14-Year-Old Removed From High School Football Team ... Because She's a Girl

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If you are going to discriminate against someone, and I'm not advocating that you do, mind you, you should probably lie about it. Sure, that's compounding evils, but at least you're not going to get fired and then summarily sued for sexual discrimination.

Female Placekickers

Kacy Stuart was left in tears after the executive board chairman of the Georgia Football League ruled that she could not join the New Creation Center's football team. "He said she can't play simply because she's a girl," Stuart's mother claims.

Kathy Jefcoats, Atlanta Journal-Constitution / ajc.com

Stuart has had some experience playing football. She was the kicker for the Union Grove Middle School football team that went to the state finals last year. The 14-year-old is not the first women to play football, in fact some have played football at the collegiate level.

Kathy Jefcoats, Atlanta Journal-Constitution / ajc.com

Heather Sue Mercer, seen here kicking field goals during spring practice in 1995, tried out for the Duke football team. She sued the university, claiming she was cut from the football squad solely because of her gender.

The Herald-Sun, AP

Mercer was awarded $2 million in punitive damages by a federal jury in 2000.

Gerry Broome, AP

Katie Hnida became the first woman to score in a NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision game. Hnida scored two extra points against Texas State University in the fourth quarter of a 72-8 New Mexico win in 2003.

Jake Schoellkopf, AP

Before she was the placekicker for the University of New Mexico, Hnida was a walk-on placekicker at the University of Colorado. In 2004, Hinda claimed she was sexually molested by her teammates and raped by another while at Colorado. While no charges were ever filed, Colorado head coach Gary Barnett was fired as a result of his comments and the fallout from the scandal.

Jake Schoellkopf, AP

As a Jacksonville State sophomore, placekicker Ashley Martin became the first women to play and score in an NCAA football game.

Dave Martin, AP

Martin, seen here in 2001, kicked three extra points in the Jacksonville State Gamecocks' 72-10 victory over Cumberland University.

Dave Martin, AP

Liz Heaston, seen here in 1997, scored two extra points for Willamette (Ore.) University in a game against Linfield College and became the first woman to play in a college football game.

Paul Kitagaki Jr., The Oregonian / AP

Heaston was a standout player for the school's soccer team, and was recruited by football coach Dan Hawkins to fill in for the injured starting kicker.

Paul Kitagaki Jr., The Oregonian / AP

Which is what will probably happen to Hank St. Denis, executive board chairman of the Georgia Football League, after he kicked Kacy Stuart off of the New Creation Center football team in McDonough, Georgia. Because she's female.

The 14-year-old high school freshman from Spalding County learned Thursday night - while team pictures were being shot - that she was being booted off the field. But her mother said she isn't going down without a fight.

"We'll file for an injunction if we have to," Angie Stuart said Friday. "We'll do whatever it takes to keep her on the team."

[...]St. Denis overruled New Creation's decision to let her join the team.

"He said she can't play simply because she's a girl," Stuart said.

When she heard the decision, Kacy cried.

And it gets more awkward because it's not like she lacked the sufficient talent to be there and was just trying to make a statement -- she helped take her public middle school team to the state finals last year and had local high schools fawning over her for her kicking services, if that's even allowed.

The truly embarrassing thing is that private schools, while holding the ability to be a little more discriminatory, should generally be more progressive in these matters because they're not governed by the government's laws.

So to see someone set everyone back about 10 years just because he has power and doesn't think that girls should play football, well, that's pretty irritating. Not as irritating as a sexual discrimination suit, but still irritating.

Gracias, TZ.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 54)

8-31-2008 @ 3:49PM

footballfreak said...

I have been a football coach for several years, and I am glad I have never had the opportunity to be associated with such a Neanderthal. Go girl, fight the fight.

9-01-2008 @ 9:30AM

dgasquith said...

Good for you, coach. An enlightened comment and approach.

1-09-2009 @ 1:28AM

Diane said...

Thanks coach. I had to give up the park pick up games when I went home with a bloddy nose. Dad was not as enlightened as mom.I was 14. I loved playing and was always chosen in the middle of the number of players..
There was no title 9 when I was in school. I am 61.

8-31-2008 @ 3:50PM

Harvey said...

I live in Georgia and have all of my life. A girl playing football is something that a person will have to get used to. I do not want to see a girl nor a boy hurt in sports, but come on people, this is 2007. She should play if she is that good and the joker that said she can not should be fired and banned from any type of school sports. Maybe he should move to another Country that keeps their females as second rate citizens.....go get them girl. By the way, I am 62 and if I can accept it, then this idiot should.

8-31-2008 @ 4:18PM

donlalonde said...

It's 2008.

8-31-2008 @ 5:27PM

Amanda said...

Harvey - this is 2008, not 2007

8-31-2008 @ 9:56PM

Jojo said...

lol

9-01-2008 @ 1:20PM

Kurt said...

Actually, it's 2008!

Tammi said...

I think that is wrong. If the girl wants to play football and she is good then let her. What the coach afraid the girl will show somebody up. That would be great. Let the girl play. She is not doing anything wrong. I think the coach should be suspended until the girl is aloud back on the team. That would be suspended without pay. Then maybe he will understand the way it is today.

8-31-2008 @ 9:29PM

Jodie said...

"I think the coach should be suspended until the girl is aloud back on the team."

Unfortunately Tammi, it is not the coach who won't let her play, it is the executive board chairman of the Georgia Football League.
I do think that this dumb@#%& should get his big fat head out of the 18th century and into the 21st.
Moreso, I don't hink he should be suspended, he needs to be flat out fired!

9-01-2008 @ 8:58AM

debbie said...

It's not the coach that's stopping her.

9-01-2008 @ 2:03PM

Learxst said...

Okay... that's fine and dandy... but why can't I play tennis at my school... we only have a girls team... so does that mean I should be able to go in and show up the girls? NO, since I'm a male, I can't join the girls team. But if a girl can't play on the boys team THEN THE LAWSUITS START FLYING!!!

girls only want the good parts of life. I have to pay for the movie tickets, I have to pay for the meals, I have to pay for the gas in the car, when a ship is sinking WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIRST!!! but if women start letting guys go on life boats first, then I'll be alright with everything.

Chivalry is dead... and women killed it...

kjoh1982 said...

How sad. If this young lady and her parents were willing to let her go out, and then make the team then there should be no issue here. It sounds like this young lady is one heck of a kicker and for her to be kicked off of the team because she is a girl is pathetic. This guy should be fired and an apology should be issued.

8-31-2008 @ 3:51PM

Harry Assman said...

Why do women want to always wear a jock strap.men dont want to be girl scouts or go to dance recitals.

8-31-2008 @ 4:19PM

Meezer Mom said...

Bets?

8-31-2008 @ 4:31PM

Sandra said...

I am sorry Harry but you are wrong, boys do want to go to dance recitals and I am sure some may even wish to join the girl scouts. If the person in question is the best person for the job, then let them be that person. If there is not a boys basketball league - and there's a girls one, then let the boy play in the league.

8-31-2008 @ 4:38PM

JHellraiser said...

Have men like you and JM Bowers taken a look around you? The world has changed and you need to change with it. My daughter, at 3 years of age will go from playing with dolls to wanting to rough house with her brother. I encourage her to be strong. If a woman wants to compete in "men's" sports, then so be it. If a man wants to compete in "women's" sports, then he should. What you and all those who discriminate against gender should do is accept that things are different these days.

8-31-2008 @ 5:21PM

Cynth said...

What? Is your masculinity being threatened. If she has the talent let her play.

8-31-2008 @ 5:33PM

unorthodox said...

When I was young I couldn't take shop or mechanics courses because, "Why would a girl want to do such things, boys don't want to take home ec?" People were always telling girls/women what to want. Would you ever tell a group of boys that when they all grow up to be plumbers they will be fulfilled, happy, and above all will know their place? If not, then what makes you think that you can tell all girls what they should want to do? Humans should be able to pursue any and all of the abilities that they have been given.

As to your comment about the jock, many men must wear a cup to protect from brain injury. You sound like one of them.

8-31-2008 @ 8:29PM

Princess said...

"Why do women want to always wear a jock strap"
Actually, I believe with women they're just called Groin Shields :). But to answer your (rather idiotic) question: Women, after millions of years, are still horribly discriminated against. As this article shows. Sad as it is, in this day and age, the only way many woman can make it anywhere is to fight and claw their way to the top.
.men dont want to be girl scouts or go to dance recitals."
I've known at least two men who asked to participate in girl scouts instead of boy scouts. As for the dance recitals; tell that to people like: Patrick Sawyze, who formally trained at the Harkness and Joffrey Ballet Schools in NYC. Who's first pro experience was with Disney's on Ice.