There are tough girls and then there are tough girls. Erin DiMeglio is among the most hardcore that I've ever seen. The 17-year-old young woman is the quarterback of her high school's football team.
That's right. She catches, she throws, she ... well ... does whatever football players do. And it's not some ridiculous publicity gimmick. She can really play. It's a pretty amazing -- if not scary -- sight to see this pretty, young girl holding her own on the field with all those guys at South Plantation High.
When I was in high school, the closest we got to a huddle was during a silly game of powder puff. And tackling -- forget about it. That was not allowed. Erin is on a whole other level, said coach Doug Gatewood:
I had a girl try out at wide receiver that couldn't make it through practice and I had a kicker that really couldn't make a field goal, so I didn't keep them. Erin can actually do what we ask of her ... she completes the passes I ask, she knows the plays. ... Anything I ask her to do, she does.
And she is not the least bit intimidated. In fact, her teammates don't seem to have an issue with her being there and calling the shots as QB no less. She says they treat her "like one of the guys." I think that's what would scare me most, actually. I can't imagine getting tackled or -- if I were her mom -- watching her get brought down by some linebacker.
I am in total awe of her, though. I'm ashamed to admit this, but when I first heard about Erin, I assumed she would look more like a big burly dude than a prom queen. I didn't think a top-notch female football player could be so, so ... feminine.
That totally shallow observation aside, she is an awesome athlete and definitely someone little football-loving girls can look up to. That said, I would have a heart attack if my little princess wanted to play. Sadly, I just couldn't take seeing her pummeled or playing rough (and boy is football rough). It just doesn't seem right. I guess my so-called feminism only goes so far!
Hear how Erin made the team:
See Erin in action:
Would you let your daughter play high school football?
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Comments 16
I would let her do whatever she wants to do. But I am far from a girly girl. My injuries from playing soccer could be pretty bad too. Any sport could get you seriously injured. My son also loves pink and spends a good part of the day pushing a pink stroller and hugging a baby dool before he goes back to his dinosaurs. It makes them happy, why hold your kids back?
You were correct by calling your self shallow. I suppose you wouldn't want your son doing "girly" things either like my son playing with my purses because it doesn't fit the stereotypes. Whatever. People with attitudes like this piss me off.
I am very surprised that there aren't more comments on this story. What is wrong with her playing? On the Florida newspaper's website that ran this story, there are a lot of hateful comments. Probably by mostly chauvinistic males who think football is a "man's sport". Girls/women should be able to do ANYTHING they want to do. Just because you have a penis and are male, you get to do whatever you want but if you have a vagina then some things you just CANNOT do. Bulls****! I am a mom of three boys. They played with baby dolls and one of them liked the color pink for a while. They are older now and one plays high school football and the other is very into running with cross country. Gender stereotypes need to just go away. It is so caveman like for our society to be this way anymore. It is 2012 already.
I totally agree that girls should be allowed to do what ever they are CAPABLE of doing. If she loves it and can do it well - more power to her. But no one, male or female, should be held to a different standard to be able to make a team or anything else. It is a fact of life that most women are weaker (physically) then most men, especially after puberty. Doesn't mean that if a girl, or boy, wants to do something atypical that their sex should be held for or against them. It's hard to have a truly "even" playing field in this world, but we should never stop trying.
Wow. The author is being honest about how she personally feels and people attack her. She didn't even have to tell us that that is how she thinks. I find her honesty refreshing. She admits she is in awe of this girl but would have a hard time watching her own daughter play. Heck, I think many parents probably have a hard time watching their SONS get pummeled during football practice! Stop being so judgmental. There is nothing wrong with the fact that she would have a hard time watching her daughter play. Now, if she flat out wouldn't let her daughter play football if she wanted to, then I could see why people would be upset. I suppose you could take what she said like that, but she doesn't flat out say she wouldn't allow her daughter to do that. Many parents don't like the sports, hobbies and jobs their children choose, but they support them none the less.
P.S. You ROCK Erin!!!!!
Woooooow. Way to be shallow. You didn't expect her to be so "feminine"? What is "feminine"? Being all soft and squishy and unable to do awesome physical things? Why are women only women when they're unable, uncapable, and physically reliant on others? Your "so-called femininism" indeed only goes so far.