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Female Football Player Toni Harris Makes History By Signing Letter of Intent to Play College Football by Donna John

February 28, 2019

Female Football Player Toni Harris Makes History By Signing Letter of Intent to Play College Football

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Central Methodist University (CMU) in Missouri and a woman named Toni Harris made history this week. Harris signed a letter of intent and accepted a scholarship to CMU, which makes her the first female football player that's not a kicker to sign a letter of intent for a college to play football.

For the last two seasons, Harris has played football at East Los Angeles College as a safety. According to an ESPN article, Harris began playing football at the age of 6 in Detroit, and played cornerback and wide receiver at Redford Union High School in Michigan.

Welcome to the FL19HTCREW 🦅@_Antoinetteeeee pic.twitter.com/veltWV9mpi
— CMU Football (@CMUEaglesFB) February 27, 2019

"A lot of coaches didn't believe in me," Harris told ESPN. "A coach told me, 'Nobody's ever going to play you to be at the next level.' In the end, you've got to push yourself. I'm going to focus on my goals."

Harris was seen in Toyota’s Super Bowl commercial, and her ultimate goal is to play in the National Football League.

"The NFL is the dream," Harris told ESPN. "I'm going to be working toward that until the death of me. Whether I go drafted or undrafted, I'm pretty sure I'm going to keep my faith and God is going to take me there."

Toni Harris (@_Antoinetteeeee) just became the first female skill position player to receive a college football scholarship.

And she has dreams of playing in the NFL for the @Seahawks 🙌 pic.twitter.com/8gH2g1ytRR
— NFL (@NFL) February 27, 2019

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I just love this. Girl power!

Like Reply 2 7 years ago

Elisa Schmitz

This is amazing! I had goosebumps reading this. Way to go, Toni! Way to represent and be a role model for other female athletes that this can be done. We are proud of you! Thanks for sharing this, Donna John .

Like Reply 1 7 years ago

Mike Prochaska

I agree great role model for girls and female althletes

So will they let women into the NFL? Should they let women into the NFL? Or should they make a new league like the NBA did?

You should write a post about that. :-)

Also I love this! Just was trying to start a discussion. Teacher Karen

Teacher Karen

No not another league...they tried that already didn't they--in my mind it seemed to be the lingerie league...this gal is serious about football. I say it she can compete at that level, just like any other player, let her go for it. How do you think the other guys would feel? Would opposing players treat her differently?

Good question ? What everyone else think? Donna John Elisa All Schmitz 30Seconds Chef Gigi Gaggero

Like 1 7 years ago

I agree with you, Teacher Karen , no separate league. But if talented women like this one wish to play, they should be given a fair shot. I’m so excited for her! I played football up until I was in eighth grade, Mike Prochaska . Always trying to do whatever my older brother was doing! I also played “powder puff” football in high school. I just loved the game!

Like 3 7 years ago

Yes it was a lingerie league I beleive and I wonder how the men in the league who take it too. Would they gang up on her? Would they make a special locker room? Elisa All Schmitz 30Seconds Teacher Karen Donna John

Like 2 7 years ago

I want to know what the 30seconds women think about this! Would any of you play football? Elisa All Schmitz 30Seconds Amanda Armstrong Allison Peacock Alysa Bajenaru Ally Ritt Becky Lane Teri Brown Alysa Bajenaru Annie Burnside Susan Boggs Christine Wolf Christie Gosch Beth Aldrich, CHC, AADP, CNT Angela Chee Demika Caldwell @2eatwellrd Karla DiNoto Karla DiNoto @30secondmom @elizabeth-j- Elizabeth J. Traub Shel Franco Rachel Nieman Lisa Faremouth Weber Lisa Faremouth Weber @therobertomara Ronnie Olesker @roni Brian Mackenzie

Christie Gosch Shannon Guernsey Coulter Alicia Gonzalez Gail Gedan Spencer Holly Budde Elizabeth Pagel-Hogan Gail Gedan Spencer

That 'fair shot' can be taken a couple ways-- giving her the opportunity because she has the talent OR making exceptions because she isn't on par with the other players. Reading the article, what I got about her was she was her determination and passion--I think she believes she can do it.
I would be curious what her opponents feel. I know there were several boys on my son's soccer team who were hesitant to be as aggressive in their play against this one team who had a girl playing (turned out her Dad was coach AND another player was her boyfriend) lead to some high emotions--as far as I was concerned she was just 1 of the 11 opposing players

Like Reply 3 7 years ago

Yes this what I was wondering too. And Elisa All Schmitz 30Seconds it awesome you played football! I can’t wait to hear from the rest of the 30secondmoms stories.

Joe Campbell

I've told my daughter she could play in the NFL

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