Vanderbilt's Sarah Fuller Becomes First Woman to Play in NCAAF Power 5 Game
By Liam McKeone | Nov 28, 2020, 3:16 PM EST
History was made on Saturday. Vanderbilt, without their kicker this week due to COVID-19 protocols, enlisted the help of senior Sarah Fuller, whose day job is to play goalkeeper for the school's women's soccer team. She put on a set of shoulder pads for this particular game, becoming the first female athlete to dress for a Power 5 football team.
Then she became the first woman to play for a Power 5 college football program when she stepped onto the field for a kickoff. It was a remarkable moment that should, and will, go down in history.
What an inspiration ?
— ESPN (@espn) November 28, 2020
Sarah Fuller becomes the first woman to play in a Power 5 college football game.
(via @SECNetwork) pic.twitter.com/2hGXmcvBeK
"I just want to tell all the girls out there that you can do anything you set your mind to, you really can. And if you have that mentality all the way through, you can do big things."
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) November 28, 2020
Sarah Fuller is an inspiration ? pic.twitter.com/rUi1hJYap9
Vandy had their punter kicking off for most of the game, but it appears they wanted to try a squib/onside kick with Fuller to try to get back into their game against Missouri.
Regardless of the why, Fuller's appearance is a landmark moment in college football history. A field goal try would have been even better, but Vanderbilt's offense has been so damn horrific today that they haven't even gotten within 10 yards of a reasonable field goal attempt at any point against Mizzou. But not even their offensive ineptitude could rob Fuller of her moment.
A great feeling on this fine Saturday. Hopefully Fuller will be seen as a trailblazer and one of the few good things to come out of the disastrous year that has been 2020.