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Jane Herrin enjoys a challenge and likes getting physical. Especially on the football field. That’s why she tried out for the Tennessee Valley Tigers, Huntsville’s professional women’s football team.
The Tigers recently held an open day of tryouts in preparation for its 2010 season. Tryouts were at D-1 Training Facility in south Huntsville. Herrin and Christina Whitney, both from Madison, were among more than 30 women who tried out. Herrin has played with the team for three seasons. Whitney was a rookie last season when the Tigers posted a 5-3 record as part of the Independent Women’s Football League.
"I used to think football was just a guy’s sport," said Herrin, 36. "I’ve always been a sort of tomboy, so I tried playing and now look forward to making the team roster again."
Whitney, 27, couldn’t complete her rookie season as place kicker due to a severe left ankle injury that occurred in the third game of the 2009 season. She has gone through an extensive off-season exercise routine to get back in condition.
"Actually at the tryout was the first time I ran on the injured ankle and it felt pretty good," Whitney said.
At the tryout, each participant was put through a cluster of physical tests under the watchful eyes of the sports training staff at D-1 Sports Training. Each woman was tested for speed in the timing of the 40-yard dash, core strength with the medicine ball throw, agility in the L-Drill, and the 5-10-5 drill, which tested each player in speed and agility.
After individual testing, the group broke into skill tests by position to try and determine where each player might fit on the team.
"I’m a lineman and I tried to tell the other women on hand at the tryout to do not compare themselves to others because the game features all shapes and sizes of necessary players that make up the sport, an aspect of the sport that I love," Herrin said. "I also told others that this football is much different than the backyard-touch football they may have played in. This is real hard-hitting, full-contact football with helmets and pads."
Herrin graduated from Bob Jones High School in 1991. She works at a call center for the West Company, which handles insurance businesses. She is pursuing a master’s degree in accounting.
Whitney works as an assistant manager at Aeropostale, a retail clothing store at Madison Square Mall. She has earned four college degrees and would love to one day be a buyer for a large clothing company.
She played soccer in high school, was on the female weightlifting team and has coached youth soccer in Madison. "Playing football is almost like a miracle for me," Whitney said, "considering an incredible situation at birth."
She was born with her intestines on the outside of her body. The deformity required extensive surgery, including inserting her appendix onto the opposite of her body that it’s usually situated. Whitney said somehow through the years, her appendix has worked its way to the correct side of her body.
"The birth defect has not affected me in any way with playing football," Whitney said. "I’m very excited about making the team for our next season of action."
The Tigers will continue off-season workouts once a week. Preseason practice begins in January. The season runs from April through June, with home games played at Milton Frank Stadium in Huntsville. The team Web site is www.tigersiwfl.com.
Regan Campbell has two jobs, one by day — another by night.
In April, and until recently, her day job was for a Kansas City pharmaceutical company. It wasn’t physically demanding. She sat behind a desk.
So, when Campbell, 26, would come to work with bruises, her co-workers were confused.
Completing their daily routines, they’d walked by the desk of Campbell, they’d looked her up and down, they eyeballed the dark bruises and scrapes that coated her forearms and legs. Employees asked about the abrasions, and she answered honestly.
And others speculated the worst.
“I would come to work, and people looked at me weird,” Campbell, a 2001 graduate of Lenox High School said. “I’d come in with bruises and cuts. The ones who didn’t ask, I think believed that I had a boyfriend who hit me. There were several stories that went around.”
The truth was, during evenings, she played tackle football.
Campbell is a linebacker for the Kansas City Tribe, a women’s football team.
And a good one too.
Tribe history
The Tribe’s inaugural season, in 2008, was mediocre, finishing 4-4 overall. They did not make the playoffs. Campbell was not part of the team then.
But this year, the Tribe broke out and surpassed even their own expectations, Campbell said. The Tribe finished 11-1 overall.
They won the Midwest League, made up of the Chicago Crush and Minnesota Vixen. They won the conference at 6-1 overall. They defeated the Los Angeles Amazons 19-14 in the divisional playoff, then trounced Chicago, 40-16 in regional’s, sending them to the IWFL Championship in Round Rock, Texas.
On July 25, the Tribe defeated the DC Divas 21-18 at Round Rock ISD Athletic Complex, winning the league championship in just their second year of existence.
“It was obviously a dream season for us, from start to finish,” said Mindy White, founder and general manager of the Tribe. “We needed to make some changes, and we did that. We had a lot of good new players. The pieces fell into place, and Reagan was definitely one of those pieces.”
In high school, Campbell was a four-sport athlete at Lenox.
She even toyed with playing football under coach Alan Dukes, but never acted.
For the Tribe, she plays all three facets of the game — offense, defense and special teams. She plays outside linebacker, wide receiver and punted for Williams.
At receiver, she caught 17 passes, totaling 331 yards, scored four touchdowns and averaged 36 yards per catch — one of those touchdowns being a 20-yard hook-up with quarterback Jenny Schmidt in the championship game. As well, she averaged 30.1 yards per punt.
“I tell you what, she was amazing,” Williams said. “She filled in several gaps. We needed a deep threat on offense and a physical receiver, she provided that instantly. And our punter went down, and she did some punting for us, and did that well too.”
But Campbell was most impressive on defense. At 5-9, 150 pounds, she recorded 56 tackles and had one interception, a 30-yard touchdown return. Her 56 tackles ranked 20th in the 22-team league.
“What we didn’t know, when the season started, was how tough Regan was,” Williams said. “We had a player out during the season, so we put Regan at linebacker. Her form tackling was solid. We’d watch film and I’d say to them, if you want to learn to tackle, watch Reagan. She was one of the leaders in the league in tackles.”
The foundation of the IWFL is growing stronger on a national level. Locally, the Tribe’s fan base increased by 350 people this year, White said. In their final home game at Center High School, against the Chicago Force, there was an estimated 1,000 fans
And White, as well as Campbell, expects that number to rise next year.
“It’s (women) from all walks of life. You wouldn’t believe their (day) jobs,” Campbell said. “We have lawyers, personal trainers. I am a graphic designer now. We have a grandma. We have single moms. Our fans have been great to us.”
To follow Campbell, become a Tribe fan or season ticket holder, visit www.kctribe.com or contact Mindy White at kctribe@yahoo.com.
“My family has been great. We expect our fans to return next year, at least 90 percent of them,” Campbell added. “We are going to see more sponsors, spending more money. The circles of Tribe fans will continue to get bigger and bigger.”
crestonnews.com | Key addition
Regan Campbell has two jobs, one by day — another by night.
In April, and until recently, her day job was for a Kansas City pharmaceutical company. It wasn’t physically demanding. She sat behind a desk.
So, when Campbell, 26, would come to work with bruises, her co-workers were confused.
Completing their daily routines, they’d walked by the desk of Campbell, they’d looked her up and down, they eyeballed the dark bruises and scrapes that coated her forearms and legs. Employees asked about the abrasions, and she answered honestly.
And others speculated the worst.
“I would come to work, and people looked at me weird,” Campbell, a 2001 graduate of Lenox High School said. “I’d come in with bruises and cuts. The ones who didn’t ask, I think believed that I had a boyfriend who hit me. There were several stories that went around.”
The truth was, during evenings, she played tackle football.
Campbell is a linebacker for the Kansas City Tribe, a women’s football team.
And a good one too.
Tribe history
The Tribe’s inaugural season, in 2008, was mediocre, finishing 4-4 overall. They did not make the playoffs. Campbell was not part of the team then.
But this year, the Tribe broke out and surpassed even their own expectations, Campbell said. The Tribe finished 11-1 overall.
They won the Midwest League, made up of the Chicago Crush and Minnesota Vixen. They won the conference at 6-1 overall. They defeated the Los Angeles Amazons 19-14 in the divisional playoff, then trounced Chicago, 40-16 in regional’s, sending them to the IWFL Championship in Round Rock, Texas.
On July 25, the Tribe defeated the DC Divas 21-18 at Round Rock ISD Athletic Complex, winning the league championship in just their second year of existence.
“It was obviously a dream season for us, from start to finish,” said Mindy White, founder and general manager of the Tribe. “We needed to make some changes, and we did that. We had a lot of good new players. The pieces fell into place, and Reagan was definitely one of those pieces.”
In high school, Campbell was a four-sport athlete at Lenox.
She even toyed with playing football under coach Alan Dukes, but never acted.
For the Tribe, she plays all three facets of the game — offense, defense and special teams. She plays outside linebacker, wide receiver and punted for Williams.
At receiver, she caught 17 passes, totaling 331 yards, scored four touchdowns and averaged 36 yards per catch — one of those touchdowns being a 20-yard hook-up with quarterback Jenny Schmidt in the championship game. As well, she averaged 30.1 yards per punt.
“I tell you what, she was amazing,” Williams said. “She filled in several gaps. We needed a deep threat on offense and a physical receiver, she provided that instantly. And our punter went down, and she did some punting for us, and did that well too.”
But Campbell was most impressive on defense. At 5-9, 150 pounds, she recorded 56 tackles and had one interception, a 30-yard touchdown return. Her 56 tackles ranked 20th in the 22-team league.
“What we didn’t know, when the season started, was how tough Regan was,” Williams said. “We had a player out during the season, so we put Regan at linebacker. Her form tackling was solid. We’d watch film and I’d say to them, if you want to learn to tackle, watch Reagan. She was one of the leaders in the league in tackles.”
The foundation of the IWFL is growing stronger on a national level. Locally, the Tribe’s fan base increased by 350 people this year, White said. In their final home game at Center High School, against the Chicago Force, there was an estimated 1,000 fans
And White, as well as Campbell, expects that number to rise next year.
“It’s (women) from all walks of life. You wouldn’t believe their (day) jobs,” Campbell said. “We have lawyers, personal trainers. I am a graphic designer now. We have a grandma. We have single moms. Our fans have been great to us.”
To follow Campbell, become a Tribe fan or season ticket holder, visit www.kctribe.com or contact Mindy White at kctribe@yahoo.com.
“My family has been great. We expect our fans to return next year, at least 90 percent of them,” Campbell added. “We are going to see more sponsors, spending more money. The circles of Tribe fans will continue to get bigger and bigger.”
crestonnews.com | Key addition
- Palm Beach Punisher Recruiting
PALM BEACH PUNISHERS
Offensive Camp Aug 11th and 13th 7pm
Defensive Camp Sept 8th and 10th 7pm
Team Tryouts — October 3RD AND 4TH –9am
HOWARD PARK 1302 PARKER AVE, WPB
• Must be 18 Years and older and provide proof of Insurance
• Wear athletic clothing and bring cleats if you have them
Camp Fee – $20.00 will be applied to your tryout fee.
REGISTRATION/TRYOUT FEE – $50.00
The Punishers are a semi-pro woman’s tackle football team and apart of the IWFL. Team fees are $500.00 if you are selected for the squad and equipment is your responsibility to obtain.
If interested in trying out please contact Head Coach Scott at
punisherrecruiting@yahoo.com
www.palmbeachpunishers.com
- Palm Beach Punisher Recruiting
PALM BEACH PUNISHERS
Offensive Camp Aug 11th and 13th 7pm
Defensive Camp Sept 8th and 10th 7pm
Team Tryouts — October 3RD AND 4TH –9am
HOWARD PARK 1302 PARKER AVE, WPB
• Must be 18 Years and older and provide proof of Insurance
• Wear athletic clothing and bring cleats if you have them
Camp Fee – $20.00 will be applied to your tryout fee.
REGISTRATION/TRYOUT FEE – $50.00
The Punishers are a semi-pro woman’s tackle football team and apart of the IWFL. Team fees are $500.00 if you are selected for the squad and equipment is your responsibility to obtain.
If interested in trying out please contact Head Coach Scott at
punisherrecruiting@yahoo.com
www.palmbeachpunishers.com
By TIM FROEHLIG, Lake County Journal Twenty-eight-year-old Karissa Berg of Antioch was recently talking with one of her friends who had returned from serving in Afghanistan. Despite the fact that the friend had just come back from a combat area, Berg had one specific story that quickly topped all of his tales. "What have you been up to?" her friend asked. "I’ve been playing women’s professional football," Berg replied. She added that her friend stood there in absolute disbelief. Maybe now all Berg’s friends will believe, since she and Gurnee resident Jennifer Moore just returned home from Austin, Texas – with an Independent Women’s Football League championship trophy, of all things. "I smiled all the way home from Texas and haven’t stopped since," Moore said. "I’m feeling pretty blessed right now. I have perma-glow."
The Kansas City Tribe women’s football team won the 2009 Independent Women’s Football League championship. After beating the D.C. Divas 21-18 in a squeaker on Saturday in Austin, the team is bringing home the league’s glass trophy.
"It hasn’t quite sunk in yet," said Mindy White, the Tribe’s co-owner, general manager and linebacker, from the airport on Monday afternoon. "It’s starting to, and now that I’m sobering up a little bit, the soreness is starting to settle in. It’s the best pain ever."
Two full days after the win, the team has been celebrating non-stop, White said, her voice hoarse. White credited some outstanding defense — including a fumble recovery on the Divas’ 1-yard line, which the offense converted for a touchdown — and a consistently good offense with the victory.
The Divas brought a physical game, and White called the game "a flag-filled debacle," but after four lead changes, the Tribe sealed victory with a 2-yard touchdown run with 4:32 left in the fourth quarter that put them ahead 21-10. Two minutes later, the Divas answered with a TD and a two-point conversion, but it wasn’t enough.
White thanked the fans, about 150 of whom traveled to Austin, and promised a Tribe-style party once the team finishes shopping for a venue. Stay tuned for more details.
ThePitch Kansas City
The Kansas City Tribe women’s football team won the 2009 Independent Women’s Football League championship. After beating the D.C. Divas 21-18 in a squeaker on Saturday in Austin, the team is bringing home the league’s glass trophy.
"It hasn’t quite sunk in yet," said Mindy White, the Tribe’s co-owner, general manager and linebacker, from the airport on Monday afternoon. "It’s starting to, and now that I’m sobering up a little bit, the soreness is starting to settle in. It’s the best pain ever."
Two full days after the win, the team has been celebrating non-stop, White said, her voice hoarse. White credited some outstanding defense — including a fumble recovery on the Divas’ 1-yard line, which the offense converted for a touchdown — and a consistently good offense with the victory.
The Divas brought a physical game, and White called the game "a flag-filled debacle," but after four lead changes, the Tribe sealed victory with a 2-yard touchdown run with 4:32 left in the fourth quarter that put them ahead 21-10. Two minutes later, the Divas answered with a TD and a two-point conversion, but it wasn’t enough.
White thanked the fans, about 150 of whom traveled to Austin, and promised a Tribe-style party once the team finishes shopping for a venue. Stay tuned for more details.
ThePitch Kansas City
Al you can eat BBQ, Burgs, Dogs, music, fun and dunk tank…help celebrate the Mayhem’s Conference Championship and support their effort in heading to New Orleans in their quest for a ring.
Al you can eat BBQ, Burgs, Dogs, music, fun and dunk tank…help celebrate the Mayhem’s Conference Championship and support their effort in heading to New Orleans in their quest for a ring.
A WOMAN’S WORLD:
Schmidt a star in showcase of women’s football Saturday By ARIC ALLEN Special to the Round Rock Leader Round Rock’s introduction to women’s football ended in dramatic form Saturday, with Kansas City holding on to topple previously unbeaten D.C. The K.C. Tribe defeated the D.C. Divas 21-18 in the Independent Women’s Football League World Championship game at the Round Rock ISD Athletic Complex Saturday. The Tribe, which finished the season 10-1, was led by first-year quarterback Jenny Schmidt, one of the most prolific passers in the IWFL. In her first year in the league she passed for 3,030 yards and 41 touchdowns while only throwing 10 interceptions. Schmidt didn’t disappoint in the championship; she completed 16 of 28 passes for 236 yards and two touchdowns. She also rushed for a touchdown from 2 yards out.
A WOMAN’S WORLD:
Schmidt a star in showcase of women’s football Saturday By ARIC ALLEN Special to the Round Rock Leader Round Rock’s introduction to women’s football ended in dramatic form Saturday, with Kansas City holding on to topple previously unbeaten D.C. The K.C. Tribe defeated the D.C. Divas 21-18 in the Independent Women’s Football League World Championship game at the Round Rock ISD Athletic Complex Saturday. The Tribe, which finished the season 10-1, was led by first-year quarterback Jenny Schmidt, one of the most prolific passers in the IWFL. In her first year in the league she passed for 3,030 yards and 41 touchdowns while only throwing 10 interceptions. Schmidt didn’t disappoint in the championship; she completed 16 of 28 passes for 236 yards and two touchdowns. She also rushed for a touchdown from 2 yards out.
The Philadelphia Liberty Belles – of the Women’s Football Alliance semipro tackle league – squandered a fourth-quarter lead and fell to the Western Michigan Mayhem, 28-21, in the National Conference championship game in Kalamazoo, Mich., on Saturday.
Western Michigan’s Lisa Ludtke intercepted a pass on the Liberty Belles’ 44-yard line to set up the game-winning drive early in the final quarter.
Marirose Roach, the Belles’ leading rusher, scored her team’s first two touchdowns on a 13-yard run and 60-yard reception. Jeannette Hibbs motored for 70 yards for the Belles’ go-ahead score in the third quarter. A win on Saturday would have given the Belles (9-1) a trip to New Orleans for the WFA National Championship game on Aug. 15.
Instead, Western Michigan (10-0) will meet the St. Louis Slam (9-0) for the league title. The Slam defeated the Jacksonville Dixie Blues (9-1), 40-32, in the American Conference championship in Oakville, St. Louis, on Saturday.
Just making sure others can see this instead of it being like a page 22 somewhere on the internet….Women’s Tackle Football rules!!
The Philadelphia Liberty Belles – of the Women’s Football Alliance semipro tackle league – squandered a fourth-quarter lead and fell to the Western Michigan Mayhem, 28-21, in the National Conference championship game in Kalamazoo, Mich., on Saturday.
Western Michigan’s Lisa Ludtke intercepted a pass on the Liberty Belles’ 44-yard line to set up the game-winning drive early in the final quarter.
Marirose Roach, the Belles’ leading rusher, scored her team’s first two touchdowns on a 13-yard run and 60-yard reception. Jeannette Hibbs motored for 70 yards for the Belles’ go-ahead score in the third quarter. A win on Saturday would have given the Belles (9-1) a trip to New Orleans for the WFA National Championship game on Aug. 15.
Instead, Western Michigan (10-0) will meet the St. Louis Slam (9-0) for the league title. The Slam defeated the Jacksonville Dixie Blues (9-1), 40-32, in the American Conference championship in Oakville, St. Louis, on Saturday.
Just making sure others can see this instead of it being like a page 22 somewhere on the internet….Women’s Tackle Football rules!!
8/24 to present WFA related material for a display. We will be featured on the HOF website and allowed to do a clinic at adjacent Fawcett Stadium. I am asking all teams WFA, IWFL) if they wish to contribute anything for the display or be there with us to contact me.
John Evans
Head Coach / CoOwner
Binghamton Tiger Cats
jevans@sjfc.edu
more details and a press release coming soon, stay tuned….
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