Female Kicker Tries Out at Va. Tech

41 Comments

It’s kind of hard to hit Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer with something he has never seen. But in 25 years, we doubt Beamer (below) has ever had to evaluate a female kicker – until Monday.

Freshman Lauren Luttrell tried out for Hokies and did well enough to earn an invite to spring practice next year, the Washington Post reported Tuesday.

“Right now, it’s kind of tough to come out there and get a lot of attention. Things are happening so fast right now,” Beamer told the Post. “But I was impressed with her and we’ll bring her back out there in the spring.”

Luttrell is not a novice kicker. According to the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star last year, she booted 10 extra points and a 31-yard field goal for Spotsylvania High School in Spotsylvania, VA, last fall after coverting from soccer.

It’s going to be hard for any walk-on to earn a spot as an ACC kicker, but we hope that Luttrell gets a fair shake next spring.

[Washington Post]

10:25 AM on 8/31/2011

FREDDYKOOL

FREDDYKOOL: “WHO DA THUNK IT?”
Ted

What’s up with Beamer’s mug being the pic for the article. His pointing and ranting about something has nohting to do with the story. How about a pic of the kicker in action or something. We’ve all seen Beamer a gazillion times on the tube.
womenrock

Good for her I wish her the best and hope she does well!!
Girl Power!
99Problems

There’s no place for a woman in football. It is a mans sport. She might get hurt. She needs to stick to soccer, volleyball, or cooking.
- http://LostLettermen.com raidersfan12
  
  Hey 99problems,
  
  Just shut up and let it be. She has as much right to play football as anyone. Besides there are a lot of men who play soccer and volleyball, and that cook so get off her back.
  - tadpole59
    
    Maybe 99problems is afraid of a little old girl beating him?????? Those who can do, those who can’t b****!
  - GirlzRule
    
    99 there is no place for ur ignorance either!! if this is ur attitude towards women its a wonder u only have 99problems!!
- Tom
  
  I appreciate the depth and consideration you put into your comment. It must have been difficult for you to crawl out of the 19th century to say what’s in your heart. On the other hand, she MIGHT know what kind of a physical risk footbal entails. Don’t worry, she’s a young woman, and likely she’s learned to take care of herself (they’ve been doing that for a while now). If you’re still worried, you can always learn how to cook so you can make something to eat when you get the courage to move out of your mother’s basement. It’s a big world out there. Be brave.
- EHR
  
  How about she shows you how well she can kick a field goal?
- futureboy
  
  Male kickers get hurt, too, like the guy from the Chargers.
Randy

Her best ever was 31 yards in High School. Thats not great even by High School standards. I believe if she can beat or match the other college kickers then fine, give her a shot but if she can’t do any better than 31 yards then she is not college ball material.
- PA2AK
  
  If that’s true…she’ll be hard pressed to make the team. Who knows what she can actually do though. My old H.S. coach wouldn’t even call for a 30 yard FG. I don’t see a problem at all with this. Kind of hard to give any favoritism in college ball. It’s put up or shut up. Pretty simple…if she’s better than the others…she’s better. As for the physical side of it…I bet she can handle herself better than some of the pro kickers I’ve seen when it comes to tackling a play (on the off chance that opportunity comes up). Seriously….you tellin me that the kickers we currently have in college/pros are “manly”.
TexasForever

Oh, go ahead
Put her on the team.
What are you a sexist?
How about making all of her teammates and her opponent come off the field when she kicks.
Better yet…..let her kick until she makes it……each time she misses move the ball 5 yards closer to the field post.
P-ficiation of America continues!
- Tom
  
  My heart breaks for you. I understand you fear the cesspool of mediocrity our fine country is slipping into. But please don’t be hurt because the coaches couldn’t pass over EVERY woman who was faster, stronger and more talented than you. We have to keep our standards.
- yuri
  
  lmaaaaaaaaaaaooooooooooo
Steve

Seriously,….how “Hokie” can you get?
-Well coach I kicked some point afters and I even hit a 31 yarder.
-Hmmm…you sound like the kind of gal we need to bring in more fans! How do you feel about wearing Volleyball shorts during the game?
raeven

you know. If she kicks good, and she earns her way onto the team, then she deserves it. However if she doesn’t end up qualifying to the normal standards then she shouldn’t be given leeway because she is female. People are people and if they can do something then that’s great. If they can’t then they have to deal with it. It shouldn’t be about whether they are male or female.
- rjwptl
  
  Good Call
Dave

Now there’s someone on the team to make dinner and bring the guys lemonade when it gets hot out
- Tom
  
  You overlooked your jealousy (because she obviously has better game than you) and volunteered to serve drinks? That’s very kind. When your done, she might let you hold her backpack. Be careful, it’s probably a little heavier than a six-pack and I’d hate to see you strain yourself. .
http://LostLettermen.com raidersfan12

raeven,

I agree with you. 99problems why don’t you make it 100problems.
Donna

As a young woman I could out long jump AND out kick boys on the track and football teams in school (AAA ball and state champs in T/F). I (unofficially) broke the boys state long jump record by 2.3 in. It is not impossible to think she can handle it. I know I could have if the coach could see past my tits and let me try out. I played ball with the guys for pick up games and I could dish hits out and take them. At least he’s giving her a shot. However, I totally agree that no special provisions sould be made for her. She’s gotta be able to do 2 things as a kicker; kick a ball accurately and with distance AND take a hit.

P.S. I’m 5’4″ and 140, so not an amazon.
- PA2AK
  
  the p.s. was good. haha
  - Jmac
    
    BS you broke the boys state long jump record. I get trying to prove a point, but don’t tell lies like that.
http://YARDBARKER.com M. Chatman

If she can kick, so be it, but our girls need to understand that there are just some things that women aren’t meant to do. I mean whats wrong with just being a woman. It must be great because so many American men want to be women. We have become a Nation of chumps.
- Futureboy
  
  What’s the big deal? Women aren’t meant to kick a ball? That’s pretty ridiculous. Let her try out — no special treatment. If she’s good enough to make the team, then let her be on the team. If not, cut her.
Oh come on

Seriously, how ungentlemanly to criticize her because her longest FG in a game was 31 yards. First of all, that’s entirely not bad for HS. Second, how long was her longest kick in a game has a lot to do with what positions the offense left her in. If her only attempts were 31 and less, and 40 and longer, then hitting the 31 seems pretty good, especially for HS.

I realize being reasonable isn’t sports fans’ strong suit, but seriously: if Beamer thought she did well enough at tryouts to justify a place in Spring Training, then she probably did well enough in tryouts to justify a place in Spring Training. It’s not like the coach was looking for an excuse to get a girl onto the team.

And, yes: she could get hurt. Since the kicker is normally also the free safety (after the ball’s airborne), sometimes the kicker does risk getting hurt. But male kickers are normally the smallest guys on the field by a wide margin anyway, and at serious risk of getting themselves hurt any time they actually have to make a play. If she wants to put herself in that same category, it doesn’t seem so different.
GirlzRule

to all u ignorant a**** that think women shouldnt play “mens” sports…bite it!!! u BOYS r just jealous, and afraid she will show up all the little boys on the field!!! HAHAHA If she is capable of doing the same job as the boys, then let her have at it!!! U GO GIRL!!!
- PA2AK
  
  i’d be funny to watch a guy be allowed to play in the girls’ league. I know it’s totally different with there being no “real” girls college ball…just sayin’
Anonymous

who cares whether the player is male or female?? It is a player-do good you keep your job; don’t cut it-you lose your job. Very simple.
- futureboy
  
  Agreed.
JOe Smoe

I wonder how she’ll go over in the locker room and showers.
- PA2AK
  
  that’s a recipe for disaster…people are people. college kids are…college kids.
- futureboy
  
  A separate place to dress and shower is a reasonable accommodation for her. No other special treatment.
http://nj_atchison@live.com lilwildwolf21

I say give her a chance…to all those people you dislike the idea go drool over the LFL (lingerie football league) I have seen it once or twice myself. However, those hits that those girls take wearing what they are wearing I doubt half the men could take those hits and get up again. Some of those hits would take a pro football player out for a year with how hard they are hitting. To say football is ” A mans sport” is just plan stupid. The fact that she use to play soccer is an actual advantage to her. Two brother that I played football with use to play soccer in the Twin Cities. Moved to a small town in western Wisconsin where soccer was not even a sport you could play in high school so they then turned in to kickers. The oldest brother nailed a 61 yard field goal in pre-game warm ups. During the game he nailed a 58 yard field that went about 30 yards pass the up rights and into our practice field. He later graduated and went to play for the Badgers. Played two years there before he was never heard of again no one knows why most suspect drugs where the reason. His younger brother didn’t have the leg speed but the strength to do almost the same thing. He didn’t have the speed in his legs like his older brother but he had the accuracy until about 45 yards then it was hit and miss. My point is if she can get coached right she will be better then most kickers. However, i don’t agree with just giving her a spot because she is a girl and can kick. I believe she needs to earn it just like everyone else does.
A.Johnson

All you clowns shut the h*** up, one botched field goal, and she could get killed, woman get off that womans rights crap, society is trying to change women into men and men into women, look at movies like i now pronounce you chuck and Larry , and little Fockers . the girls are tough while the little boys are wimpy and androgenous. Hey men out there get a pair and stop trying to be politically correct. Football is violent there are well trained athletes who are paralyzed and even killed.
- futureboy
  
  I agree with your general comments on society and PC garbage, but I see no problem letting a woman play football if she’s good enough and handle it. NO SPECIAL RULES!
VARavens7

As a walk-on for VA Tech, I made 28 out of 30 FG in my tryout for Coach Beamer. Out of six kickers, I was tied for the best. Only two kickers made the cut and both of them had scholarships…so obviouslyI got cut when I was as good as or better than both of them. I wish her well, but in the end, if she doesn’t have an athletic scholarship, she won’t make the team.
1whoknows

Having the ability to make a FG from 40 yds isn’t going to get you on any college team. Being able to make FGs from 50 yds consistently will…but you better have an athletic scholarship or they’ll drop you like a hot potato.
- futureboy
  
  If she can boom 50+ yard FGs consistently, someone will give her a chance, or even a scholarship. May have to go to D-IAA, D-II, or a smaller D-I school.
Sterling S. Steele

Is there a Brenda Lee Rigsby out there? She is from Spotsylvania, VA. We worked at the F.B.I. in 1980 early in the year.

Female Kicker Tries Out at Va. Tech

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