Ready for some (ladies) football?
New East Texas Saberkats sign several, will begin play in April; in current negotiations with cities for the site of their home games
By LESTER MURRAY news2@kilgorenewsherald.com

Photos by Lester Murray TRY THIS ON FOR SIZE - Kilgore High School softball coach Cassie Newell (left), a Mississippi native, has signed to play women's pro football for the East Texas Saberkats, a new franchise that will begin play in the National Women's Football Association with an exhibition season in August, and then for real when the next season begins in April. Below: Newell (seated) was joined by assistant general manager Rene Deaton and by Saberkats head coach Kirkland Trammer as she officially signed with the team last weekend. Newell will play quarterback. Others from Kilgore are signed, and the league is quite popular - there are 41 franchises across the nation.

The East Texas Saberkats, a women's professional football league, held a contract signing here Saturday in preparation for their upcoming season which begins in April.

An exhibition season will be played in August, although at this point, the franchise is still in negotiations with local cities on where their home games will be played, team officials have said.

Rene Deaton, assistant general manager for the Kats, said the SaberKats at this point will be playing in the South Central Division.

Deaton said most likely teams in that division will include the Austin Outlaws, the H-Town Texas Cyclones (Houston), The Lone Star Mustangs (a Fort Worth 2009 expansion team), the Saberkats (2009 expansion team), and the Oklahoma City Lightning.

Deaton said ticket prices will include discount for families and groups. "We will have an online discount for a dollar off at www.etsaberkats.com," said Deaton. "Gate prices will be $8 for adults and $5 for anyone 12 and under."

Head Coach Kirkland Trammer, from Marshall, said right now there are 30 girls who have signed with the Kats. "I was hoping for a total roster of at least 45 players," said Trammer. "We have a mini camp coming up and there will be more girls trying out at that time."

The coaching staff for the Saberkats will include Trammer, Dwayne Kuhn, offensive coordinator from Marshall, Bob Boyd, defensive coordinator from The Woodlands, Chad Buckley, offensive line and backs coach from Houston, Harold Tycksen, defen- sive line coach from Kilgore and Glenn Johnson, defensive backs coach and scouting from Marshall.

Kilgore will be well represented as Cassie Newell, the Kilgore High School softball coach, will be starting for the Saberkats at quarterback. Rachelle Tycksen from Kilgore will be starting on the line, and Andrea Fox, a Kilgore College cheerleader who was the school's homecoming queen last year, will be a wide receiver.

Deaton said other players who have already signed with the Saberkats are Kalessia Battee from Winona, Glenda Brice, from Gilmer, Jennifer Brooks from Gladewater, Heather Broughton from Gladewater, Minday Carrington from New Diana, Katharine Greenway from Longview, Amanda Heme from Gilmer, Amber Henry from Longview, Enjoli Johnson from Longview, Stefani Jones from Harleton, Monica Kidd from Jacksonville, Dristy Little from Jacksonville, Shakina Minniefield from Marshall, Haylee Newman from Gilmer, Jenny Nix from Longview, Jazlynn Pattillo from Jacksonville, Jennifer Prazak from Gladewater, Allison Ratcliff from Jefferson, Donna Stephens from Hallsville, Star Williams from Jefferson, Shaneka Wilson from Longview and Brittanye Winkfield from Overton.

Deaton said the Saberkats are still looking for a home field. "We are in discussion with several cities - Kilgore being one of them - to play are regular conference games and our exhibition games which will be coming up in August of this year."

Deaton said the league has been in operation since 2000 and started with just two teams. It now has 41 teams across the country.

Trammer and his coaching staff not only signed contracts on Saturday, but got each player measured for uniforms. This league is a full-contact league, so helmets, pads and uniforms had to be measured.