Fútbol and Football
June 13, 2020 | Soccer, HailStateBEAT
Newcomer Maddy Anderson focuses on one but has had experience with both.
by: Madelon Allen, Assistant Coordinator/Communications
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Football is not a worldwide sport, but some consider it the bread and butter of Americana. The other side of the homonym, fútbol, is worldwide. Soccer is Maddy Anderson's game, but she's had the best of both worlds, playing football as well.
One day before her sophomore year at Clear Falls High School, Anderson and her friends were kicking some field goals just for fun. Her soccer coach, who was also an assistant coach for the football team, looked on along with the head football coach. The two men approached her about being a part of the football squad.
"It was kind of spur of the moment," said Anderson. "But they asked if I wanted to play on the team and I was like, 'Uh, yes!' I always wanted to play football when I was younger, but soccer is kind of a big deal, so I didn't want to get hurt," she said.
And just like that, Anderson became one of the kickers for Clear Falls' football team. It didn't come without hiccups, however.
"Obviously, I had some haters I should say, but it was a great experience," Anderson recalls. "I really learned not to let anybody tell you that you can't, and also to make the most out of any experience you get. For me, that was the only time I had for football because I didn't play the next year."
Not only did the experience better her as a person, it improved her soccer game.
"It helped me with the strength of my goal kicks and punts," said Anderson. "I had to hit the football hard enough to make a field goal, and I have to kick the soccer ball hard enough to reach the front line."
The connections she made with her teammates weren't necessarily instant, but after a few practices, the team had adopted their new female teammate.
"I think it took some people on the team a little longer to get used to it, especially the other kicker I was competing against," said Anderson. "The guys treated me a little differently but not in a bad way. They were always respectful and wouldn't isolate me. They were inclusive. I appreciate the coach for treating me like one of the guys and not giving me any special treatment."
Her teammates would soon become friends, and she remains close to some of them today. After spending a season with her on the gridiron, her teammates made sure to come support her at her soccer games.
"It made me feel great that I was a part of the team," Anderson recalls.
Anderson has quickly become friends with her new teammates at Mississippi State, and is ready to start playing with them come August.
"The family feel that the team has and the campus as a whole drew me to Mississippi State," says Anderson. "Since it's a smaller town, it made it feel important to be at the school. It makes me want to be there because it seems like a home, having that family with you all the time will make the transition easier when you're leaving your true home."
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Football is not a worldwide sport, but some consider it the bread and butter of Americana. The other side of the homonym, fútbol, is worldwide. Soccer is Maddy Anderson's game, but she's had the best of both worlds, playing football as well.
One day before her sophomore year at Clear Falls High School, Anderson and her friends were kicking some field goals just for fun. Her soccer coach, who was also an assistant coach for the football team, looked on along with the head football coach. The two men approached her about being a part of the football squad.
"It was kind of spur of the moment," said Anderson. "But they asked if I wanted to play on the team and I was like, 'Uh, yes!' I always wanted to play football when I was younger, but soccer is kind of a big deal, so I didn't want to get hurt," she said.
And just like that, Anderson became one of the kickers for Clear Falls' football team. It didn't come without hiccups, however.
"Obviously, I had some haters I should say, but it was a great experience," Anderson recalls. "I really learned not to let anybody tell you that you can't, and also to make the most out of any experience you get. For me, that was the only time I had for football because I didn't play the next year."
Not only did the experience better her as a person, it improved her soccer game.
"It helped me with the strength of my goal kicks and punts," said Anderson. "I had to hit the football hard enough to make a field goal, and I have to kick the soccer ball hard enough to reach the front line."
The connections she made with her teammates weren't necessarily instant, but after a few practices, the team had adopted their new female teammate.
"I think it took some people on the team a little longer to get used to it, especially the other kicker I was competing against," said Anderson. "The guys treated me a little differently but not in a bad way. They were always respectful and wouldn't isolate me. They were inclusive. I appreciate the coach for treating me like one of the guys and not giving me any special treatment."
Her teammates would soon become friends, and she remains close to some of them today. After spending a season with her on the gridiron, her teammates made sure to come support her at her soccer games.
"It made me feel great that I was a part of the team," Anderson recalls.
Anderson has quickly become friends with her new teammates at Mississippi State, and is ready to start playing with them come August.
"The family feel that the team has and the campus as a whole drew me to Mississippi State," says Anderson. "Since it's a smaller town, it made it feel important to be at the school. It makes me want to be there because it seems like a home, having that family with you all the time will make the transition easier when you're leaving your true home."
Players Mentioned
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