Gender barrier broken in Divi~sionI fOotball

by Tracy Timson sports editor

A long brown ponytail hung out from underneath Ashley Martin's helmet. Yes, she is a kicker for Jacksonville State. She is part of the football team. The only part that is visibly female.

Martin earned her place on the team when she kicked 20 out of 22 extra points during scrimmages. She shortly became the first woman to play in a Division I football game. Not only did she play but she also scored three extra points for the team. Her extra points helped the team beat Cumberland 71- 10. "I don't think about the fact that I may be the first girl to play for Jacksonville StateUniversity's football team. They've given me a job and I'm going to do it.girl or not."

Her coach Jack Crowe asked Martin to kick for the team when he realized the team needed another kicker. ''There is no better competitor than Ashley Martin.,"said Crowe. She is also part of the Jacksonville State soccer team and it was said on ABCnews.com "unless there is a soccer conflict she is in uniform."

Martin actually was crowned homecoming queen of East Coweta County High School in her football uniform. This may not have been her first time on the playing field but it was a first for the Division I category.

Martin was quoted saying " I didn't do a thing, all these guys put all the heart and hard work in it." Although she feels as if she did not do anything she did break the gender barrier for Division I football.

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