Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason said Sarah Fuller’s kickoff went ‘exactly where she needed to punch it’

Vanderbilt’s Sarah Fuller became the first woman to play in a Power 5 college football game Saturday.

Sarah Fuller did exactly what she was supposed to do Saturday during Vanderbilt’s road game against Missouri, Commodores coach Derek Mason said after his team’s 41-0 loss.

Vanderbilt’s soccer player turned football kicker took the field to start the third quarter for the opening second-half kickoff, making her the first woman to play in an SEC and Power 5 college football game. And her squib kick was designed specifically for her and went as planned — despite some misguided criticism from people on the internet who apparently have never seen this play before.

The kick went 30 yards to Missouri’s 35-yard line, where the Tigers were unable to return it.

In Mason’s postgame Zoom press conference, he explained the play call and why it worked for Fuller, whose only been practicing with the football team for a few days after her soccer season ended last Sunday:

“That was designed, you know, meant for her because that’s what she used to striking. You know, really, we tried to go with the most natural kicks in her arsenal.

“Tried not to, you know, over-coach her, but let her do and understand what felt comfortable to her. And that’s really what we went with. Man, I thought she punched it exactly where she needed to punch it. Ball’s down, 35-yard line. Let’s go.”

After the game, Mason said the team looked at some other people who could possibly kick for it, but Fuller was “our best option” with her natural ability. Mason also noted that her playing “was out of necessity,” not Vanderbilt’s way of trying to make a statement or PR stunt.

And if she’s willing to stick around with the team a little longer, Mason said “we’d love to have her” keep playing this season. More from his postgame Zoom press conference:

“She’s been a trooper. I mean, she came right in, she was all about the challenge. Man, I have the utmost respect for her, for [soccer coach] Darren Ambrose for allowing this to happen, and for her to be a part of it.

“Look, man, she could have very easily said no in this. And instead, you know, man, she prepared all week. And she did what she was supposed to do. She was as prepared as anybody.”

Because Vanderbilt’s offense struggled to do much of anything, Fuller didn’t have the opportunity to attempt a field goal.

But in her own Zoom press conference, she said she’d love to keep practicing and playing for the football team and hopes to have a chance to kick a field goal at some point. She said her longest field goal in practice so far was 38 yards.

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