Alicia Jeffords has barely had time to reflect on her recent trip to Canton, OH where she was part of the National Championship Planning Committee for the Women’s Football Alliance (WFA). Jeffords is President of the Maine Mayhem women’s football team, and at their last owners meeting applied and was selected with five other people to pull together this weekend of women and football at the Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.
The weekend was filled with championship games, an All-American game and several events; while Jeffords shared there were many challenges and highlights, she reveled in the fact that the committee’s hard work was broadcast on ESPN. One of the main events was the Championship game with Jeffords’ sister team, the Boston Renegades, who were vying for a three-peat against the Minnesota Vixens.
The Boston Renegades were surprised by Patriots owner, Robert Kraft, with the use of his jet to get them to Canton. They went on to beat the Minnesota Vixens 42-26.
While she loved the games, Jeffords said one of her favorite highlights was watching over 100 girls participate in the Cleveland Browns girls football clinic where the athletes showcased their talents and were coached by the WFA All-Americans. “One of our very own Mayhem Girls of Fall athletes, Savannah Austin of Bonny Eagle, made the trip from Maine to participate and wow she turned heads,” Jefford said.
Photo courtesy of Alicia JeffordsAlicia Jeffords with Savannah Austin, Bonny Eagle 7th grader and football player for BE. Both attended events at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, OH.
She went on to say these athletes are the future of women in football, and her “heart smiled” seeing each and every one of them on the field. “Having the chance to provide this opportunity to such an elite group of athletes is an amazing feeling, and I cannot wait to see what is in store for the future of women’s football,” she said.
Another big event was the All-American game. The WFA has 65 professional teams, including the Maine Mayhem. Jeffords said the All-Americans are chosen and ranked by their coaches and selected by league stats from each of the 65 teams. “Watching two All-American teams full of the best athletes from the American Conference versus the best from the National Conference is always one of my favorites,” she said. (Jeffords is a 12 time All-American in her own right)
Football tends to be a male dominated sport but Jeffords is a big part of changing that narrative. She said, “Empowerment is the biggest thing I would like to elaborate on. I volunteered alongside several other men and women to bring our game to this stage. We are being seen by the world. My goal is to be seen as a female football player, female football official, female football coach, and a female football team owner so that all those little girls like Savannah know that they can be it.”
If you are a woman with interest in playing football, please visit the Maine Mayhem’s website as they are currently recruiting for 2022.