Team Welcomes Earlham's
First Female Football Player

For Immediate Release:
Aug. 31, 2007

RICHMOND, Ind. — Circumstance and opportunity have led to a unique situation for the Earlham College football team as the Quakers play the inaugural game in Darrell Beane Stadium against Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology on Saturday, Sept. 1, at 1 p.m.

For the first time in the history of the Earlham program there will be a female in uniform on the sideline as junior Hillary Carter (Middletown, OH/Lakota East) runs on the field wearing her No. 18 jersey. "I'm not out to prove I can hang with the boys," she said. "I view my role as the same as the other players."

Carter and sophomore Alexander Cogbill (Plainfield, VT/Twinfield Union) are the kickers for the Quakers this season replacing sophomore Max Crumley-Effinger (Richmond, IN/Richmond), who is studying abroad this semester. "I'm not out there tackling people," Carter, a psychobiology major said. "Kicking and playing a regular position are two completely different worlds. I just want to be successful because I'm a competitor. It's a team sport and I'm here to do what I need to do to help us be successful."

Needing a kicker, Earlham Head Football Coach Gerry Keesling was open to anyone who would work at the position. "We have two people helping us with our kicking situation," he said. "They have both worked hard and are valuable to the squad. Hillary is a good person who is fitting into our team dynamic, while being an outstanding athlete. She seems to be making the transition to football pretty well."

A successful soccer career changes direction

Success is nothing new for Carter, who spent two seasons with the women's soccer team at Earlham. She scored 19 goals with six assists for the Quakers in 2005 earning the North Coast Athletic Conference Newcomer-of-the-Year award, while setting several school records that season. The 19-year-old also was named to the All-NCAC Second Team.

However, injuries played a significant role in the switch to football after Carter played in 12 games in 2006 with just two starts leading to no goals and one assist during her sophomore year. "There were complications from my surgery last winter and it carried on into this summer," Carter said. "I'm not putting up with them anymore. It started as an issue with my right foot during my first year. I was in a boot that fall when I wasn't playing and then a hard cast after the season.

"The focus then shifted from my foot to the shin and compartment syndrome prior to my sophomore year." Carter added. "At that point, I was told it was not going to get any worse so I decided to play and then have surgery. It's my kicking leg but running, cutting and the impact of tackling in soccer is the problem. It's an overuse issue. It's not constant now that I'm playing football. It's a nagging thing, but I just deal with it and there's not as much pain as there would be in soccer."

Compartment Syndrome occurs when the pressures within a muscle greatly exceed normal levels and with overuse it causes pain. "This type of pain is much more common in aerobic activity like soccer rather than football," said Earlham College Men's Basketball Coach Jeff Justus, who is also the physician for the athletics department.

Kind of skeptical

So on Tuesday, Aug. 21, Carter attended football practice to give the sport a try as a kicker. "I was kind of skeptical about it," she said. "They had me punt a few times and I'm not a punter. Then we did some kicking for distance. I kicked a couple of field goals and some extra points and Coach Keesling asked me if I wanted to join the team. The guys have been absolutely wonderful and I couldn't have asked for a better situation."

Acceptance of Carter as a member of the squad was easy for her teammates because of her athletic history even though she may be the only female student-athlete in college football. "I knew what type of athlete she is so I was excited," said senior linebacker Eric Sturgeon (Logansport, IN/Logansport). "I think the entire team felt that way because we know what type of competitor she was on the soccer field. I admire her for have the guts to come out."

Injuries are still possible

There is still a risk for injury, but Carter isn't too worried about what will happen if there is a bad snap or a blocked kick forcing a situation that involves contact. "We'll deal with that when it comes," she said. "I feel safe on the field and I think it will be actually much easier on my body."

Despite the injury situation, giving up soccer was a difficult decision since she began playing when at four years old. "Having something to do in place of soccer is making it easier for me," Carter said. "I'm getting better at kicking a football and it's starting to make sense. It's feeling more like a sport rather than a novelty and I don't feel awkward in the pads anymore.

"The first week was about going out to practice and seeing what I could do. After last Saturday's scrimmage, the coaches changed my steps and some other things. My hope is that my first kick in a game is not like my first attempt during the scrimmage last week because it was bad. Once I get one through the uprights, I'll be fine. I don't think I will be as nervous this week, but the pressure now will be that it matters."

History of female football players

There is not a lot of documentation of female football players, and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) does not keep official records regarding the situation.

According to a story on the Willamette (Ore.) University Web site, Liz Heaston became the first female kicker to score in a college contest on Oct. 18, 1997, when she made two extra points.

The first field goal by a female in a college game was by the University of West Alabama's Tony Butler. According to the school's most recent media guide, Butler made a 27-yard attempt on Sept. 13, 2003. In her two-year career, she hit 13-of-19 field goal attempts with her best effort being 39 yards. She also was 48-of-53 in extra points. She was honored in 2006 with an exhibit at the NCAA Hall of Champions in Indianapolis.

— EC —

Contact:
Don Tincher, sports information director
765/983-1795 — E-Mail Don

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This page last updated: August 31, 2007