AKRON, Ohio — Here at Akron Buchtel High School, the players are carrying on a storied tradition as gridiron Griffins. But on this practice field, one of these players is different.
One of these players is a girl.
"I thought it was a joke, I'm going to be honest with you," recalls Akron Buchtel Head Coach and Athletic Director Bryan Williams.
Williams had a pair of girls sign up to join the team. "I was like, 'alright, let's see how long they last.'"
But they have lasted. On Thursday, we met sophomore linebacker and running back Alise Huron-Covington. She's blazing a trail right up the middle.
"I get excited because you know sometimes they don't know I'm a girl, so I just get out there and do what I got to do," Alise tells us.
Both Alise and her teammate Dee Dee Travis have really impressed Coach Williams. Travis was not at Thursday's walkthrough practice.
"I mean, you just can't coach what she (Huron-Covington) got," Williams says. "That's heart, that's passion, that's discipline, that's determination. The girls come out here every single day the same way."
Alise is on a mission.
"I'm going to stick to it. I want to show that girls can do anything, no matter what sport it is," she tells us.
Inspiring words and a work ethic that earned her (and Travis) spots on the team.
"They proved me wrong, you know and I'll say that on camera. I'm proud of her," Williams adds.
Alise is hoping to play out her high school career at Buchtel then possibly join a women's football league.
The Griffins take on Warren Harding this Friday.
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