Some of you know I've been working on a book with @britnidlc about the NWFL from the 1970s.

Well, we're about to start the writing phase in the next few days and I'm feeling a ton of excitement but also a bit of "Holy Sh-t" what did I get myself into.

Due to the time investment, I won't be able to write as many articles as I normally do. So bear with me for a little bit. Can't wait to share the amazing stories of the diverse women who played football for the love of it.

The NWFL has been underreported/unknown for far too long

"There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside of you"

As we ( @britnidlc) go along in the writing process, I'll be sharing weekly tidbits about the NWFL & the amazing women who played.

The Houston Herricanes recently had a reunion and received national media coverage. Most of the players hadn't seen each other since their last game

Here’s a cover of a NWFL program from a game in 1974.

This is Gail Dearie. She played wide receiver for the NY Fillies in the early 1970s.

The photo is from a LIFE Magazine spread featuring her and the team.

One thing (among many) I've found intriguing in my research for my book is how women who aspired to play football were depicted in editorial cartoons throughout history.

This one is from 1969

And this little gem is from 1963

(the theme is very consistent, folks)

This is Rose Low. She played QB for the L.A. Dandelions. She never told her parents (who were first generation Chinese) until one of her games aired and they saw her TV.

To her surprise, they were excited and bragged to their friends that their daughter played pro football.

This headline about a women's football team in the 1970s by an AP sportswriter is a doozy:

The QB's name this headline was referring to is Pat Hamble. She played for the NY Fillies in 1972. And she broke her arm in the first game she played.

Needless to say, she was more than her measurements.

This is Joyce Johnson. She tried out for the the LA Dandelions when she was 20 years old and made the team.

Unfortunately, she broke her leg in her second season and was permanently sidelined. But she stayed on as the "unofficial" Dandelions athletic trainer.

"A lot of us, including me, were just doing it for the fun of it and for the thrill of being allowed to do something we weren’t allowed to do when we were little girls."

-- Sue Hoxie, wide receiver, LA Dandelions

(#40 below, with the ball)

Also, being in LA had its perks. The Dandelions appeared as extras in a commercial for the 1974 Plymouth Duster. You can see them in the background, playing football.

They made $120 for two days of work -- more than they made in a season of football.

Robert (Bob) Edwards (middle, kneeling in pic) was the head coach of the LA Dandelions from 1973-1978.

Since the National Women's Football League was a professional league, Edwards is technically the first black head coach in pro football history.

Pretty solid run here by Sue Hoxie (#40) of the Dandelions. They were down 13-7 to the Dallas Bluebonnets and tied things up with this touchdown.

More footage from a 1973 game between the NWFL's LA Dandelions and Dallas Bluebonnets.

Kick returner Ginger Ford gets crushed on this play. She had to sit out a few plays after this.

(see more about the book I'm writing about the NWFL with @britnidlc in the thread above)

This touchdown run and celebration by LA Dandelions running back Ginger Ford is my favorite thing I've seen so far in NWFL game film.

She's just so THRILLED.

I love it. It's great.

I mean, how can you watch this and not smile?

And how about that block by #24?!

That's Sue Davidson. You can see her jumping up and down in the background because she knew Ford was going to go the distance.

One of the NWFL players I am writing about (Rose Low, she’s mentioned in the thread above) sent me a “writing” care package today and I’m just so moved