The Atlantic East Conference starts women's football football as a university sports

In Lincoln Financial Field there were an appropriate proportion of historical moments at home, but on Monday it became the backdrop for a historical moment in women's flag football.

The Atlantic East conference organized a media day for the opening season of the flag football for women and was the first conference among all college divisions that recognized women's football as NCAA sports.

Julie Hirshey, the Vice President of the Community Relations for the Eagles, described the players and coaches as “Trailblazer” as part of what she described as a “historical moment here in Philadelphia”.

“They provide a basis for women and what flag football for women College flags will be in the future,” said Hirshey. “It starts with you today, they prove that football is for everyone.”

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In its opening season, the Atlantic East Conference teams from the 100th century, east, Holy Family, Immaculata, Marymount, Neumann and Penn State Schuylkill will have. In 2026 the Chestnut Hill College and Marywood will take part in the conference.

Last season there was a one-day tournament with a semi-final and championship game. Mary -off came to the extreme, with Immaculata Hosting and Neumann and Centenary also participating. This year will be the first full season for sport.

“We achieved a victory last year, and that was a kind of something we prepared for a few weeks, and then we came and we didn't really know what to expect,” said Mia Clevano, a student in the second year at Marymount. “This year we are trying to be more deliberate. We deliberately train everything we do in practice. We are deliberately trying to present ourselves in this way, and I think that everything we try to do is as a MARYMOUNT and also as a flag football team. “

Natalie Dodd, a student in the second year at Immaculata, who lost last year in the championship game against Marymount, said that last year a day was a great experience, but there is a lot of excitement.

“Now that there is operation and there are so many other teams and [we’re] Really excited [that there’s] Much more competition, ”said Dodd. “You get to know a lot more people and learn a lot more.”

But it is not just the growth of the conference that Dodd and other players have inspired. It is also the possibility of growth for sport in the future.

“Flag football is the future,” said Haley Price, a junior from Neumann. “You can look at the NFL that tries to bring them out so much, and we start as a girl and perform as sports as women guided by women, and I think that is just very important. Try it hard and then you can inspire the next generation to take it after us. “

“Read more: Neumann University presents its growth of women's flag foot

At the price, this next generation covers its six -year -old niece, who said she wanted to play flag football after learning that her aunt joined the Knights' team.

“It's just crazy to be there and let her grow as a sport,” said Price. “It will simply continue to inspire people and inspire women to try everything.”

Her trainer Nellie Mixon, a graduate of Neumann from 2006, says that actions like this change the discussions about women's sports.

“I have the feeling that it will come for a long time. Women should have been able to play flag football a long time ago, ”said Mixon. “The rhetoric of men who only believe that it is a man of a man has pushed everyone to like. Women could do as much as they can do, and in a way we could do it better. “

While the introduction of Varsity flag football accelerates the growth of sport, it also evokes a number of interest to the colleges.

During a coach and administrator Panel, the recruitment of Holy Family's head coach, Charles Hopkins, was “surprisingly overwhelming”.

“I got waves from e -mails from all over the country. And I want: 'How do you know who I am? How do you know who we are? We just started, ”said Hopkins. “I spoke to parents and athletes in Alabama, in Tennessee and Colorado, in Arizona. It's really very, huge. “

“Read more: The girl's flag football is on the advance in Pennsylvania – with the help of the Eagles

There is still work when the opening season begins on Friday. But Hopkins took a minute to remind the athletes of everything they have achieved so far.

“Don't measure what you achieve in the numbers. You are here, you have already won, ”said Hopkins. “This is size. Without the size of others, we cannot be great. You are all great. That is why you will reach size, and your size will go into the next ladies on the next women sitting on these seats to wear their jersey numbers and come to their schools. “