Sacred Heart Flag Football Team Joins Jets-Supported Women’s League

Big news for women’s sports: Sacred Heart University (SHU) just signed on to the brand-new intercollegiate women’s flag football league. The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) is organizing the league, and it’s getting a serious boost from the New York Jets and a $1 million grant from the Betty Wold Johnson Foundation.

They’re planning to kick things off officially on February 27 at MetLife Stadium. SHU’s women’s club team is ready to break new ground in this league, joining schools like Long Island University, Penn State Schuylkill, Union College, and Fairleigh Dickinson University.

The Birth of a New League

The ECAC’s women’s flag football league is really shaking things up. Now, female athletes finally get a real shot at shining in a sport that’s usually all about the guys.

Flag football’s been catching on at high schools, and the NFL’s starting to notice. The New York Jets, thanks to the Betty Wold Johnson Foundation, stepped in to fund the league and give young women a place to play, compete, and lead.

Empowering Young Women

Woody Johnson, who owns the New York Jets and is Betty Wold Johnson’s son, spoke up about why this matters. He believes that teaming up with the ECAC to launch the league gives student-athletes a real path to reach their goals and build leadership skills.

The Jets have been all about lifting up women’s sports, and this move fits right in with their mission. It’s a big push for women’s flag football and helps put it on the map.

Sacred Heart University: A Trailblazer

Ray Mencio, Executive Director of Campus Life at SHU, saw the potential in joining the new ECAC league right away. He figured it was a chance for SHU’s women’s club team to make history and set the tone for others.

Mencio started the team in September, and it’s already grown to about 30 players. Clearly, there’s a lot of excitement and the sport’s popularity is on the rise.

Building a Legacy

Mencio isn’t just focused on wins. He wants the team to leave a mark and inspire future players.

He tells the players they’re pioneers, and they seem to take that to heart. There’s a sense of optimism and maybe a little bit of nerves, but mostly excitement about what’s ahead for women’s flag football.

Players’ Perspectives

Players on SHU’s team have been buzzing about being part of something so new. Hailey Marucheau, who’s majoring in sports communication and media, has played flag football since fourth grade and feels lucky to be part of its growth.

She joined the team because she loves the game and wants to keep playing. It’s honestly pretty cool to see the sport finally getting some recognition.

A Dream Come True

Victoria Zurawski, a 19-year-old Jets fan, called the NFL support a dream come true. She never thought she’d get to play college football with the backing of her favorite team.

This kind of opportunity didn’t even seem possible before. Victoria’s story kind of sums up what this league could mean—helping young women see new possibilities and chase dreams that used to feel out of reach.

Season and Championship

The first season of the ECAC’s women’s flag football league runs from February through April. Regular-season games will take place at different campuses.

Everything leads up to a championship game at MetLife Stadium during the first weekend in May. It’s a big stage for the athletes and a chance to show what the league can become.

Conclusion

The ECAC’s launch of an intercollegiate women’s flag football league marks a huge step for women’s sports. Sacred Heart University jumping in really shows its drive to empower female athletes.

Support from the New York Jets and the Betty Wold Johnson Foundation played a big part in making this happen. It’s hard not to feel a bit of excitement as the league’s first season gets underway.

To read more about this exciting development, visit the original article on CT Insider.