Year One. Undefeated.

by HIROKO JOLLEY

There's something to be said about being undefeated.  There is more meaning to it than just a perfect 8-0 record for an inaugural season.  More meaning to me as the owner and as a player of the Utah Falconz, and more meaning to all those that were a part of creating the successes we had in 2014.

What many may not know is that the Utah Falconz is an expansion team, which makes sense to the level of talent and proficient football knowledge of many of our athletes and coaches.  Many of us had walked the gridiron before and the 100 yards was not new to our lives.

The Utah Falconz first Football for Life Camp

For half our other team, it was brand new.  Ladies came from athletic backgrounds, high school or college levels.  We caught the attention of former college softball and track athletes.  And from the Polynesian community, competitive rugby players.

Still, there were others who came without any ball or athletic experience.  Some were prodded to play until they finally gave in to give it a try, and then never looked back.  Others checking out women's football for a first time to fill a need to have more self-confidence, to gain a new skill or to feel a part of something worthwhile.

Rookies and returners at the first Utah Falconz practice

For the Utah Falconz, we were a mix of experienced and rookie players.  Seasoned and junior coaches.  As more ladies entered into the team, we became a true melting pot.  Not just in Utah, but of people everywhere.  Mormons, Catholics, Jewish, straight, lesbians, married, single, black, white, Hispanic, Polynesians, single moms, married moms, some ladies working two or three jobs. You would be hard pressed to find a more diverse group of women.

The Utah Falconz headed to Colorado Springs to play against the Rocky Mountain Thunder Katz

The youngest Falconz athlete is 17 years old and the oldest is 42.  Our ladies are high school coaches, police officers, teachers, moms, college and med students, writers, bakers, artists, business owners and the list goes on,  Our coaches are just as diverse with military vets, teachers, fathers, husbands, wives, moms, salesmen and students.

Coach Carter, born with tetra-amelia syndrome, D Line Coach

With the vast amount of diversity that came to our team, it would appear to be an uphill battle.  In a group of 50+ women, one would shudder at the thought of the level of estrogen in the locker room.  Drama, rants, one-week-a-month outbursts that could range from silent sobs to fits of rage....  Added to that mix, women from extremely diverse backgrounds and manly men who were trying to teach some what a first down was and to others, perfecting their various routes on the field.  Trying to deactivate a bomb would seem more appealing.

But we had one commonality. Football.  And we soared!

The Utah Falconz at home against the Denver Mile High Blaze

We averaged over 55 points per game and kept 6 of our 8 opponents to a 0 score.  Even more impressive, a total of 25 athletes that had scored in the course of those 8 games.  Our volunteer coaches spent hours upon hours on creating  and perfecting the game plan.  The time spent on formulating plays, the constant repetitions on the practice field, all translated to the workings of a well oiled machine on the field. Not only that, there was the immense outpouring of support from our families, friends, sponsors and partners and our Utah community.

Kris Thomasberg running for a touchdown at Timpanogos High against the Seattle Majestics

2014 brought the Utah Falconz an undefeated season.  But that's not counting what we did on the field.   The stigmas, the diversity, the busyness of our lives, our jobs, families, and school....the monthly cycles...  The recipe for defeat was waiting to happen. But it didn't.  Because we were one.

The Utah Falconz 2015 season tryouts

Even if we lost a game on the field, we would have still come away from 2014 undefeated.  With clear eyes and one heart, we couldn't lose.