Philpott following in father’s footsteps
Tarrah Philpott straps on her pads and laces up her spikes just like any other football player in the country, except that she isn’t headed onto an NFL or college football field.
Philpott, a Sabre Springs resident, is a rookie lineman for the So Cal Scorpions, San Diego’s entry in the Women’s Professional Football League.
Philpott joined the Scorpions after reading an advertisement for tryouts in a local publication. Physically active when she was in high school, the 28-year-old wanted to try her skills at football.
“One of the biggest challenges is to learn,” said Philpott, who played volleyball, soccer and participated in track and field while growing up. “I love it. I love being a part of a team again.”
Philpott didn’t have to look far for gridiron inspiration. Her father, Ed Philpott, who passed away about a decade ago, played linebacker for the Boston Patriots and the San Diego Chargers. He is always on her mind while she pursues her football career.
“For me, it brings that bond (with my father) back to me,” said Philpott.
Despite her football genes, Philpott, acknowledges that it a big leap from just loving the game and participating on the field.
“You’d think I’d know a lot more about the game,” she said. “Playing it is different than watching it.”
The 16-team Women’s Professional Football League is 7 years old. The life of a WPFL member is not a parallel to that which the NFL-types enjoy. Players play for next to nothing, thus needing day jobs, and each must pay or raise $500 to join. Of the original 50-plus members, the Scorpions squad now sits at 28.
“Everyone (who plays) is out there because they love it,” said Philpott, who works for her brother’s construction company to make ends meet.
Though hardship and struggle can test the mettle of any football player be it male or female, winning is a pretty good salve. The Scorpions (9-1) have qualified for the playoffs and earned a bye. The team’s first-ever playoff game is Saturday, Oct. 29 at Southwestern College in Chula Vista, but the players aren’t looking too far ahead.
“We take it one game at a time,” said Philpott, proving that classic coaching clichés know no gender barriers. “We work on the game that is in front of us.”
With the first year going so well, Philpott hopes to play “as long as I can.” And she knows that somewhere, a former NFL linebacker smiles.
“In my heart, I know my dad is proud.”