Alabama's Trailblazing Female Football Star: Luverne "Toad" Wise Albert's Historic Journey
Discover the inspiring story of Luverne "Toad" Wise Albert, Alabama's first female football player, who made history in the 1930s by joining a high school team and drawing national attention. Learn how her bold move transformed a prank into a remarkable chapter in Alabama sports history.
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In 1939, a group of bored girls at Escambia High School in Alabama joked about trying out for the football team. It was all in fun, but one girl, Luverne "Toad" Wise Albert, took it seriously. What started as a prank turned into a groundbreaking moment in history.
Luverne Wise Albert, born in 1922, became the first female football player in Alabama. Some sources even suggest she was the first female in the nation to score in a game against male players. This was a big deal back then, as most female teams played only against other women.
Albert joined the Blue Devils football team as a field-goal kicker. She was so good that she made about 75% of her kicks. Later, she also learned to pass the ball and even played as a quarterback a few times.
For her junior and senior years, Albert played on the team, catching the attention of news outlets across the country. Her picture even appeared in Life magazine. However, she didn’t wear typical football gear. Instead, she played in a "cute" outfit—a silver skirt and blouse. Her coach, Andy Edington, even modified a helmet so her curls could stick out.
Albert’s presence on the team was more than just symbolic. She was a real player, though the coach only put her in the game when they were winning by 20 points or more. This motivated the team to score as many points as possible, just to see her on the field. The crowds loved her, and people traveled from far away to watch her play. The team's record improved to 17-1 over the two seasons she played, and the extra attention helped the school pay off its stadium debt.
Although Albert once thought about pursuing a football career, she eventually chose a different path. She got married, had two daughters, and ran a sporting goods store with her husband in Atmore, Alabama.
Her legacy lived on, and in 2011, Albert was honored by being inducted into the Atmore Hall of Fame. She passed away in 1982, just a few months after turning 60. Her headstone in Oak Hill Cemetery in Atmore reads "TOAD," a nickname that stuck with her throughout her life.
