Rosalyn Bennett was stunned last year when she heard there was a women’s tackle football team hosting tryouts in Chicago.
“You must be kidding me,” she thought. “I have to see this with my own two eyes.”
A year and a half later, the dean of students at a South Side high school will be the starting right tackle for the undefeated Chicago Force when they host the Wisconsin Warriors at 3 p.m. Saturday at North Park University.
“I like a challenge,” Bennett said.
More than 60 women make up the roster for the Force, in its sixth season in the 41-team Independent Women’s Football League. Some of them were college athletes, most played high school sports, and all are dedicated to a grueling sport that they pay money to play.
The players endure gruesome injuries, call one another unprintable nicknames and deliver concussive hits that leave them hobbling for days.
“It was the sport that I always wanted to play and never had access to,” said safety Linda Bache, who has been on the roster since the team’s inception. “I’ve played every sport there is, and I’ve never loved anything like this.”
And here’s something else for the Force to love: Chicago is undefeated at 3-0 and hosting the IWFL championship game in June. Cool, right?
“It’s only cool to host it if you’re in it,” Bache said.
To that end, confidence doesn’t seem to be a problem. “This team has always been really close,” linebacker Pam Schaffrath said. “There’s no doubt in my mind we’ve got the pieces of the puzzle.”
FOOTBALL MOMENTS
Somewhere, Mike Ditka is tearing up. RedEye asked six Chicago Force players to describe what gives them the best feeling on the football field. Their answers would make Chicago’s favorite football coach proud.
“I just love hitting receivers when they come across the field. I love when the quarterback makes a high throw or a late throw and I just get to rock ’em.” — Linda Bache, 46, safety/kick returner
“When I get to double-team with my guards and pancake somebody.” — Stacey Baker, 31, center
“If I can hit somebody so hard that they’re stunned or they fall down or they can’t get to the running back, it’s the best feeling.” — Bridget Fahrner, 30, fullback
“When the coach calls a blitz, and I get to run through the line untouched and hit the quarterback at full speed. I feel most alive when I’m hitting people hard.” — Pam Schaffrath, 36, linebacker
