Minnesota’s Other Professional Football Team
The best-kept secret in Minnesota sports: We’re lucky enough to have two professional football teams in the Twin Cities. Now, you may be asking yourself, “Two professional football teams in Minnesota? Whatcha smoking, Anthony?”
Well, I ain’t lying. The Minnesota Vixen are a professional women’s football team that plays in the NWFA (National Women’s Football Association), and even though they’ve been in existence since 1999, I’d never heard of them until a member of the team, Danielle Thompson, began commenting here. Well, knowing absolutely nothing about women’s football, I wanted to find out more about the Vixen.
And, of course, who better to inform us about the Vixen than a member of the team? FB/LB Jodi Houglum (who goes by the nickname “Moose”) graciously agreed to tell us a little about her team — here’s what she had to say:
“Football player” isn’t listed in any textbook description of a “vixen,” yet the women of the Minnesota Vixen tackle football team are happy to defy categorization.
“We make history every time we step on the field,” says Tonita Haire-Cochran, a 10-year veteran who’s played since the modern women’s football movement began in 1999. That year, two teams did a “barnstorming” tour of the Midwest and New York under the aegis of the Women’s Professional Football League, and the sport has blossomed into three leagues (two spring and one fall) with nearly 80 teams nationwide.
Some call us pioneers; some call us crazy. We don’t have signing bonuses, or shoe endorsement deals – heck, some of us can barely afford the gas to get to practices and games. Our fan base is loyal, but small, and we stretch our meager budget to the breaking point every season. One player has put more than $40,000 of her own personal money into the team over the years.
So why do we do this? It’s simple: We love the game. For a lot of us, the opportunity to play football is a dream come true. We spent our childhoods behind the school with boys, but we were counting “5-Mississippi” before rushing the QB and learning to cover the deep man.
The best part about any game, of course, is winning, and our record so far this year is 5-1. We are in the playoffs. Our last home game is Saturday, June 21, at Edison High School in Minneapolis. Why not come and watch?
For more information on the Minnesota Vixen™, visit www.minnesotavixen.com.
Postseason football in Minnesota, baby! Guys, I wouldn’t pass up the opportunity to see a Minnesota team that’s been dominating its league — Lord knows, it’s been quite some time since one of our teams has been a contender. Best of luck to the Vixen, and I’d encourage everyone to check out their final home game (I’ll definitely be there).
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10 Responses to “Minnesota’s Other Professional Football Team”
June 12th, 2008 at 7:18 am
My sister played FB/LB for the Vixen about 4 or 5 years ago. She always told me how great the women athletes were on the team, and how bad they needed sponsers for the league. Its a shame that the WNBA has somewhat taken off, or is still around and a women’s football league can’t get any help. I’m down for any kind of football, especially in June!! Good Luck Vixens.
June 12th, 2008 at 7:25 am
Thanks for posting this Anthony!
And Jeremy, I agree! I’m glad that there is a WNBA for all the women who love basketball, but the NWFA could use some help.
I hope everyone can make it to our last home game, we’ll need lots of cheering in the stands - the West Michigan Mayhem will be tough to beat!
June 12th, 2008 at 8:01 am
My daughter Danielle played tackle football with the boys back when she was in 7th grade and really loved the game. She always talked about playing the game if she ever got a chance. Danielle is a very good athlete that played soccer all the way through high school and was a captain on NDSU Division I team her senior year in college. After she graduated from college and finished her soccer career, she talked again of playing football. I never heard of the Vixen until she tried out and made the team last winter. I was sure what to expect when I showed up for their first home game this spring on May 3rd. I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of play and you could just see the love the game come through when they play. It is great entertainment and definitely worth the price of admission! Come out and support the Vixen in their last home game of the season on Saturday, June 21 at 7 PM at the Edison High School field in NE Minneapolis. You will be glad you did!
June 12th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
What do the uniforms look like?
June 13th, 2008 at 7:02 am
Check out the website - there are a ton of game day pictures where the players are wearing their jerseys!
June 13th, 2008 at 6:11 pm
oh man ive dreamed of playin football professionaly since i was a little girl! we used to play tackle in my friends back yard all the time, i remember one time i got a concussion! good times, good times.
June 13th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
yup….no skirts.
June 14th, 2008 at 1:39 am
Haha, smartass.
June 14th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
As the owner of the New York Nemesis, a team that the Vixen might face in the playoffs, I am glad to hear about their success and continuing our rivalry (we played them in 2005 when we were known as the NY Dazzles, enroute to the Championship game in another League). Having played for the Vixens at one time I have alot of respect for what they have meant to this sport and I am glad to see that they are making football in Minnesota successful, good luck and beat the mayham on June 21st.
Carley Pesente
June 16th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
Scrap, come and play with the Vixen! Shoot me and email and I’ll send you information for the 2009 Season.
MiniApple, it would be very hard to tackle with skirts on; no place to tuck their hip and tail pads either. This is not flag or powderpuff. These are women playing full tackle NFL rules. these are women who are as passionate about the game of football as anyone you may know. Don’t knock it until you have seen them in action!
Carley - thanks for the good thoughts; we’ll see you soon - if not on the 28th then in Round 2 or 3
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