LSU senior soccer goalkeeper Mo Isom will officially be trying out for the football team in the spring as a place kicker and kickoff specialist.
“The rumors are very true,” Isom said. “I’ve been training for about nine months, beginning in January.”
Isom said she will focus on the rest of the soccer season and turn her attention to football in the spring.
Isom said she was in contact with the LSU coaching staff and several players in recent months before making her final decision.
“The coaching staff, all the guys, all the teammates are so excited about it, so supportive and immediately started helping me out,” she said. “I’ve been working primarily on field goals, and last Monday, when the reporters first caught us, was my first day to try and work on kickoffs.”
Isom said she mainly wants to do kickoffs because “there’s a particular need there.” She said she has no plans to attempt to punt for the team, but she remains open to the idea.
“I’m going to try to work on field goals and kickoffs and just improve the mechanics of all that,” Isom said. “It’s very different from kicking a soccer ball, very different mechanics. … I went to fall walk-on tryouts about a month ago, just to get a feel on the competition, and I hit a 51-yard field goal, so I thought that was good.”
Isom remains confident in her chance of making the football team.
“I believe in myself,” Isom said. “I worked out with the guys during the summer in their strength and conditioning workouts, and I can kick the leather off the ball.”
Isom also seems confident that being a woman on an all-male team won’t be an issue.
“Everyone wants to have their comment on the female-male dynamic; the fact of the matter is those are some of my closest friends. They’re very respectful, and I’ve worked hard with them to gain their respect athletically as well,” she said. “I have no concerns about any issues in that regard. I’m a Tiger, and I want to do it as long as I can no matter what sport it is.”
 
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Contact Michael Gegenheimer at [email protected]