ms. Latisha Durroh, plans and coordinates which cheerleaders go on which trips. She does this based on seniority, along with our individual participation during appearances out in the Auburn community and on campus. Every time I am asked to cheer at an event like the NCAA tournament, I am reminded how great of a gift Auburn Cheerleading is and how great an honor it is!
This is your school’s 3rd NCAA tourney in a row: did you get to cheer in Greenville in 2022/Birmingham in 2023? I made the Auburn Cheerleading squad last spring. As a first-year cheerleader, it has been a blast to get to travel to some of our men’s/women’s basketball tournaments! Last spring, I attended the NCAA tourney in Birmingham as a fan…and was unfortunately heartbroken to see our guys’ season come to such an abrupt end (a 2nd-round loss to Houston)!
Does your squad have anything extra-special planned for the postseason? I am currently at the 1st 4 in Storrs, CT, with the travel squad to cheer on our women’s basketball team in the NCAA tourney. We had a free day to spend in Boston, which was a very fun and new experience for me!
Your sister Izzy is married to Oregon QB Bo Nix: what is he like, and how excited is everyone for the NFL draft next month? Bo is an incredible football player in my opinion, but an even better husband to my sister and brother-in-law to me. He has placed the Kingdom of God at the top of his agenda and loves/prioritizes the people in his life. He also works insanely hard and is more dedicated to the sport of football more than anyone else I know. He is driven/disciplined/resilient and I am so excited for what is in store for him and Izzy in the next stage of their lives!
How did you feel about Auburn’s performance last weekend? I always have faith in our Tigers. In a perfect world, Auburn would go all the way and win it all. However, win or lose, I am their #1 fan both on and off the court and am so honored to get to cheer them on in March: War Eagle!