Charlotte Health & Fitness Magazine

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Are You Ready For Some Football!
by Debbie A. Crawford, MA, NCC
September, 05

Panther’s season is underway. And as waves of blue and black clad fans wind their way into Bank of America Stadium, we thought we would take a different look at some of the names and faces behind the gridiron action.

The Carolina Panthers organization is a massive compilation of players, coaches, trainers, management, cheerleaders, and a whole host of others. And while football is their common thread, it only begins to tell the story of the unique individuals who make up the whole.

So, enjoy this closer look at a player, a cheerleader and one member of the corporate side of things. I think you’ll find there’s a whole lot more to these folks than meets the eye.

The Player
It’s hard to know where to begin with 25-year old Adam Johnson, a long snapper in his second season with the Carolina Panthers. He personifies “well-rounded” and mixes it with “genuinely nice guy”. He is an accomplished athlete with a diverse background in several sports, devoted to his family, his faith and to education.

So, you’re probably thinking this guy can’t be “all that”. There must be something weird hidden deep inside, right? Oh, there is. But I’m not telling yet.

Born in Knoxville, TN and raised mostly in Los Angeles, CA, where sun, surfing and sports are way of life, Adam is the first born of two Johnson children, with a 21-year old sister who is currently attending University of Mississippi and studying meteorology.

The value on sports and education runs strong is this family, which Adam attributes to his parents. His mom is a teacher. And his dad coached him all throughout his childhood.

Perhaps it’s his mom’s influence or maybe his competitive nature that has fueled his academic achievements. Adam has earned both a BA in political science and his Masters in Higher Education, posting a 3.8 GPA. And he is only a dissertation away from earning his doctorate.

His love of sports, particularly football, is shared with several branches of the family tree. His uncle, Bob Johnson, was a first-round (second overall) draft pick for the Cincinnati Bengals in 1968. And his dad and two uncles played center for the University of Tennessee.

And while Adam’s most obvious sports achievements have been in football, he has been competitive in more than a few others. At Etiwanda High School, 30 miles east of LA, he played football, basketball, tennis and golf. In fact, he started his school’s golf team and played in the high school all-star Hula Bowl in Hawaii. And like any other California kid, Adam dabbled in surfing.

“Right now golf is my number one hobby,” he admits. “I try to play as much as possible. I’m extremely competitive, even if it’s just checkers.”

He was offered a scholarship to play quarterback at Division I, University at Buffalo - SUNY, packed his bags and headed East, trading the beaches and sunshine for the frozen tundra. He also played on UB’s basketball and tennis teams, but eventually had to give up tennis due to conflicting schedules with basketball.

It was his performance at UB that caught the attention of the Panthers two years ago and, after participating in training camp, he was signed to the practice squad for his first season. Rising from the ranks of the practice squad to a first year NFL player, Adam has worked hard to change his training regimen in order to get bigger and stronger (without putting on fat), increase his flexibility and remain competitive at this level.

“My training has really evolved over the past two years. When I was playing quarterback and basketball in college, I lifted lighter weights, higher reps and was more worried about being ‘cut’,” he says. “But now I really focus on heavier weights with fewer reps and on building strength - not to look good - but for football.”

In fact, much like Scott Auker who you’ll meet shortly, Adam has taken his eating habits up several notches in order to take his 6’5”, 220-pound frame, up to the 250-pound playing weight of today. Fortunately, his weakness for freshly baked cookies and warm brownies, coupled with a giant glass of milk – or two – helps a little.

And it isn’t just about the football for this guy. He is grateful for this opportunity to play for the Panthers and genuinely enjoys the relationships above all else.

“Every player has an awesome story and is uniquely special,” says Adam. “Whether it’s the wisdom of the veterans or just hanging out with the younger guys.”

His move to Charlotte not only introduced him to the new relationships within the Panthers organization, it also re-introduced his family to some treasured old friendships. Adam’s best friend from his years in Kentucky, Will, now lives in Charlotte and they’ve been able, as you can only truly do with great old friends, to pick up right where they left off.

Adam’s mom enjoys the same benefit. Her dearest friend from that same time period lives in Rock Hill. She and her husband come out here as often as possible to see Adam’s games, turning each weekend into a celebration and a reunion. Even with thousands of miles distance between them, Adam and his family seize every opportunity for time together.

He is also committed to making a difference in the community, with time dedicated to the Panthers charities and anything church or school related.

“Because of my parents, I always look up to coaches and teachers,” he says. “I love the YMCA. I think they really get it right.”
Ok. He brought it up. The YMCA. This is where I reveal his deep dark secret.

“I have zero flexibility,” he confesses. “I went to yoga class all summer at the Y and every time the instructor just shook her head and the ladies in the class kinda laughed. I was pretty terrible. But I kept going back.”

So, this all-around accomplished athlete, curious student, devoted son, brother and friend, who can eat all the brownies and warm cookies he wants, looks totally screwy trying to hold a proper dance pose. Even if he can’t quite touch his toes or find balance in the tree position, he maintains his equilibrium in other ways.

“Balance? Well, I try to put Jesus first in my life, stay close to my family and hope everything else just falls into place,” he says.

Here’s wishing number 41 continued balance, a great season and continued success with things falling into place.

The Cheerleader
Part accountant and part NFL cheerleader, 35-year old Denise Porter is the debunking the myths of two polar opposite stereotypes. Between her financial analyst position with Wachovia and a master’s degree in Accounting, you might think this girl is a number crunching brainiac.

But watch Denise suit up for game day in her black, blue and rhinestones and you’ll see a whole different side emerge.

A 10-year veteran of the TopCats, Denise still has the ticket stub from the Panthers first game in Clemson, prior to the team even announcing they would be forming a cheerleading squad.

“I remember sitting in the stands at that game and just wishing that the following year I’d be cheering for the team,” she says. “And I can remember later that spring, after competing with more than 400 other girls, hearing my name called as a finalist.”

When she started in 1996, Denise says she was a little shy and definitely wasn’t one of the stronger performers. But 10 years later, she feels being a TopCat has given her improved self-confidence and helped her develop leadership skills on the field, at work, and in the rest of her life.

Her resume with the TopCats alone demonstrates her growth. Check out a few of her honors: TopCats Captain (2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005), Pro Bowl Cheerleader (2002), TopCat of the Year (2001), TopCats Charitable Endeavors Chairperson (2001), TopCats Coach's Award (1999), and TopCats Co-captain (1998, 1999). Whew!

Denise works with a personal trainer and trains in the gym four times a week. She has always been involved in cheerleading and dance, but had not really gotten into working out until her 6th season with the TopCats.

“I was always a thin person,” she says. “But not what would be considered physically fit by today’s standards. Over the years I’ve learned it’s not about being skinny, but more about healthy living.”
And while Denise is fortunate to be naturally thin, she is committed to eating healthy, being sure to include lots of fruit, vegetables, fish and chicken in her diet. She admits, however, to a weakness for Chick-fil-A and slight obsession with chocolate cake and tiramisu.

“I’d rather work out an extra 30 minutes than cut out my favorite foods,” she says. “I feel better now than I did in my 20’s. I’m stronger, healthier, and all that physical activity improves my spirit too.”
When she’s not at the bank or on the field, you can find Denise volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, or helping out with the Battered Women’s Shelter. Or walking her two dogs through Dilworth and spending time with her best girlfriends, who she affectionately calls “The Beach Girls”.

And how about life after the TopCats? Denise isn’t quite ready to pack away her pompoms, but she does tinker with dreams of owning her own bridal business and someday being a wife and mother.

For now, though, look for her on the field, a once skinny, shy 20-something now a fit, healthy leader, committed to her family, friends, and her community.

The man behind the scenes
Once upon a time, you couldn’t force 42-year old Scott Auker to run. But now, 20 years and a whole lot of transitions later, Scott leads a core group of the Sponsor Sales Department team out on a daily lunch run.

This running group – which includes Tom DeFelice, Adam Deschenes, Kyle Caddell, and John Berger – keep each other motivated, setting short term goals for each other, and seizing a brief daily escape from the fast-paced world of connecting corporate sponsorship, media packages, promotions, hospitality suites, ads, signage and a whole host of other things to the Panthers.

In fact, Scott was the first person mentioned – over and over again - when I asked about really fit and interesting people in the corporate ranks.

Scott’s transition into the world of sports marketing was a natural evolution for this guy who has spent most of his life around a football field. Raised in the tiny outdoor-oriented town of Fruitland, Idaho (same home town as Panther starting tackle Jordan Gross), Scott was always involved in sports and in college played tight end for the University of Idaho. He was even ranked by Sports Illustrated in 2000 as the #46 all-time athletes from Idaho.

Back in his college playing days, though, his fitness emphasis was on being bigger and stronger. And he had to eat constantly to fuel his strength training and maintain his 227 pound playing weight.

“I trained to compete then,” he said, weighing in today at a healthy 187 pounds. “Now I train with health and wellness as the goal.”

And fitness runs in the family. His wife Aileen, a regular at the Ballantyne YMCA, was a Junior College All-American softball player in Miami. Together they have two children, 4-year old Will and 2-year old Abby, whose incredible energy might give the Auker’s their toughest workout of all.

Together Aileen and Scott support each other’s health and fitness needs. Scott credits Aileen’s great help in keeping healthy food around the house and making good decisions when they go out to eat.

“French fries and chips are my weak spots, though. I have to make an effort with those,” says Scott. “But without a doubt, her weakness is donuts. I have to help her with that one. We’re a team.”

Having earned a BA in Marketing from the University of Idaho and his MA in Sports Administration from the University of Miami, he also spent 10 years as a college football coach with stops at Washington State University, University of Miami, and University of Cal-Berkeley.

With all the moving and traveling, it was the transition into marriage and family life that finally brought him to take root with the Panthers and in Charlotte, seizing the opportunity to blend his playing/coaching experience with his education.

Even being firmly rooted, Scott, like everyone else, works hard to keep balance in his life.

“It’s a challenge every day to keep that body, mind and soul balance,” he says. “But having some core spiritual beliefs, a wonderful family, and good friends helps remind me of life’s real priorities.”

When Scott’s not running around the Bank of America Stadium doing one of the million facets of his job, you’ll find him working out, playing golf, spending time with his in-laws, or at the YMCA pool spending time with his wife and his two energy packed little kids.

Sounds like a pretty nice balance, huh?

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