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Just one of the boys

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By Eric Horchy | The Suncoast News

Published: September 13, 2008

The New Port Richey Salvation Army Mini-Mite football team began their new season last Saturday afternoon with one member perhaps standing out amongst the rest.

Lined up alongside the other mini teammates, Morgan Marino is the newest, and slightest, of the bunch. She is now also one of two girls on head coach Tim Turner's team this season.

Oddly, it is not her natural tomboyish character that has led her onto the gridiron, her mother, Kristy Simons, said. Seven-year old Morgan is all girl, but already with a point to prove.

"She wants to do it to show everyone she can be a girly girl and play football," Simons said of Morgan's persistence to strap on the pads. "She runs out there with bright red hair, she's teeny tiny and she's all girl, so she's definitely proving something."

Morgan's actually small enough for her age that Simons needed to go out and purchase a downsized helmet and other equipment.

The natural concern for her safety and wellbeing once she gets out on the field certainly exists whenever a girl or smaller player starts to join, but as long as they want to and can play, Turner said he is open to anyone.

While Morgan is brand new to the team, Turner's other girl player is currently locked in as his starting quarterback.

The only problem he said he has seen over the years with female participation is some of the boys initially being hesitant to hit them like they do their other teammates. That, he said, tends to end with the girl taking initiative and tackling the unwilling boy and quickly getting on the same page.

Hitting back certainly doesn't seem to be an initial problem with Morgan, and nor are nerves.

Simons said she has been sleeping in her football pants nightly and when asked why she wants to play football, Morgan's first answer is quickly: "Because you get to tackle people."

Football was not the initial plan, though, for Simons and her daughter heading into the season. While signing up her son, Gino, for football, Simons registered Morgan to cheerlead. Unfortunately not enough girls came out for the squad, so cheerleading was subsequently out the window.

Simons would still bring Morgan out to her brother's practices and it didn't take long before the girly girl that wanted to cheer and do gymnastics got the desire to pick up a new sport.

Two weeks ago was officially Morgan's first day in full gear, wearing a bright pink football jersey over top her shoulder pads that look to practically double her weight.

Turner and his coaches are still looking to see where Morgan will fit in on the field, being that she is so new, but as it seems now Morgan will be happy doing just one simple thing: Getting out to play.

Eric Horchy can be reached at 727-815-1071 or ehorchy@suncoastnews.com.

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