Born: c.1981
Ashley Martin (born c. 1981) is an American athlete who made history as the first woman to play and score in an NCAA Division I American football game. On August 30, 2001, she accomplished this remarkable feat as a placekicker for the Jacksonville State University Gamecocks, simultaneously becoming one of the first women to score points in any college football game. Martin’s groundbreaking achievement left an indelible mark on the world of sports.
Before making history at Jacksonville State University, Ashley Martin had already exhibited her talents on the gridiron. She honed her skills as the placekicker for the East Coweta High School football team in Sharpsburg, Georgia. Not only did she excel in the sport, but she also defied expectations by becoming the homecoming queen, proudly accepting her crown while clad in her football uniform. Her success in high school paved the way for her entry into the world of college sports.
After graduating from high school, Martin enrolled at Jacksonville State University, where she joined the women’s soccer team, the Jacksonville State Gamecocks. Demonstrating her versatility and athletic prowess, she decided to try her hand at football and became a backup placekicker for the Jacksonville State football team in 2001. Little did she know that she would soon make history on the football field.
On August 30, 2001, in a game against Cumberland University, Ashley Martin stepped onto the field and forever altered the landscape of college football. In the first quarter of the game, she successfully kicked an extra point, becoming not only the first woman to play in an NCAA Division I football game but also the first to score points. Undeterred by the immense pressure and the weight of history on her shoulders, Martin went on to make two more successful extra point attempts during the game. Her exemplary performance contributed to a resounding 72-10 victory for Jacksonville State.
Martin’s accomplishment on that historic day was not the first of its kind in college football. Liz Heaston, a kicker for Willamette University, an NAIA school, had previously scored points in a college football game in 1997. However, Martin became one of only four female players to score points in college football at that time. Her achievement shattered barriers, paved the way for future female athletes, and solidified her place in the annals of sports history.
Ashley Martin’s groundbreaking achievement has had a lasting impact on the world of athletics and society at large. By defying expectations and challenging the male-dominated nature of football, she inspired countless young women to pursue their dreams and shattered the notion that there are sports reserved exclusively for one gender. Her historic performance serves as a testament to the power of perseverance, dedication, and the pursuit of excellence, regardless of gender.
Throughout history, women have fought against societal expectations and limitations, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in various fields. Ashley Martin’s role as a trailblazer in women’s history exemplifies the determination and courage exhibited by countless women who have defied societal norms and achieved greatness.