Morgan Whitney

* At finals when they called her name, she was so happy. She just wanted to have a little celebration with herself. She wants to be a DCC because it’s been a lifelong dream of hers. She grew up loving the Dallas Cowboys. [*She’s seen with her daughter*] She has a unique situation. She’s a single mom of a 2-year-old girl. It’s going to be a challenge being a TCC and juggling making her meals, putting her down for naps, and tucking her in at night. However, she also needs to get her workouts in and she needs to practice. Fortunately, she has her parents as a great support system. They can watch her daughter while she’s gone trying to fulfill this dream of hers.

## **Confessionals**

Total: 46

Season 8: 41 (**Most in season**)

Season 9: 5 (T18th most)

### **Season 8**

**(8.2)**

* [Finals] "I think the most nerve-wracking part is dancing with the veterans. They know how to capture that attention."
* "So much work and dedication involved preparing for this over the last year. It’s now or never. Please call my name!"
* "I made it to training camp!"

**(8.3)**

* (*Biography)*
* [Training camp] "Today’s our first rehearsal. I don’t know what to expect right now, but I know that we’re going to learn some choreography. Probably just dive right into it."
* [Learning choreography] "This moves really fast. You’ve got to really pick it up. All these counts going in your head, and trying to get the musicality, it’s like everything’s a blur."
* "Some parts I struggled in was just, what arm goes here, or, oh, it’s this arm, not this arm. If it was easy, then everybody would do it."
* [Next day] "Today’s our second rehearsal, and we have to basically show how we perfected the routine that we learned last night."
* "My audition was very rough. I rehearsed all day long, and to them it looked like I didn’t rehearse. It was a little tough hearing that."
* [Before office] "When I was called, I immediately think, “Oh, they want to cut me, they want to get rid of me.” I just hope that they see potential versus too many negatives."
* [After office] "I’m hoping that I have enough time to just really work on everything and perfect it as best as I can, because I do have my daughter that I have to go home to and take care of. Every minute counts rehearsing, and I have to make the best of every minute."

**(8.4)**

* "(Kelli and Judy) were shocked, pretty much, ‘cause that I’ve had a two-year-old. I didn’t look like this right after the baby. I have had to really work hard at it just to get to this point."

**(8.5)**

* "I’m still making mistakes as far as memory’s concerned. I think it’s more of a pressure thing. You don’t want to disappoint Kelli and Judy."
* "Rehearsals are going to continue tonight, and we’re going to show DJ (Guthrie) some of our routines that we’ve been preparing. Hopefully we blow his mind."
* [Called into the office] "(Kelli and Judy want it done a certain way, and if you don’t, then they’re going to call you out on it. So, if tonight’s my last night, it happens, and best thing I can do is pick myself up."
* [Before office] "You just want to be perfect. I’m sure as heck not perfect, but I try to be as close as I can, and strive for perfection, but sometimes it’s not enough. [*Gets teary*] I feel like I’m walking on egg shells every night that I’m here. I think it’s because when you want something so bad… you just don’t want to see it go away."
* [After office] "It was a definite eye-opener know that I could’ve potentially gotten cut tonight, but luckily, we’re all good. I don’t think I’ll ever have another shot at this is I fail, so say a prayer and hope that everything goes in my favor."

**(8.6)**

* "Every night, I feel like I’m walking on eggshells, because I’m still not perfect, but I need to be close to perfect in order to survive camp."
* [Cameo shoot] "It’s an absolute dream to be photographed in this iconic uniform. You just have to just give it everything. Hopefully, you get the right shot – the money shot."
* "Oh my God. I feel so yuck right now. The last thing I need is more added pressure just to perform it and not mess up when the spotlight’s pretty much on me all the time."

**(8.7)**

* "I’m here at Kitty Carter’s Dance Factory, along with Rachel, trying to get in a quick practice before our huge rehearsal tonight. The pressure is off the charts. We’re getting to the tail end of training camp. That only means they’re gonna be nitpicking every single wrong move that’s made. I want to be a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader so bad. I’ve just put everything out on the line and just sacrificed so much… [*gets teary*] so I get very emotional. I’ve worked really hard for this, and… can’t go home now."
* [Learning entrance] "It’s going to be a bit of a challenge for some of us. We’re gonna have to really adjust to what we normally do, which is in the studio."
* [Entrance] "Right now, I’m struggling with the lines. It just looks bad, so I just want to try to minimize the mistakes. I’m not confident at all, because my memory mistakes, and I start to overthink it. I don’t want to just keep on messing up. I want to progress. I want to show them that, okay, she’s getting it."
* "As soon as I stumbled, I didn’t have time to think, “Oh shoot,” or anything like that. It was just like, “Keep going, Morgan, or they’re really gonna fry you and eat you for dinner.” So, I made sure to act like it didn’t happen. I just kept going."
* [After office] "I was almost chopped liver.  I came very close to being cut. I don’t have a lot of time left. They’re generously giving me a little big more time, but I think I only have until tomorrow to really prove that there’s a different side of Morgan."
* "Tonight, I’m sure it’s a cut night, but today’s a new day. I’m fighting for my spot on this squad. I hope that (Kelli and Judy) do not call my name.
* "It all comes down to this moment. The dances that we’re about to do, it just will make me or break me, and it’s time to do the best I’ve ever done."
* [Before office] "I know how much heart I’ve put into this. I’m just very devoted, and hopefully (Kelli and Judy) see that."
* [After office] "I really don’t know what my chances are of making the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, but this is where I belong."

**(8.8)**

* "We are at week 8 of training camp, and we are under pressure because we’re so close to the end, and it all boils down to tonight. I have to just give it everything."
* "It is a new thing, dancing in these boots. And it’s not the easiest job, so instead of just concentrating on the material, I’m having to really concentrate on almost clenching to the ground."
* "Please, let’s just get through this. I practice all the time. I do well in my practices. And there’s a lot of tension. It’s like you can just cut it with a knife."
* [After making team] "It’s not over. This is only the beginning to a wonderful journey. I’m so fricking proud."
* [With uniform] "It’s all mine! I can’t wait to wear it."
* [Squad photo] "You start to feel it in your back, and you’re like, “Oh, God.” Tough through it."
* [Meet the Team event] "My two-year-old’s in the audience, watching tonight. Now she gets to actually see what I’ve been working hard for, and I’m just really excited."
* "I was able to see (my daughter) from the stage, and she was just smiling and pointing, and just [*her daughter kisses her*] … thank you. I love you."
* "We’re on our way to AT&T Stadium for our first performance."
* "Right now, Kelli and Judy need us to go out an rehearse and just get us ready, because it’s game time right around the corner."
* "I’m super pumped and I’m ready. I’m just trying to make sure everything’s in place. Once we walk out and hear the fans, that’s going to be like the best feeling."
* [End of season retrospective with flashbacks, final cheerleader confessional of season] "Training camp has been a very emotional roller-coaster ride. There was that stress level that kept me from really just performing fully. Training camp was a beating. I’m not going to lie. I’d feel proud of myself, just knowing that I’ve overcome so many obstacles. I’m the type that’s, “Keep going, Morgan, keep going.” And look. I’m here! This is my time to shine and give it everything I have."

### **Season 9**

**(9.2)**

* [Finals] "This whole year has been just an incredible experience, and I would hate to lose it and not be able to come back, so you really have to fight for your spot, coming in as a veteran."
* "As a veteran coming in and seeing all these new girls, some of the things that I saw, it just took my breath away."
* "During my solo, I felt like my butt was about to hang out. So, I just kind of shimmied them up."
* "It’s very scary. We could potentially lose our spot. You know what the uniform feels like. You got to perform at the stadium. And so, you have a lot more to lose."
* [Not invited back to training camp] "This whole week’s been very stressful. Well, the whole month, really. This can’t be it. You know, I’m still in shock."

## **Commentary**

### **Season 8**

**(8.2)**

* "Great showmanship I like her appearance, I like the figure." – Kelli
* "Love her." – Kelli
* [Finals deliberations] "She was not real technical, but she sure knew how to work what she had." – Charlotte Jones

**(8.3)**

* "Morgan’s gonna struggle… come on, Morgan." – Kelli
* "I love her long body, but she’s not getting it."
* "If I didn’t know better, I’d say you didn’t even practice." – Judy
* "Morgan is crazy down on the end." – Judy

**(8.4)**

* "You started off with a strong style, and then you tanked on sequence at the end. You can’t start a routine as one performer and end it as another." – Kelli
* [Uniform fittings] "Would you believe she had a baby in here?" – Kelli
* "Go ahead girl. Look at her. Yeah. She looks like a winner on the left." – Jordan Johnson/"That’s good because she hasn’t been doing real well." – Judy
* "The dance was two minutes, we were probably watching you for 45 seconds of it, so you grabbed us." – Kelli

**(8.5)**

* "Morgan is just shuffling her way through this. So many mistakes." – Judy
* "You make so many mistakes. You’re on a roll, and six of the counts will be right, and then, seven-eight’s wrong, and it feels like it’s different each time." – Judy
* "Morgan has some good power and projection in her performance, but she dances like she’s just afraid of making a mistake, so she’s thinking about it too much, and she’s making a mistake." – Kelli
* "Morgan’s lost." – Judy/"Why would she be this lost on this dance?" – Kelli
* "I think you’re struggling, so I couldn’t watch you because the struggle makes me nervous." – Kelli/"Whenever they’re on the right foot, you’re on the left foot. Whenever they’re doing a right head roll, you’re doing a left head roll. Always a little wrong." – Judy
* [Discussing the group of Jinelle, Kaitlyn, Morgan, and Paige] With this one, I’m going to start off with “move out,” and I have to go with Morgan.  It’s the uncomfortability thing of, “You don’t know the steps, I don’t want to watch you.” – DJ Guthrie/ She has had time to learn that step. – K

**(8.6)**

* "You surprised me, because your performance skills just came out." – Kitty Carter
* [Cameos] "Judy, I’m gonna fight on this one. Look at her legs!" – Kelli/"I just can’t get past the performance." – Judy
* "Morgan is really struggling in the dance studio. But when she got in front of that camera, her sexiness came across. She just looked really great. And that might save her in the end." – Judy
* "I wish you had a mirror, Morgan, so you wouldn’t keep making so many mistakes. And it’s little things, like you’re a tiny bit behind everybody because you’re waiting to see what’s next." – Judy
* "I’m telling you; she can’t do it by herself. We can’t give her a couple more weeks." – Judy
* "Morgan is on the bubble because of her memory." – Judy
* "I’m in your corner, but that’s too many mistakes for a dance taught early on." – Kelli

**(8.7)**

* [Field entrance] "All your chassés on your toes. Don’t ever step up on the heel." – Judy
* "Morgan is someone that I have a red sticker on. She concerns me." – Kelli
* "Is the memory clicking?" – Judy/"Do you understand it mathematically? Because you’re running extra steps to get there." – Kelli
* [Field entrance lines] "This is your stopping point. See the 40? Okay, but you’ve overshot the line every time." – Kelli/"She scares me out there." – Judy
* "Morgan’s more confident to me than Kaitlyn." – Kelli/"I don’t think so." – Judy
* [Morgan stumbles] "God, I just thought we had our first injury." – Kelli/"I don’t know what she just did, but it was a mistake." – Judy
* "You have a sexy style, but then you just do little things wrong. You know when you fell off you balance? Did you twist your ankle or is it just…?" – Judy/"Yeah, I did some… "– Morgan/"Okay, are your boots tight? Do we need to get you a tighter pair tomorrow?" – Judy/"Probably." – Morgan
* [After office visits] "I’m honestly prepared to go either way with any of these three [Ashley Paige, Kaitlyn LaRae, and Morgan Whitney]." – Kelli
* "Morgan looks weird to me." – Judy/"Very. There’s lot of tension in her shoulders. Kind of like this." [*imitates her*]– Kelli/"Morgan, you’re dancing with your shoulders all up in your neck. If you don’t do anything right tonight, do the sequence right." – Judy
* "That’s the one thing she has going for her, is pretty kicks." – Judy
* "I’ve seen four mistakes. I mean, it’s weird, but if you were just watching her, you wouldn’t know she was making the mistakes." – Judy
* "You frustrate me because people like to watch you dance, and so, and that sounds weird, but they fixate on you and just watch you and they don’t realize that you’ve made, like, 20 mistakes in that dance." – Judy

**(8.8)**

* "I feel like you’re as prepared as you can be. I mean, you worked harder than anybody I know." – Courtni Shea
* [Final rehearsal] [Memory mistake] "Wow, I don’t know what to say about that. Why do she have so many mistakes? Can she not get the memory, or is she just psyching herself out?" – Kelli
* "Morgan has a lot of memory and sequence mistakes. That’s a fact, and I think she’s still a risk for us, and it’s gonna be whether or not we want to take that risk." – Kelli
* "You had like three or four big, glaring mistakes. Is the routine in here, or are you scared?" – K/"No… it was slick. It’s pretty slick." – Morgan/"That’s interesting, because Jessica’s rond de jambe got stuck because it’s sticky." – Kelli/"You’re gonna be on turf, you’re gonna be in boots: it’s gonna be slippery. Fake it better." – Judy
* "My gut is telling me I’m going to be tired of Morgan and Kaitlyn." – Judy
* "On that one, I think, Morgan, you’re getting kind of real stiff." – Judy
* "I’m still really concerned about Morgan. I’ve never been 100% sold that she can take this pressure." – Judy
* "Do you believe in Morgan? Do you think she can handle it?" – Kelli/"I think there’s memory issues, learning wise. But mistakes like that, really big, I think that was nerves." – Mia Greenhouse
* [Morgan hugs and thanks Kelli after making the team] "I really believe in you, Morgan. You better prove me right." – Kelli

### **Season 9**

**(9.2)**

* [Panel interview] "Being late is one of the DCC unwritten rules. You just don’t do it. You always arrive 30 minutes ahead of time. We never arrive late." – Judy
* "Morgan’s being late to the interview certainly does not help her. She’s got to come out fierce tomorrow." – Kelli
* "I didn’t like her this morning. I gave her a maybe." – Melissa Rycroft
* [Finals deliberation] "I couldn’t pick her out. I couldn’t pick out the vet." - Judy/"She has great spirit. She’s a locker room favorite." – Kelli
* "There’s going to be some veterans that their job is on the line, and I just don’t have the strength to make those decisions by myself." – Kelli
* [Morgan not invited back to training camp] "It’s very hard to cut a veteran. It’s heartbreaking, it’s final. Morgan, Alex, and Courtni were hard realities to accept." – Kelli

## **Office Visits**

### **Season 8**

**(8.3)**

* [End of episode, second of three] Kelli opines that she has a sexy look and a sexy style, but she’s too soft with their power pom dance. It’s has to be strong, powerful, and purposeful, and she’s not there yet. Tonight was a bigger indicator that she’s going to be very challenged by the choreography every night. She says it’s not a warning, just advice. She adds that it would help her to practice with music, because she’s musical and has good style. [*Morgan starts crying*] Kelli asks why she’s crying, and Morgan explains that after she had her daughter, she thought she’d never be able to do this. Kelli says Morgan’s daughter someday could have something to be very proud about her mother. She doesn’t have it easier, having a two-year-old, and Morgan says it keeps her fit. [*Morgan leaves*] Kelli says she’d like to see her a little bit longer.

**(8.5)**

* [End of episode, second of two] Kelli says she’s confusing her, and asks how she feels. Morgan starts crying, and says she doesn’t want to disappoint them. Kelli says they decided tonight’s her last night because of her memory. Tonight, she struggled. But then they came back, and Kelli looked at her notes, and Kitty Carter referred to her as “great” and “fun,” and loves her. And Jordan Johnson loved her, saying “you’re so powerful,” but he also wrote down “memory.” Kelli tells her she’ll never make the team if she can’t remember these dances. Can she make up lost time and she keep up? If she’s freaking herself out, she needs to stop it (Morgan adds that’s what she’s doing). Kelli asks if she’d rather them take the lid off the pressure cooker, and Morgan says she’s worked too hard for this. Kelli say’s they’ll make a deal: Morgan gets more time, and they need to see these routines. She needs to attack it tomorrow morning. [*Morgan leaves*] Judy says they get to change their mind sometimes. Kelli says she’s lucky they kept their paperwork so they could read what Kitty and Jordan wrote about her.

**(8.7)**

* [Mid episode, third of three] Kelli asks her how she feels, and Morgan says she’s working her tail off. Kelli says she knows, but wants to know how she feels. Morgan starts crying and says she doesn’t want to disappoint. Kelli asks who, and Morgan doesn’t want to disappoint them, in addition to herself, especially coming this far. Kelli tells her that poor memory causes her mistakes, and mistakes will mean not making this squad. Morgan asks if she made a lot of mistakes (while recognizing she did on the entrance). Kelli says she looked overwhelmed on the entrance. She wasn’t great on the first routine, but the third routine fit her style (since she seems more comfortable with a hip-hop style). They’ll be back on the field tomorrow, but they’re not sure what they saw tonight was convincing enough. Morgan quietly begs, and Kelli suggests they called tonight a night, and that tomorrow she practices lines and sequence on a football field. She thinks everyone feels Morgan has some exciting, powerful moments, but that everyone also realizes she’s a risk.
* [End of episode, third of three] Kelli asks Morgan what she thinks they’re going to talk to her about. Morgan hopes it’s the progress she’s made doing lines since last night. Kelli says the progress since last night was a little, but not enough. Judy likes how she places her body and how she looks. But it’s frustrating to continually telling her about her mistakes (Morgan agrees it’s frustrating for her, too). Kelli asks what they do about her memory mistakes. Morgan says to keep her. Kelli asks how she’ll fix her memory, and Morgan says she’ll work at it. [*Morgan starts crying*] She says she has the passion and it’s all there; she just has to turn it around. Kelli says the challenge tonight is they’re out of time, and it’s a leap of faith with her. Morgan says she can be a really good leap of faith. Kelli asks how high she can jump, and Morgan jokingly asks how high they want. Kelli says she has a good personality. She thinks Morgan was better with the choreography and fun to watch tonight, and she shows some potential with the routines. Based on that, she’s bought herself one more night here. It’s down to one night at a time, and them seeing progress every night. Morgan says she’ll do it. [*Morgan leaves*] Judy likes everything about her, but she’s frustrated with her.

## **End of Journey**

### **Season 9**

**(9.2)**

* Not brought back to training camp for a possible second season as a DCC

## **Other**

### **Season 8**

**(8.2)**

* Brief scene of her showing Kitty Carter her solo choreography.
* She is introduced by name for her solo at finals.
* Shown being invited to training camp.

**(8.3)**

* Introduces herself at the opening meeting: She’s 26 years old.

**(8.4)**

* If you pause on Judy’s notes, you can see she’s written both, “So powerful,” and “memory” with a star.

**(8.6)**

* Kelli has her, Kaitlyn LaRae, and Vivian Ralena perform by themselves at practice.

**(8.7)**

* Has a scene at the start of the episode practicing at Kitty Carter’s Dance Factory with Rachel LeAnn, where they discuss how devastating it would be to be cut at this point.
* She’s one of several shown in succession while Kelli gives a confessional rhetorically asking if they need a weak link, if they should cut their losses now.

**(8.8)**

* At rehearsal, Judy has her dance with the next group after her group finishes dancing.
* She is one of three flashed on screen while Kelli gives a confessional saying they’ll have tough decisions to make if they announce the team tonight.
* She’s shown hugging both Kelli and Judy after she makes the team.
* Morgan’s parents and daughter show up to the “Meet the Team” event, and have a confessional about being excited to see her.

### **Season 9**

**(9.2)**

* During panel interviews, Kelli tells her that her report time for the interviews was 4:30, and she arrived at 5:11. Morgan says she was stuck in traffic, and that she left an hour in advance. Kelli remarks that she almost missed her interview.
* Her solo is introduced by name and shown in a segment (with circus-like music in the background) after Judy gives a confessional about some of the candidate solos being disappointing.