Toledo Women's Football Teams

[Women's Football in Toledo before the Troopers] [Toledo Troopers] [Toledo Furies]

Women's Football in Toledo before the Troopers

Taken from the article "Girls Football" in the Toledo Blade, Sept. 5, 1978.

In 1930 and 1931, there were two Toledo-based women's tackle football teams that barnstormed through the Midwest playing exhibition games against each other. One team was coached by Herman Metzger and the other by Dick Lazette. These women's football teams wore uniforms previously used by the Shank-Cobley little league football team.

According to the 1978 Toledo Blade article, "The first game was a financial success and the project went in the black." However, there was quite a bit of resistance to the idea of women playing tackle football. One scheduled game at the University of Detroit was canceled due to objections raised by university officials. Finally, the two Toledo women's football teams were disbanded when First Lady Mrs. Herbert Hoover sent a scathing letter accusing Mr. Metzger and Mr. Lazette of exploiting womanhood. It would be until 1971 before another women's tackle football team was attempted in Toledo.

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Toledo Troopers

Founded in July 1971
Years Played: 1971 to 1979
Team Colors: Kelly Green and White in 1971; Kelly Green and Gold 1972 to 1979
Head Coaches: Bill Stout, 1971 to 1977; Mike Stout, 1978 to 1979.
General Manager: Bill Stout
Co-owner: Ken Dippman

1971

In the summer of 1971, 80 young women signed up for a new women's football team called the Toledo Troopers. Of those 80, 45 showed up for the first practice. By Opening Day, the roster was pared down to 25.
During their inaugural season, the Toledo Troopers mostly played out of the T formation when on offense.
Game One: Toledo won at Cleveland, 46-16.
Game Two: In a game played at Rossford High School in Toledo, the Troopers defeated a women's football team from Buffalo, 30-6.
In the Buffalo game, Toledo's Pat Farrell had the Women's Professional Football League's first successful point-after-touchdown kick since 1966.
Game Three: Toledo defeated Cleveland, 30-6, before a crowd of 2200. The game was sponsored by the Whitmer High School Boosters Club.
In one of the games versus Cleveland, quarterback Lee Hollar threw a pass 45 yards in the air to Judy Verbosky, who then gained another 25 yards for a touchdown.
1971 won-loss record: 3 wins, 0 losses.
The 1971 Toledo Troopers' team awards went to the following:

Team MVP: Judy Verbosky, a high school senior who rushed for 500+ yards
Best Offensive Player: Lee Hollar
Best Defensive Player: Nannette Wolf
Most Improved Player: Pam Schwartz

1971 Toledo Troopers Roster

No.     Name           Ht.     Wt.     Pos.

        Deborah Skiles

        Pat Farrell                    K

73      Pam Schwartz   5'10"   170     DT

76      Lynn Burrows

10      Lee Hollar     5'10"          QB

24      Sh. Marinfield

74      Karen Kelley

        Debbie Brzozka

        Carol Kurtz

        Pat Westwood

        Jackie Allen

        Denise Vance

42      Nannette Wolf

50      Sheila Browne

62      Diana Skiles

30      Judy Verbosky          120     HB

22      Lynni Jaress

32      Peggy Dauer

34      Connee Miller

40      Sharon Browne

82      Carol Finn

        Mar. Robinson

        Terry Dale

1972

The 1972 schedule called for four games at Sylvania high School and one each at Bowling Green (Ohio) High School and Swanton High School.
Linda Jefferson joined the Troopers this season. Her stats were as follows: 1388 yards on 83 carries, 194 total points scored (32 touchdowns and one extra point conversion run), and 9 receptions for 252 yards.

1973

Toledo opened the 1973 season with a 43-0 win over Detroit. Linda Jefferson carried the ball 9 times for 189 yards.
Toledo played a game at Dallas versus the Bluebonnets this season.
The Troopers held all their opponents scoreless in 1973.

1974

1974 won-loss record: 5 wins, 0 losses. Three of the five wins were shutouts.
Rookies on the 1974 Toledo Troopers included halfback/middle linebacker Verna Henderson, flanker/safety/quarterback Sue Crawford (#11, 5'2", 110 lbs.), and running back Ruth Zuccarell (#24).
Following is an account of the Troopers' 1974 home opener versus the Columbus Pacesetters, as taken from the article "Coming of Age on Colony Field," by Tom Lorenz in the (Toledo) Blade Sunday Magazine, Nov. 10, 1974: pages 4-14:

Toledo receives the opening kickoff. Sunday Jones fields the kick and runs for the sideline before giving a reverse hand-off to Linda Jefferson, who then runs the ball in for a touchdown. Columbus fumbles the ensuing kickoff and Toledo recovers. Running back Ramelle Smith then scores for Toledo on a 20-yard run. After less than five minutes, Toledo leads 13-0.

Columbus finally runs its first play from scrimmage, an unsuccessful up-the-middle carry by Lisa Perez. Sunday Jones gets the next Toledo score, and it is soon 20-0 in favor of the Troopers.

Following a Columbus fumble, Linda Jefferson scores on a sweep play. (Toledo 26, Columbus 0)

After another Columbus miscue, Ruth Zuccarell scores her first touchdown. Score at end of first quarter: Toledo 32, Columbus 0.

Writes Tom Lorenz: "The ground game worked so well that Lee Hollar rarely had to throw the ball. Part of the Pacesetters problem was that they just didn't seem to want to get in there and tackle, often grabbing and hanging on while Jefferson drove forward, legs churning, until seven or eight teammates showed up and finally surrounded her and forced her down by sheer weight."

Columbus finally crosses Toledo territory just before half-time when Lisa Perez runs the ball in for a touchdown. But Toledo quickly responds with a fifty yard Linda Jefferson touchdown run. Half-time score: Toledo 51, Columbus 7.

Writes Tom Lorenz: "The second half was much more evenly played. The Pacesetters . . .hit much harder, tackled better, and committed fewer errors."

Columbus scores on a Lisa Perez touchdown pass.

Toledo's Jackie Allen blocks a punt and runs it in for a touchdown.

Linda Jefferson scores another touchdown.

Final score: Toledo 51, Columbus 14.

The scores of the Troopers' five games were as follows: 53-0, 69-14 over the Columbus Pacesetters, 47-0, 50-0, and 30-8 at Buffalo.
Other members of the 1974 Toledo Troopers included Cheril Martin (#60), Bev Severance, Michelle "Mitchi" Collette (#85), and Iris Smith (#79).
The Troopers' record after four seasons was 20 wins and 0 losses.

1975

Twenty women reported to the Troopers' 1975 rookie camp; 10 of those women survived "basic training" and made the team.
1975 won-loss record: 8 wins, 0 losses.
Home games were played at Waite Stadium this season.
On August 30, the Troopers defeated the Columbus Pacesetters 25-6 in Columbus.
The Troopers' home opener was on September 13 versus the Columbus Pacesetters.
The Troopers' record after five seasons was 28 wins, 0 defeats.
The Troopers' 1975 season awards banquet was held on Tuesday, January 6, 1976 at Earl's Steak House. The winners were as follows:

Most Valuable Player: Linda Jefferson
Rookie of the Year: Dorothy Parma
Top Defensive Back: Sunday Jones
Top Defensive Lineperson: Gloria Jiminez
Top Offensive Lineperson: Eunice White

To view a picture of the Toledo Trooper Booster Club’s T-shirt, click here.

1976

On August 22, the Troopers suffered their first-ever defeat. It came versus the Oklahoma City Dolls.
The following week (August 29), Linda Jefferson carried the ball 19 times for 161 yards and quarterback Pam Hardy completed 2 of her 10 passes for 41 yards as the Troopers defeated the Columbus Pacesetters.
Linda Jefferson scored 21 touchdowns in 1976.
Toledo's team payrolls in 1975 and 1976 totaled a mere $2000 each year.

1976 Toledo Troopers Roster

No      Name           Ht.     Wt.     Pos.

11      Pam Hardy      5'      100     QB

12      Jennie Jimenez 5'5"    130     QB

21      Dorothy Parma  4'11"   120     HB

27      Ruth Zuccarell 5'3"    125     G

29      Brenda Baskins 5'      130     HB

32      Ramelle Smith  5'6"    130     HB

36      V. Henderson   5'6"    140     G

41      Sunday Jones   6'1"    150     S-FL

44      Virg. Van Hook 4'8"    90      HB

48      Linda Jefferson 5'4"    130     HB

50      Joellyn Opfer  5'6"    135     C

60      Carla Miller   5'2"    150     G

62      Aldah Wilhems

65      Pam Nagle      5'6"    140     T

66      Tina Pirtle    5'4"    125     FL

71      Gloria Jiminez 5'6"    200     Tackle

73      Pam Schwartz   5'10"   170     Tackle

79      Iris Smith     5'7"    160     Tackle

80      Eunice White   5'9"    175     Tackle

85      M. Collette    5'7"    150     Guard

89      Brigitte Hartz 5'6"    130     End

        Vicki Seel             220     DL

        Eula Streeter          180     DL

1977

The Troopers opened their home season with a game versus the Columbus Pacesetters.
Linda Jefferson scored four touchdowns in each of the Troopers' first two games and rushed for a total of 369 yards.
Linda Jefferson scored all four touchdowns in the Troopers' 26-6 win at Detroit.
On September 17, the Troopers defeated the Middletown Mavericks 62-0.
On October 1, Toledo defeated Columbus 35-6.
Linda Jefferson was interviewed on NBC's Today on November 4, 1977.
The Toledo Troopers defeated the Oklahoma City Dolls, 25-14, in the NWFL Championship Game in November. Linda Jefferson scored four touchdowns in the game.
As of November 5, 1977, the Toledo Troopers had only allowed 26 points all season.
In their 1977 home games, the Troopers outscored their opponents 301-0.
In 1977, the Troopers regularly scored on their first possession. In three of their games, the Troopers scored on their very first play from scrimmage; in the other five games, they scored within five plays of getting the ball for the first time.
Linda Jefferson rushed for 1824 yards on 101 carries and scored 35 touchdowns in 1977.
The Troopers' record after seven years was 47 wins and only one defeat.

1978

1978 won-loss record: 8 wins, 1 loss
Longtime Troopers head coach Bill Stout was named commissioner of the National Women's Football League in July 1978. His brother, Mike Stout, became the new head coach.
The Troopers played an exhibition game versus the Middletown Mavericks on August 26. The Troopers' scheduled game versus the Detroit Demons was canceled when the latter team folded.
The Troopers opened the 1978 season with a 20-0 win over the Columbus Pacesetters before a crowd of 3150 at Waite Stadium. In the game, Ramelle Smith ran the ball 15 times for 137 yards and scored two touchdowns, one on a five-yard run in the third quarter and the other on a 64-yard run early in the fourth quarter. Sunday Jones scored on a 21-yard interception return. Quarterback Pam Hardy completed two of her 14 passes for 38 yards.

1979

1979 won-loss record: 4 wins, 2 losses (3-1 in the regular season)
Rookies on the 1979 Toledo Troopers team included flanker Joy Langendorfer, who was a senior at Bowsher High School that year, wide receiver Karen Mayer, tackle Becky Redman, and running back Sherry Dotson. Other players on the team that year included defensive end Jayne Haley and offensive linewoman Judie Janquart.
The Troopers opened the 1979 regular season on September 15 with a 30-12 loss to the Columbus Pacesetters.
On Sept. 22, Linda Jefferson ran for 147 yards on 13 carries and scored two touchdowns in the Troopers 20-8 victory over the Middletown Mavericks.
After finishing second in the NWFL's Northern Division, the Troopers defeated the Middletown Mavericks in an opening round playoff.
The following week, the Troopers lost to the Columbus Pacesetters in the NWFL Northern Division Championship. It would be the Toledo Troopers' last ever game.
Final all-time record for the Toledo Troopers: 59 wins, 4 losses.

Click here for Toledo Troopers pictures.

1980

As of April 1980, the Toledo Troopers NWFL franchise was put up for sale. Team co-owner Ken Dippman told the Toledo Blade the following: "We have had very good support in the past from the business community and from our fans. But we're now faced with a lack of institutional support. Maybe it's because the economy is in a downturn."
Toledo did not field another NWFL team until 1983.

Toledo Furies

Inaugural Season: 1983
Head Coach: Dave McCauley
Joellyn Opfer, who played for the Toledo Troopers and Furies, was president of the Furies' principal non-profit sponsor, Women in Team Sports, Inc.
Players on the Toledo Furies included the following: receiver Francella Washington, quarterback Sue Nuesmeyer, running back/receiver/defensive back Keely Miller, running back Dorothy Parma, running back Sherry Dotson, defensive tackle Gloria Jiminez, and defender Tangie Walton.
In a 1983 season-opening loss to Columbus, Francella Washington returned a kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown. She also caught five passes for 53 yards.
The Toledo Furies stared the 1984 season 6-0. Their sixth win of the season was a 40-13 triumph over the Cleveland Brewers on September 29. Francella Washington scored three touchdowns, two rushing and one receiving.
The Furies hosted the 1984 NWFL Championship Game on November 3.

This page was last updated on May 14, 2005.