As you know, many are skeptical at a women's ability to coach a high school football team. It's funny that they are skeptical seeing as she has played professional football for the Women's League from 2004 to 2008. So, why is she not capable again?

"Some people say she's just a woman and she doesn't know anything. There's definitely going to be a higher level of scrutiny because it's a woman in a man's world," said Toni Morgan, a referee for the Eastern Board of Officials and a regular official of football games in the D.C. Interscholastic Athletic Association

Okay...wait a minute. She is coaching a high school football team. She was hired by the school and I'm assuming if she got the position she is more than capable of performing. Why can't we just look at this as a milestone for our country, not a set-back. These past couple of years has brought triumph to our country, we've gotten our first black president, Gay Marriage was legalized in DC, and now DC receives the first women ever to coach a football team, I think these events show progress, and not problems.

According to The Washington Post: Petula Dvorak, "Many Comments have broken out among the internet, both good and bad concerning the new coach's position:

"This is a brutal physical sport that rips the testosterone from guys and puts it on display. There is no place here for an estrogen injection," one reader commented on the story.

I wonder if this person has ever seen childbirth up close.

"THERE'S NO WAY IN HELL A FEMALE CAN BE CONSIDERED A LEGITIMATE COACH OF FOOTBALL," another ranted.

She's a woman, what's the problem is my question?

Natalie Randolph has amazing credentials and will be a force to be reckoned with in the coming school year.

According to The Washington Post, "Randolph, a 1998 graduate of Sidwell Friends and former sprinter at the University of Virginia, is hardly a football newbie. She was a receiver for the Divas of the Independent Women's Professional League from 2004 to 2008 and an assistant at H.D. Woodson in 2006 and '07. She joined the Coolidge faculty in 2008 but has not coached the previous two seasons. "

"She can do it," said H.D. Woodson Coach Greg Fuller, who hired Randolph as an assistant in 2006. "She's a no-nonsense kind of coach. She's a disciplinarian. She handled [the questions about being a woman coaching football] very well because she takes on any challenge you put in front of her."

According to The Washington Post, "Some of the kids tried to test her knowledge of football, and she just shot them down," said the individual, who asked not to be identified because school officials requested that the information not be made public until Friday. "At the end, they were clapping for her. They didn't know she played football."

"It's tough, but change has to happen. It's going to take time. It's up to each individual student and how they handle it." "You always know, with her, she'll get the respect because she'll demand it from you," Fuller said.

According to Jezebel.com, "Carol A. White, who worked as an assistant coach at Georgia Tech 41 years ago, points out that coaching isn't gender specific. "What is coaching? It's inspiring kids. It requires knowledge of people, patience in dealing with people, attention to detail and positive self-image," she "barked" at Dvorak. Randolph has opted not to respond to the media furor until after the press conference today, but she did say this in a statement:

"Im flattered at the outpouring of support and encouragement from the D.C. football and academic community. I know how important high school football is to these young men, the parents, the school, and the Coolidge community. I plan on taking this opportunity and running with it."

My Thoughts...

This is such an amazing story and I can't wait to see what Natalie Rudolph can do. I know she is going to be an amazing football coach, her credentials speak for themselves. Our society needs to realize it doesn't matter the race, creed, color, or gender, it's about the character and the dedication a person gives to their particular talent. Let's support each other, not demean or denounce!

To read more, check out

Washington Post
Jezebel.com