It wasn’t a perfect day by any means but it was a significant one in the world of collegiate sports and female participation.
Sarah Fuller, who is normally the goalkeeper on Vanderbilt’s SEC Champion women’s soccer team, became the first female to participate in a Power Five football contest on Saturday as she suited up and performed the second-half kickoff in Vanderbilt’s game at Missouri.
Unfortunately, the Commodores were shut out 41-0 at Missouri and Fuller wasn’t able to attempt any field goals or extra points.
Despite the blowout loss for Fuller and the Commodores, it’s still a significant milestone for women in sports.
What happened for this to come to be was that Vanderbilt had multiple specialists who tested positive for COVID-19 and were unable to participate in Saturday’s game.
When those tests became known by Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason he approached Fuller about trying out for the sudden opening at kicker.
Sarah Fuller.
Remember the name. #PlayLikeAGirl | #AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/BBOR91421I
— Vanderbilt Football (@VandyFootball) November 28, 2020
Mason called Fuller “a trooper” and “a champ” for stepping up in the significant moment.
Fuller, whose helmet had a sticker that read “Play like a girl” on the back of it, was obviously excited about her accomplishment after the game.
“Honestly, it’s just so exciting,” Fuller said. “The fact that I can represent all the girls out there that have wanted to do this or thought about playing football or any sport really, and it encourages them to be able to step out and do something big like this, it’s awesome.”
Fuller was the first-ever female to participate on a Power Five football team but the third female ever participates in an FBS game.
Fuller joined Katie Hnida of New Mexico and April Goss of Kent State in the accomplishment.
Despite the outcome for Vanderbilt, it is still an amazing accomplishment for Sarah Fuller.