Our Mission
The Houston Oilers Derrick Dolls have reunited since the departure of the Houston Oilers football team in 1997. The mission of the cheerleaders, now the Houston Oilers Derrick Doll Alumni, is to reignite our friendships and to build new relationships with one another through social activities and support to charitable organizations. With our diverse strengths and experiences, our goal is to create an unparalleled level of service through fundraising, community service, youth charities, social and health awareness.
We will serve as a positive role model, mentor and leader to collectively share our knowledge and experiences with young aspiring cheerleaders and dancers. Our hope is to continue our slogan “Luv Ya Blue” and to rekindle that love Houston fans once had for their team, The Houston Oilers, through the Derrick Dolls Alumni appearances throughout the city.
About Us
The Derrick Dolls were the former NFL Cheerleaders for the Houston Oilers Football team during the 1970’s, 1980’s and 1990’s. They officially began in 1978 with a group of beautiful women selected from over hundreds of applicants. Thirty-two women were chosen along with eight alternates. All eyes were on the four corners of the field as the Derrick Dolls dazzled the Oiler fans with dance routines throughout the game and during pre-game and halftime performances. Four squads made up of eight cheerleaders rotated at the end of each quarter to each corner of the playing field of the Astrodome much to the delight of the Oilers fans. The style of the cheerleading routines was primarily dance and less like the traditional cheer routines, chants and gymnastics of high school and college cheerleaders. Fans waved posters stating "Luv Ya Blue" during playoff season in 1978 and quickly became a proud trademark statement for the Houston Oilers. Several posters of the cheerleaders were in circulation throughout Houston for the signing of autographs for their fans. A “Luv Ya Blue” song was written by Mack Hayes and became their rallying song through the 1979 season. Another fight song was written by Lee Ofman, “Houston Oilers #1” and used until the Oilers left Houston in 1997. It was this song that the Derrick Dolls performed the well-known sideline dance routine showing off their beautiful red, white and blue uniform adorned with long white fringe and waving their enormous white pom poms.
As the 1980’s rolled in, the Derrick Dolls continued to make TV appearances and commercials, be featured on posters, playing cards, calendars and had their very own stuffed doll resembling the cheerleaders in uniform. Even though they only performed at home games, they made personal appearances all over the State of Texas and to Mexico City to appear on the "Hoy Mismo" (Today Show) to promote American football. They also traveled to Monterrey Mexico as Good Will Ambassadors for Governor Clements, the State of Texas and marched in their Independence Day Parade. In the 1980’s, the first show troupe was organized consisting of talented dancers, singers and gymnast to entertain our United States Military all over the world. Due to long year after year losing streaks of the Oilers and football strike, the Derrick Dolls continued to appear throughout Houston for various charities, promotions and kept the positive fan support alive until the disbanding of the cheerleaders in 1986.
After an absence of six years, the Derrick Dolls returned in 1992 as the Houston Oiler Dancers and with a twelve-member show troupe in place, they were given once again opportunities to perform DOD-USO tours for our military as well as performances and exposures around the world. The name changed back again to the Derrick Dolls in 1993. Highlights included playing the Dallas Cowboys in the American Bowl located in Tokyo, Japan, Mexico and San Antonio and traveling to Canada to host and perform for a variety of telethons. The Derrick Dolls were also shown in local and national media many times including an appearance on the “Entertainment Tonight” show. At the end of the Derrick Doll era in the 1997, they continued to be popular with the fans and still made personal appearances at various events.
The former Derrick Dolls remain being a Houston Oilers fan favorite to this day. Since the Oilers departure from Houston to Tennessee in 1997, the Derrick Dolls have been slowly building its Alumni Organization. With over 150 members throughout the United States, they participate in local and national charity events, raising money to support the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Society in Houston, as well as charity events held in the metropolitan area of Houston. Now, members of the National Football Cheerleaders Alumni Association, the Derrick Doll Alumni gather biannually for a weekend reunion with professional alumni cheerleaders from other football franchises in select cities throughout the US. The Derrick Dolls provided a sisterhood, a camaraderie and support system during the Houston Oiler days. Today, the Derrick Dolls Alumni will continue to reconnect and rebuild that friendship and sisterhood they began so many years ago.
