A Maurice man could make NFL history by becoming the Saints’ first male dancer. Jesse Hernandez will compete against 51 other dancers tonight for a spot on the "Saintsations" roster.
Hernandez got his start in a Lafayette dance studio with his mom as his teacher.
"We thought having a little boy in the dances with the girls would be cute so he got volunteered for it and he did it and after that he just took to it," says his mother, Tracey Hernandez.
Years later, he is in a similar situation, the only man auditioning in the final round of Saintsations auditions. Now he has a chance to make history. Only two other men have ever been picked to be NFL cheerleaders. Both of them were selected last month by the Los Angeles Rams.
"They’re the very first NFL boy male cheerleaders, in the history of the NFL, so if I make the Saints I’ll be alongside with them… The third ever, and then the first in Saints in history," says Jesse.
Jesse and his mom are proud of his journey so far, and they have high hopes that he will be dancing on the Superdome sideline on Sunday afternoons.
"It’s all because of me dancing, like I’ve been dancing since the age of 2 and who would have thought I’d be standing here doing this and making history? This is my time, this is time to do it so this is something I’ve always wanted and now I’m glad it’s the New Orleans Saints," says Jesse.
"As a mom I’m very proud of him that he is doing this and I hope he makes it," added his proud mom.
