The BGSU football team hosted the third annual Women’s Football Clinic on June 6 at Doyt Perry Stadium.
Over 120 women showed up to participate. The evening consisted of learning more about the sport, weightlifting, practicing their skills and playing a short scrimmage.
Jennie Ruckstuhl of Bradner, Ohio, attended last year’s clinic but said this year’s event is even better.
“We’re outside, last year we were inside. I feel like the coaches have a lot more energy this year. I don’t know if it’s just the new coaching staff or what, but it’s awesome,” Ruckstuhl said.
Ruckstuhl said she simply appreciates the community-building skills the clinic provides.
“I think the Skills Clinic is fun to get out here and, you know, hang out with the football players, they’re laughing, teaching you some stuff, and you know, getting to hit things,” said Ruckstuhl.
She also said she enjoyed last year’s clinic so much, she needed to bring some friends along with her.
“It’s just been a lot of fun,” said Ruckstuhl. “Appreciate all the hard work that everybody puts into it, and everybody should come out and join us sometime.”
However, if you ask Ruckstuhl the real reason she came out to Friday evening’s clinic, she said it was more than just learning about the sport.
“I actually wanted to meet Eddie George,” she said with a laugh.
Head coach Eddie George said the clinic is a time for the team to engage with the broader community.
“I think it’s awesome that [the women] have a chance to experience the student-athlete experience from meetings to transition time to doing the field, learn the fundamentals of the game. And that way, they can really follow along and be engaged when they watch us play and understand the culture of who we are,” said George.
George also said this year’s attendees are in great spirits.
“So, it’s awesome, I mean it’s a great time for us to engage, be lighthearted. I mean just listen to them right now (the crowd cheering),” George said.
Since women were the focus of the clinic, George said one inspirational woman in his life was his mother.
“My mother was everything in terms of my nurturing and my development, and just my hero,” said George. “She sacrificed a lot to support my dreams and goals as a football player, prevented me from playing for a long time, but finally, she gave in, was very supportive, got me all the equipment I needed, got me the coaching that I needed, got me in the environment as well for me to thrive.”
He said he hoped the women took away a few essential skills from the clinic.
“You know, football is a personal development program to play the game of football. Learning how to persevere, you’ll learn teamwork, you’re learning how to be selfless and to buy into a culture that’s bigger than yourself,” said George.
