theGrio

Back to the Top

Main menu

Skip to primary content
Skip to secondary content
  • Home
  • Entertainment
    • Music
    • The Dish
  • Health
    • Ask Dr. Ty
    • Black Men’s Health
    • Black Women and Breast Cancer
    • Back to School Health
  • Living
    • Travel and Leisure
    • Living Forward
    • Books
  • Politics
    • Perry on Politics
  • Sports
  • News
    • Good News
  • Opinion

Inspiration

Female linebacker inspires other young girls

by Similoluwa Ojurongbe | October 19, 2012 at 4:33 PM
Comments
Print
Aminah Barrett

Aminah Barrett

Related Posts

  • Delois Barrett Campbell, gospel singer, dead at 85
  • 'Girls Who Code' inspires teens to learn about tech
  • Black Girls Rock 2012 brings out Hollywood's most fabulous African-American starlets, honors black women
  • 'Girls' gets slammed for lack of diversity, but is the criticism fair?
  • South African girls learn to cover World Cup

Aminah Barrett is only one of the seven girls in the city of Houston that plays football with boys. She attends Twin Creeks Middle School.

The eighth grader receives solid A and B grades and has been playing since the fourth grade.

“I like playing linebacker,” Aminah told KMOV St Louis. “I like to hit people and be aggressive.” Aminah is also a running back.

When her teammate Colton Mangum saw a girl with them while they were getting their pads, he thought, “‘Oh, okay so this is different.’”

But it’s not that different in her family, her mom played in the Women’s Football League in Louisiana.

“I love her and I’m very proud of her, very proud of her,” said her mother, Mika Frizzell.

Twin Creeks Middle School Coach Chris Brice is not letting any of the boys go easy on her either.

“Our kids go hard with her and that way she gets the full experience … Speed agility drills, weight room work. Absolutely, I see no reason why any female couldn’t do it,” he said.

Brandon Peralta, a wide receiver, told KMOV he was surprised by how good she was.

“When she came out and I saw her play I was like, ‘Okay, we got a good girl on our team,’” he said.

Aminah hasn’t decided how far she wants to take football but her advice to other girls is, “Never let anyone ever tell you that you can’t. If this is something that you want to do, you work hard. You put your mind to it. Never give up.”

Click here to watch video of Aminah in action.

Follow Similoluwa Ojurongbe on Twitter and simioju.com

  • Barry Sanders #20 former Detroit Lions running back looks on from the tunnel prior to being honored at half time during a game against the Kansas City Chiefs on December 23, 2007 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo By Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
    Next Story:

    Barry Sanders trading card could help Houston couple have a child

  • Bryant Jennings is at an age when many boxers are already on the down-slide of their career but for this handyman-by-day, boxer-by-night his career is on the rise up the heavyweight ranks after finding boxing in his mid-20s. (Video still via NBC Philadelphia)
    Previous Story:

    Philadelphia man’s unlikely rise from handyman to heavyweight

Filed in: Houston, Inspiration | Related Topics: Aminah Barrett, Football, Houston, Twin Creeks Middle School, Women In Football, Womens Football League
  • Learn about our User Panel

    Read More
  • New Stories on theGrio

    • Venus Williams previews French Open dress Venus Williams previews French Open dress
    • Chief Keef threatens to slap Katy Perry via Twitter Chief Keef threatens to slap Katy Perry via Twitter
    • Warrant for rapper Tim Dog, despite death reports Warrant for rapper Tim Dog, despite death reports
    • Pa. woman convicted in fiance’s wedding day death Pa. woman convicted in fiance’s wedding day death
    • Mayoral candidate ‘endorsed by Jesus’ finishes last
    • First lady: ‘I have failed at things’
    • Is hip-hop finally over molly?
    • 4 boss moves to make during Memorial Day weekend
  • What Your Friends Are Reading

  • More from theGrio

More Stories on theGrio

Top News

Politics

  • Transportation Secretary nominee, Charlotte, N.C. Mayor Anthony Foxx testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, May 22, 2013, before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee hearing on his nomination. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

    Anthony Foxx receives warm reception from senators

  • Obama cites new framework for terror war

  • Obama's 1979 prom photo, yearbook note to 'foxy' friend unearthed

  • Are the Obamas too critical of black Americans?

» Read More in Politics

Business

  • An elderly black couple. © poco_bw – Fotolia.com

    Black Americans retiring earlier, with less savings

  • BlackStartup.com seeks to uplift black businesses

  • Payday loans: A debt trap in disguise

  • Tiger Woods makes a comeback on the course, and in video game sales

» Read More in Business

Living

  • mcdonalds_lottery 1x9

    McDonald's can't shake criticism about nutrition

  • Beyoncé and Rent The Runway launch 'The Beyoncé Boutique'

  • Homeless teen graduates as valedictorian of high school class

  • Memorial Day staycation hotspots!

» Read More in Living

Inspiration

  • Television journalist Robin Roberts poses with her Peabody at the 72nd Annual Peabody Awards at the Waldorf-Astoria on Monday, May 20, 2013 in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

    Robin Roberts to write memoir about illness

  • Charlotte remembers 1963 desegregation 'eat-in'

  • Tornado survivor saved by teacher

  • Obama speech makes Morehouse grads 'proud'

» Read More in Inspiration

Entertainment

  • Kanye West  (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

    The top 5 rap lyrics of the week

  • UK rapper live tweets London knife attack

  • Darius Rucker rides 'Wagon Wheel' to top of charts

  • Janet Jackson officially hits billionaire status

» Read More in Entertainment

News

  • ST LOUIS, MO - SEPTEMBER 16: Quarterback Robert Griffin III #10 of the Washington Redskins watches from the sidelines during the game against the St. Louis Rams at Edward Jones Dome on September 16, 2012 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

    Robert Griffin III still aiming for Redskins' opener

  • UCLA awarded $10M grant to study autism in African-Americans

  • Chinua Achebe honored in Nigeria funeral

  • Zimmerman wants Trayvon's pot use referenced

» Read More in News

Main menu

Skip to primary content
Skip to secondary content
  • Politics
  • Living
  • Video
  • Inspire
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • News
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise with TheGrio
  • About
©2013 NBCUniversal
Powered by WordPress.com VIP