Fuller hoping to stick with team after becoming first woman to play in Power 5 college football game
SHOWS:
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, UNITED STATES (NOVEMBER 29, 2020) (VANDERBILT ATHLETICS - MUST COURTESY 'VANDERBILT ATHLETICS')
1. VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL PLAYER SARAH FULLER SPEAKING AT WEBCAM INTERVIEW
2. (SOUNDBITE)(English) VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL PLAYER SARAH FULLER AFTER BEING ASKED WHO HER ROLE MODELS ARE, SAYING:
"I think the people I looked up to were probably like the U.S. Women's National (Soccer) Team growing up. I can remember watching their games and watching the World Cups and Olympics and I just thought that was so amazing what they do and how they represent their, our country and everything. I, they've probably been my biggest influence. Like Sydney Leroux and Megan Rapinoe and all those people have been incredible role models so it's amazing that I'm getting the opportunity to do something similar."
3. WHITE FLASH
4. (SOUNDBITE)(English) VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL PLAYER SARAH FULLER AFTER BEING ASKED WHEN SHE DECIDED SHE WANTED TO TRY FOOTBALL, SAYING:
"Last semester, me and Sophie, the other goalkeeper on the team (Vanderbilt University women's soccer team), we were done with our training and we were in the indoor (practice field) and were kicking field goals with soccer balls and we were trying to work our way back and I think I got to midfield at one point and I was like, oh this is kind of fun, and then this year, or last week actually, we were on the bus watching the Vanderbilt football team and I was kind of like watching everything and I was like I feel like I could do that, and my teammates went no, like that's funny, and I said no I really do, like I think I could do that, and then it happened so, so that was crazy."
5. WHITE FLASH
6. (SOUNDBITE)(English) VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL PLAYER SARAH FULLER AFTER BEING ASKED IF SHE KNOWS WHETHER SHE WILL CONTINUE TO PLAY FOR VANDERBILT FOOTBALL TEAM, SAYING:
"I talked with Fitz (Special Teams coach Devin Fitzsimmons) during the game actually and he was, my special teams coach, and he was like, we'd love to have you stick around, and I would love to continue learning and refine my kicks and everything. This morning I plan on going to the (team) meetings and learning, I asked for some film on some NFL kickers that are comparable to how I kick so I can refine that and I'll stay around as long as they want me, till they kick me off so, I'm here for the long run."
7. WHITE FLASH
8. (SOUNDBITE)(English) VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL PLAYER SARAH FULLER AFTER BEING ASKED HOW SHE'S HANDLING HER SUDDEN FAME, SAYING:
"I've just been surrounding myself with people I know will keep me in check, 'cause I still have goals of graduating and getting good grades this semester and everything so, I, you know, still have to be a student-athlete at the end of the day."
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, UNITED STATES (NOVEMBER 27, 2020) (VANDERBILT ATHLETICS - MUST COURTESY 'VANDERBILT ATHLETICS')
9. VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY KICKER SARAH FULLER (WEARING JERSEY #17 DURING PRACTICE GAME) SPEAKING WITH COACH ON SIDELINE
10. FULLER KICKING FIELD GOAL DURING PRACTICE GAME
11. FULLER KICKING ANOTHER FIELD GOAL LATER IN PRACTICE GAME
12. FULLER ON SIDELINE
STORY: Sarah Fuller is hoping to continue making history with the Vanderbilt University football team after becoming the first woman to play in a Power 5 conference football game Saturday (November 28) against the Missouri Tigers.
The 21-year-old kicker got her opportunity to join the team after several members were put in quarantine due to COVID-19 and she told reporters Sunday (November 29) that the team's coaches have asked her stay on and she was happy to do so.
Fuller, who played goalkeeper for Vanderbilt University women's soccer team, took the field for the Commodores football team as place kicker in the third quarter and sent a low kick to the 35-yard line, carving her name in American sports history.
Fuller did not get an opportunity to kick an extra point or field goal as Vanderbilt's offense sputtered en route to a 41-0 defeat.
No woman had appeared in an SEC game or the Power 5, a group of college football's largest conferences. Liz Heaston in 1997 became the first woman to play and score in a college football game when she kicked two extra points in Willamette University's 27-0 win over Linfield College.
(Production: David Grip)
