Female soccer player Mo Isom trying out as kicker for LSU football team
Former LSU women’s soccer goalie Mo Isom is noted around the LSU campus for her “Meaux Vs.” YouTube series where she takes on the likes of other Tigers athletes such as Tyrann Mathieu and Morris Claiborne in a string of athletic competitions. Now, she might be known for an entirely different reason: She’s trying out to be a kicker on the school’s football team.
The Tigers have been in spring practice since last week, but Isom’s first day was Tuesday, as she confirmed with a message on her Facebook page:
“Absolutely overwhelmed and humbled by all of the amazing support that has been pouring in surrounding tryouts,” she wrote. “There is so much power in prayer, so please know that I truly appreciate every single one of you! Today is the first of a 3-day tryout, so I would appreciate continued prayer through this week.”
This isn’t the first instance of a female playing football, particularly in college, nor is it the first experience Isom has on the football field. She reportedly got practice on kickoffs and field goals working out with the football team last September. She also made a name for herself on the soccer pitch during her freshman season when she scored off a free kick from 90 yards out.
Isom’s exhausted all four years of eligibility in soccer but has a year left for another sport, but this endeavor has a deeper meaning than extending her athletic career. Her father played college football and she says this would be a fitting way honor him after he committed suicide in 2009.
“I think there’s a big part of my heart that wants to pursue this because I want to hold on to a connection that I shared with my dad for so long,” Isom told Bleacher Report. “And certainly being able to suit up like my dad suited up in college would be a great way to hold on to that connection and that energy.”
It remains unclear what type of chance she has to make the team, but we hope she can pull it off. Not just because it would make for a great story, but also because God knows the Tigers probably could have used her against Alabama in the BCS championship game.
Below is a video of Mo Isum scoring a goal from 90 yards away:
Yeah, she certainly has the leg to succeed.