By Becky Manley / Staff Writer
Football players, women wrestlers and music majors are among the final group of competitors in this year’s Cumberland Idol.
Eleven student competitors remain from among a group of about 30 hopefuls following eliminations held over the last two weeks, according to Grant Doepel, the competition’s director and a senior at the university.
“It’s a much stronger group than it was last year,” Doepel said of the competitors.
Cumberland Idol, in its third year at University of the Cumberlands, is modeled after the well-known TV show.
Doepel said the competition has a production staff of about 30 people, which gives the show a professional presentation.
The judges for the university’s version of the singing contest bear some similarities to their TV counterparts, with Jeff Smoak, music department chairman, seeming most like Simon Cowell, Doepel said.
While Doepel said Smoak seems to enjoy being a judge, the professor’s music background makes him a more critical judge.
Judge Gina Herring, associate professor of English, seems to be the panel’s Paula Abdul.
“If she likes it (the performance), she will be standing up in her seat and dancing,” Doepel said.
Other judges include Al Pilant, a history professor, and Mike Dickman, associate professor of communication arts, Doepel said.
Although the judges selected the finalists, the public will decide who remains in the competition with online voting beginning with the next competition at 8 p.m. Feb. 23.
Four more competition rounds will be held before the finale on April 14. Doepel said the rounds will have themes, with “childhood favorites” being the theme for the next round.
The overall winner of the competition will receive $500 and a paid trip to the nearest American Idol audition, Doepel said.
Cumberland Idol fans are encouraged to enjoy the live competitions, which are held at the university’s Gatliff Chapel. Admission is free.
Track the action online at http://cumberlandidol.com/.
