Tag: Sarah Fuller

Vanderbilt K Sarah Fuller endorses Cardinals’ hiring of Devin Fitzsimmons

He helped her in her adjustment to college football, becoming the first woman to score in a Power Five football game.

The Arizona Cardinals announced the addition of Devin Fitzsimmons to their coaching staff this week as an assistant special teams coach, working under special teams coordinator and assistant head coach Jeff Rodgers. He was previously the special teams coach and tight ends coach for Vanderbilt.

He was part of history at Vanderbilt. Last December, when kicker Sarah Fuller made an extra point, she became the first woman in history to score in a Power Five college football game.

Fuller also plays soccer for Vanderbilt.

Fuller fully supports the Cardinals’ hiring of Fitzsimmons. She tweeted her support of him.

Fitzsimmons is back in the NFL. He was at Vanderbilt for two years after five seasons as a special teams assistant with the Detroit Lions from 2014-2018.

The Cardinals could use Fitzsimmons’ track record with kickers. Over the five seasons he was with Detroit. Matt Prater made 86.3% of his field goals.

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Sarah Fuller will speak during Joe Biden, Kamala Harris inauguaration

Sarah Fuller of Vanderbilt will deliver a statement during the inauguration. It was taped at Vanderbilt’s football stadium

Talk about going from soccer goalkeeper for an SEC championship team to loftier heights.

Sarah Fuller, who kicked for Vanderbilt’s football team after he title run with the Commodores’ women’s soccer team, will deliver a speech at the inauguration of President Joe Biden on Wednesday.

She’s expected to speak during the inauguration of Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, who will become the first female vice president in American history. Fuller taped a video for the inauguration last week at Vanderbilt’s football stadium, Yahoo Sports’ Pete Thamel reported.

Attendance at the inauguration will be strictly curtailed because of the COVID-19 pandemic and security measures put in place after a violent mob supporting President Donald Trump invaded the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 as Congress was certifying Biden’s victory.

 

 

Sarah Fuller will join University of North Texas soccer team as a graduate transfer

Fuller has had a busy few weeks.

It’s been an eventful few weeks for Sarah Fuller.

The Vanderbilt soccer goalie made history when she became the first woman to appear in a Power 5 football game, then made history again when she became the first woman to score points in a Power 5 football game when she kicked an extra point.

Now her athletic career will take her to a new school.

Fuller, who will graduate in May from Vanderbilt, will enroll next year at the University of North Texas, where she will retain eligibility as a graduate transfer and work toward her Master’s.

Via SoccerWire:

“A big part of our championship success at UNT has always been having a great keeper in goal for us throughout my time here,” said head coach John Hedlund who is entering his 26th season and is the only head coach the Mean Green have ever had. “Sarah brings that presence with her experience as the starter for Vanderbilt this season and playing in the SEC. At 6-foot-1 she has the size, athletic ability and obviously the experience to dominate in goal and add to our eight championships in C-USA. We’re excited to have Sarah for the next two years working on her master’s degree here at UNT. Welcome home!”

Hedlund has built North Texas into a powerhouse, winning 16 conference championships in his time running the program.

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Sarah Fuller announces her kicking career is over, thanks Vanderbilt for ‘amazing opportunity’

This season, Sarah Fuller became the first woman to play and score points in a Power 5 football game.

The Georgia-Vanderbilt was called off, yet again, but this time, it means Commodores senior kicker Sarah Fuller’s football career is likely over.

The Bulldogs and Commodores were originally scheduled to play December 5, but that game was postponed because of a shortage of players on Vanderbilt’s roster with positive COVID-19 tests and contact tracing. Rescheduled for Saturday, that game is now canceled, the SEC announced Monday, because the Commodores don’t have enough players again.

And Monday night, Fuller announced that her short-lived but historic football career is probably ending.

Against Missouri at the end of November, Fuller — who’s also the soccer team’s championship-winning goalkeeper — became the first woman to play in a Power 5 game, taking the field for a specially designed squib kick to start the second half of the game. And then Saturday against Tennessee, she kicked two good extra points and became the first woman to score in a Power 5 game.

In a note on social media reacting to the cancellation of the Georgia-Vanderbilt game, Fuller wrote:

“It looks like my time as a football player has come to an end. I would like to personally thank the entire Vanderbilt football team, coaches, and support staff for this amazing opportunity to be part of this program. I was accepted as an athlete and a true member of this team. This is an experience that I will never forget and cherish forever. Good luck to the seniors and staff who are moving on to new adventures. My best wishes to the team as this program moves forward and continues to grow.”

But Fuller isn’t done with college sports altogether.

After she helping her soccer team win the SEC tournament in November, she’ll be back for the NCAA tournament, which the NCAA pushed back to the spring because of the global pandemic. More via Yahoo Sports about Fuller’s future:

After that, Fuller plans to transfer to North Texas. She’s planning on playing two more years of soccer and has no designs to play football. She told Yahoo Sports recently that her passion remains in soccer, but she said that if North Texas ever needed her in a pinch, she’d gladly step up.

“We’ve watched with admiration and great respect how Sarah has handled herself in making history at Vanderbilt,” North Texas athletic director Wren Baker said by phone on Monday. “We look forward to welcoming her to the Mean Green family and helping her extend her platform. I know she’s a role model for lots of people in the country, particularly young female athletes.”

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Former NFL kicker Lawrence Tynes praises Vanderbilt’s Sarah Fuller

Two-time Super Bowl champ Lawrence Tynes thinks the world of what Vanderbilt’s Sarah Fuller has done

Sarah Fuller has kicked in two games for Vanderbilt, a squib kickoff, and two extra points. Her accomplishments have been praised by many and diminished by those who think the choice of the soccer goalkeeper was a stunt.

Former NFL kicker Lawrence Tynes won’t hear any of the nonsense.

Tynes, who played for the Kansas City Chiefs, New York Giants, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers told the Boston Globe making any kick is an accomplishment.

Per the Globe:

“I think the most impressive thing she did, and It’s something I struggled with in college, was getting the ball off in 1.3 seconds,” longtime NFL kicker Lawrence Tynes told Globe columnist Tara Sullivan Monday. “People just see the kick, and because everyone can do that — I mean we kick at high schools locally and we see people doing it all the time, they’re having fun, making kicks from 30 or 40 yards — but from a game perspective, they would never get that kick off. Or it’s too low. She got the ball up and got it off in time, something that took me a year and a half to learn in college. That’s a long time, and I was a talented kicker.

“Kicking, to the world, has become something that everyone thinks they can do because we’re so good at what we do, we make it look easy. It’s like a golfer hitting wedges at Augusta, they hit it to 2 feet. That comes from millions of reps, thousands of hours of practice.”

Tynes also challenged anyone who is being critical to try doing it.

“Kicking is kicking,” said Tynes, a two-time Super Bowl winner who did not have a Power Five resume, having kicked for Troy State. “I think it’s awesome. It’s impressive. I didn’t get into it with people on social media, but I saw them. She put herself out there and she tried it. That’s the message. She put herself out there. She could have failed on those PATs, but she didn’t. Everyone says that they can make it. I call your bluff.”

Fuller. meanwhile, said it looks like her career on the gridiron has come to a close. Vanderbilt’s game with Georgia on Saturday has been canceled due to COVID-19 issues.

 

Vols end losing streak with victory at Vanderbilt

Recapping Tennessee’s 42-17 victory over Vanderbilt.

A long run of futility came to an end for the University of Tennessee football team Saturday as the Volunteers notched a 42-17 victory over Vanderbilt in Nashville.

Tennessee’s victory snapped a six-game losing streak and was the Vols’ first win since defeating Missouri in October.

Tennessee (3-6, 3-6 SEC) used three quarterbacks against the Commodores (0-9, 0-9 SEC).

Tennessee quarterback Harrison Bailey (15) throws to a receiver during warmups of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

Freshman Harrison Bailey started under center for the Big Orange and completed his first 14 passes. He did, however, lose a fumble in the red zone, leading to a go-ahead field goal by Vanderbilt’s Pierson Cook that made the score 10-7 early in the second quarter.

Bailey finished 14-for-18 with 207 yards and two touchdowns.

Tennessee quarterback J.T. Shrout (12) throws a pass under pressure during the second quarter at Vanderbilt Stadium Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020 in Nashville, Tenn. © George Walker IV / Tennessean.com via Imagn Content Services, LLC

J.T. Shrout also had a pair of scoring strikes, while going 6-for-13 and amassing 90 yards. He also had one interception.

Brian Maurer also played quarterback for the Vols and reeled off a 22-yard run.

Bailey’s 74-yard scoring pass to Velus Jones Jr. was Tennessee’s longest play from scrimmage this season.

Tennessee running back Ty Chandler (8) races up the field for a touchdown during the third quarter at Vanderbilt Stadium Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020 in Nashville, Tenn. © George Walker IV / Tennessean.com via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Ty Chandler had a 20-yard scamper and Bryce Thompson returned an interception for a Vols’ touchdown.

Jones Jr. was UT’s leading receiver, finishing with seven receptions (including two touchdowns) and amassing 125 yards.

Princeton Fant and Jalin Hyatt also caught touchdowns for the Big Orange, which led 28-10 at halftime.

Tennessee defensive lineman Ja’Quain Blakely (48) pressures Vanderbilt quarterback Ken Seals (8) as he throws during the second quarter at Vanderbilt Stadium Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020 in Nashville, Tenn. © George Walker IV / Tennessean.com via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Vanderbilt freshman quarterback Ken Seals had two touchdowns and Commodores’ kicker Sarah Fuller made history as she became the first woman to score in a Power Five contest. She kicked two extra points.

Tennessee kicker Toby Wilson made his debut and was 5-for-5 kicking PATs.

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Tennessee leads Vanderbilt in historic first half

First-half recap of UT’s game against Vanderbilt.

After falling behind 10-7, the Tennessee football team scored 21 unanswered points and the Volunteers have a 28-10 lead at halftime.

The Vols have used three quarterbacks in the first half.

Harrison Bailey started, going 7-for-7 and threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Princeton Fant to open the scoring. He did lose a fumble in the red zone that would lead to a 39-yard field goal by Vanderbilt’s Pierson Cooke that gave the Commodores a 10-7 lead.

Tennessee tight end Princeton Fant (88) celebrates a touchdown with offensive lineman Jerome Carvin (75) as Vanderbilt cornerback Jaylen Mahoney (23) walks away during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

Vanderbilt tied the game late in the first quarter when Ken Seals threw a scoring strike to Cam Johnson. Sarah Fuller made the game-tying extra point, becoming the first woman to score a point in a Power Five game.

J.T. Shrout had two touchdown passes while going 6-for-12 for 90 yards. His scoring strikes went to Velus Jones Jr. and Jalin Hyatt.

Bryce Thompson had a defensive score for Tennessee when he intercepted Seals and returned the ball to the end zone.

Brian Maurer took one snap at quarterback and reeled off a 22-yard run for the Vols, who will get the ball to start the second half.

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Sarah Fuller makes history as the first woman to score points in Power 5 game

Fuller converted on an extra point in Vanderbilt’s game against Tennessee.

Sarah Fuller became the first woman to score in a Power 5 game on Saturday when she converted an extra point in Vanderbilt’s game against Tennessee.

Fuller joined the football team this season after winning an SEC championship with the Vanderbilt soccer team. In Vanderbilt’s last matchup she became the first woman believed to have appeared in a Power 5 game when she kicked off after halftime in a Vanderbilt loss to

Now she’s scored the first point, and after she did so, she received a warm congratulations for her teammates on the field … then was mobbed on the sideline by teammates who surrounded her. You can catch the celebration at the very end of the clip here.

A very cool moment to witness.

Correction: This article originally stated Fuller was the first woman to appear in an FBS game. She was the first woman to appear in a Power 5 conference game. 

Sarah Fuller made history, then gave Vanderbilt halftime speech: ‘We need to be lifting each other up’

Sarah Fuller becomes first woman to score a point in Power Five game

Vanderbilt’s Sarah Fuller is the first woman to score a point in a Power Five college football game.

Vanderbilt kicker Sarah Fuller became the first woman to play in a Power Five college football game Nov. 28 against Missouri.

Fuller entered the contest during the third quarter when she kicked off to Missouri.

Against Tennessee Saturday, Fuller connected on an extra point in the first quarter. With the extra point, she became the first woman to score in a Power Five game.

Fuller is a goalkeeper on the Commodores’ soccer team and joined the football squad after COVID-19 contact tracing affected Vanderbilt’s roster.

Vanderbilt place kicker Sarah Fuller (32) kicks an extra point to tie up the game against Tennessee during the first quarter at Vanderbilt Stadium Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020 in Nashville, Tenn. © George Walker IV / Tennessean.com via Imagn Content Services, LLC

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