Vanderbilt so desperate for special teams help, Commodores giving women's soccer player tryout
Vanderbilt is in a difficult situation with its specialists being in quarantine because of COVID-19 protocols. But the Commodores have reached across the athletics department and on Tuesday invited a women’s soccer player to practice with the football team.
Sarah Fuller, Vanderbilt soccer’s starting goalkeeper, practiced with Vanderbilt football as a kicker this afternoon, multiple sources confirmed to The Vanderbilt Hustler.
Fuller wore full pads and a uniform but did not take any kicks. Instead, she went through walk-throughs with coaches and at least one specialist on the sidelines, according to the report. It remains unclear whether she will play in the Commodores’ upcoming matchup at Missouri on Saturday, or play at all this season. If she plays, it’s believed that Fuller would be the first woman to play a snap in a Power 5 football game.
“We’re working through it right now,” coach Derek Mason said of the kicking situation in Tuesday’s press conference. “For us, every week is (about) getting to the practice field and about making sure that we put the best possible kicker out there, so we’re competing. Right now, like I said, I’ve got to go out to practice today and see what gets done, but hopefully, I’ll have an update for you on Thursday.”
Vanderbilt’s initial problem with options at the position came when kicker Oren Milstein opted out before the season started.
Katie Hnida, a drop-dead gorgeous blonde, dressed out for Colorado but never played for the Buffalos. After suffering from alleged sexual criminal assault, she transferred to New Mexico and saw some action for the Lobos including playing in a bowl game. I cannot remember any FBS team using a female since then.
Katie suffered through some very rough times a couple years ago, when she almost died from a reaction to antibiotics. It caused kidney and liver failure. She was on life support for some time.
A small step for inclusion, but maybe a little girl in Nashville sees her play on Saturday and dedicates herself to becoming a great Special Teams player.
Well She Can Hike it; Ya think?
We could use her. We’ve lost a couple of games the last two years that anybody from the soccer team could have stepped in and won.
Many times through the years, I have compared Vanderbilt football to the St. Louis Browns baseball team.
If Fuller plays Saturday, will it be like Eddie Gaedel coming to bat for the Browns in 1951, or might it be like Pete Gray playing in left and center field for the 1945 Browns?
Unfortunately, Vanderbilt won’t relocate to Baltimore.
The news I am hearing is that Fuller will only be used on kickoffs, if that. She can only hit about 50% PATs in practice with no defense, and she can only hit FGs with the ball in the middle of the field.
The dope is that Vandy will try 2-point conversions on any touchdowns and go for it on 4th down in field goal range.
I saw Vandy beat Missouri 12-7 in 1958 on national TV. They went for 2 on both TDs that day and went for it on 4th down rather than try field goals that day. But, their defense was in the top 10 that year. This Vandy team will be lucky to hold Missouri to 7 points in the first 6 minutes of the game.