'Changing the game': Female star creates history in college football
Sarah Fuller has become the first woman to star at the top-level of the US college football Power 5 after making her debut on the weekend.
Fuller was the goalkeeper in the Commodores’ SEC winning football team last weekend, but suited up for the Commodores men’s football team as place kicker on Saturday against the Missouri Tigers.
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She made the switch on the weekend and became the first woman to play Power 5 when making the kick-off in the second half.
With several members of the football team in quarantine due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols, Fuller made the team.
Social media erupted with women’s sport equal rights pioneer Billie Jean King and NFL stars wishing her the best.
CHANGING THE GAME 👏
Sarah Fuller just became the first woman to play in a Power 5 college football game. @SECNetwork pic.twitter.com/Qq3U6jtica— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 28, 2020
HERstory Made.#AnchorDown x #ItJustMeansMore pic.twitter.com/vJsUxs0SM7
— Southeastern Conference (@SEC) November 28, 2020
(HISTORY MADE) Sarah Fuller (@SarahFuller_27) has just kicked off for Vanderbilt in the second half of the Vandy-Missouri game, becoming the first woman to play in a Power 5 college football game. She has a half to kick the first field goal by a woman in college football history.
— Seth Abramson (@SethAbramson) November 28, 2020
From one kicker to another.
Wishing you nothing but the best today, @SarahFuller_27🙌 https://t.co/2AwL0YWPTX pic.twitter.com/5Q8A7aEJBg— New England Patriots (@Patriots) November 28, 2020
"I just want to tell all the girls out there that you can do anything you set your mind to."
Sarah Fuller inspiring the next generation 👏
(via @SECNetwork) pic.twitter.com/IjKICMwewg— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 28, 2020
Fuller makes college football history
Earlier, Vanderbilt Football posted a Tweet “History in the making” accompanied by a picture of Fuller in uniform.
Fuller posted a similar message on Twitter “Let’s make history. #PlayLikeAGirl #AnchorDown”.
Women have occasionally appeared in US college football games going back more than two decades but if Fuller gets on the field she will be the first to take a snap in an SEC game or the Power 5, a group of college football’s largest conferences.
Football history may happen today.
Good luck to @VanderbiltU’s Sarah Fuller, goalkeeper for the women’s soccer team, who is dressing for their football team as its place-kicker.
If she plays, she will be the 1st woman to do so in Power 5 football.
Women belong in the game! https://t.co/XouFpvMRgd— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) November 28, 2020
In 1997 Liz Heaston became the first woman to play and score in a college football game when she kicked two extra points in Willamette University’s 27-0 win over Linfield College.
Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason confirmed on Wednesday that Fuller was an option for the winless Commodores.
“Right now, we’re just looking at all options,’ Mason told Nashville radio station 102.5 The Game. “For us, talking to Sarah, she’s a champ, and no pun intended.
“Just coming off an SEC Championship in soccer… She’s a complete competitor. She’s an option for us. Right now, that’s where we sit.”
with Reuters
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