It was almost 10 p.m. on a Wednesday in May. Members of the St. Louis Slam were almost done with the three-hour practice, spent in the gym because of rain, working on specialty teams, running drills and coaches talking strategy.

The women practice three to four times a week, usually after they’ve finished a full day of work or school, with many handing off kids to spouses and family so they can train.
“We don’t get paid. It’s full contact. This isn’t the lingerie league,” said veteran nose guard Myrt Davis, 36, of Highland. The LFL (Lingerie Football League) is famous for its heavily endorsed, scantily clad players.

None of that in St. Louis. Slam players buy their own uniforms — a helmet can cost $200. They pay for hotel rooms, meals, bus rental and the gas to fuel the bus when traveling to away games. They seek out individual endorsements to raise funds.

They get injured, despite many of them being fit former prep, college and club athletes.

Second-year wide receiver Brooklyn Dunihoo, 27, of Pinckneyville, is a former college basketball player. She held up her hands, showing off several crooked fingers.

“This is what you get for not catching the football correctly,” she said of the broken bones. She was grinning.

So was Myrt Davis. This is not a game for wimps.

“We make our mistakes at full speed,” she said.

Seated in a classroom at Ladue’s Horton Watkins High School after practice, the players gathered up granola bars, water bottles and gear after watching game film on a new opponent in their league, the Chicago Force.

Head coach Quincy Davis, surrounded by several of his coaches, had only a few parting remarks as players took off jerseys and pads, reconfigured sweaty ponytails and stuffed helmets into duffel bags.

“They’re a tough team,” he said looking around the silent room. “Please study your notes so you can recall them quickly.”

Heads nodded and about 40 women of many sizes, ages and backgrounds made their way out the door.

The St. Louis Slam is a full-contact, professional football team that has been in existence since 2003 and is a member of the Women’s Football Alliance. Division champs since 2006 and national champs in 2009 (among more than 50 teams), the Slam would go on to lose to Chicago in both of its matchups, ending its 2011 season 4-3, missing the playoffs.

Computer programmer Michelle Marcus, 36, of St. Louis, is the team’s assistant general manager. Finding talent isn’t the biggest challenge, she said. “It’s getting the word out.”

Practice is in Ladue. Home field is Oakville High School. Games are played at night. It’s hard to fill the stands. As many as 1,000 have turned out, but the number is usually considerably lower.The regular season runs from April to mid-June. Practice starts in January. About 20 percent of the team’s 50 or so players are from Illinois.

Outside linebacker Amy Lopez, 40, of Troy, just finished her rookie season. Older son Alex, 15, plays for Triad High School.

“It’s like not normal,” Alex said, shaking his head about Amy playing what is largely considered a man’s sport. “It’s just Mom.”

It’s a wonder these women want to play.

But they do.

Read more: http://www.bnd.com/2011/06/26/1759493/girls-tackle-a-tough-sport-st.html#storylink=misearch#ixzz1RooWPLY1

The SLAM scored early and often in the game. League leading receiver, Kate Evers, added 3 more touchdowns on a TD reception, a punt return, and a kickoff return, giving her 7 touchdowns on the season. Quarterback, Liz Lacy, spread the ball out, passing for 143 yards and 3 touchdowns in the game. The defense was solid throughout, with linebacker, Tiffany Pugh, putting the first points of the game on the board with a 15 yard fumble returned for a touchdown.

The SLAM head into a bye week and next take on the Chicago Force in Chicago on April 30th. The next SLAM home game takes place on May 21, 2010, against the Chicago Force. Kickoff is set for 7:00pm at Oakville High School. Tickets are $10, $8 for seniors, $5 for children. For more game day and ticket information please visit the website at www.stlslam.com or contact the SLAM at slamfootball@hotmail.com.

Veteran wide receiver, Kate Evers, put on a show for the fans, with 222 receiving yards, 12 receptions, and 34 rushing yards for 4 TDs in the game. Quarterback, Liz Lacy, was efficient in the pocket with 313 yards passing and 3 TDs, completing 19 of 25 attempts. Tailbacks, Toya Brown and Taylor Hay, each added a TD and combined for 95 rushing yards on the day.

The SLAM started off the season continuing their tradition of great defense and forcing 6 turnovers in the game. Veteran linebackers, Kelly Kozlen (8 tackles) and Tiara Pettis (7 tackles, 1 fumble recovery), along with rookie defensive lineman, Alana Fields (5 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble), disrupted the Crash running game, stopping everything up the middle. The SLAM secondary shut down the passing attack with interceptions from corner, Trecia Buckner, linebacker, Tiffany Pugh, and safety, Robyn Morrow.

The SLAM takes on the Dayton Diamonds this Saturday, April 16, 2011, at Oakville High School. Kickoff is set for 7:00pm. Tickets are $10, $8 for seniors, $5 for children. For more game day and ticket information please visit the website at www.stlslam.com or contact the SLAM at slamfootball@hotmail.com.

Raffle Winners included:
Sheryl Moody – watch donated by Lillians in Kirkwood
Felicia McCain – watch donated by Lillians in Kirkwood
Bob Riggs – autographed Baseball
Mr. Henson – autographed Football – Carey Davis – Pittsburgh Steelers Superbowl Champion
Brittany Roeder
Micki Lucas
Michelle Henson
Delanie Townsend
Anna Hassler
Mrs. Lacy
Courtney Corman

Once again thanks to everyone that participated in the SLAM 1st annual Run/Walk! We hope to see you at the games in 2011.

Maria Eftink – 1st place – 300 points
Don Sistek – 2nd place – 200 points
Kim Noble – 3rd place – 100 points
Steve Williams – bonus – one set of SLAM season tickets
Liz Berry – bonus – one set of SLAM season tickets
Brenda Parker – bonus – one set of SLAM season tickets
Matt Lambert – bonus – one set of SLAM season tickets
A. Buckingham – bonus – one set of SLAM season tickets
Amanda Isbrecht – bonus – one SLAM t-shirt
Stacy Stajduhar – bonus – one SLAM t-shirt
Denise Hope – bonus – one SLAM drawstring bag

Callie O’Neil – bonus – one SLAM drawstring bag

THANK YOU to everyone that participated in our 2011 Season Kickoff Raffle!!!

We appreciate everyone’s support and we hope to see you at the games and team events in 2011!

2011 Schedule
April 2 BYE
April 9 -   7pm - SLAM vs Indianapolis Crash at Oakville High
April 16 - 7pm – SLAM vs Dayton Diamonds at Oakville High
April 23  - BYE
April 30 - 7pm – SLAM at Chicago Force
May 7  -    7pm – SLAM at W. Michigan Mayhem
May 14  -  7pm – SLAM at Kansas City Tribe
May 21 -   7pm – SLAM vs Chicago Force at Oakville High
May 28  - BYE
June 4  -   7pm  – SLAM vs W. Michigan Mayhem @ Oakville High
June 11  -BYE
June 18 -  7pm -  SLAM at Kentucky Karma
June 25  - TBD –   Playoffs 1st Round
July 2  -  BYE
July 9  -  TBD  -     Playoffs 2nd Round
July 16 - TBD  -     Playoffs 3rd Round
July 23  - BYE
July 30  - TBD  -    Championship