Patricia Palinkas
Encyclopedia
Patricia "Pat" Palinkas (née Barzi, born 1953) is credited as the first and, until Katie Hnida
signed with the Fort Wayne Firehawks
in 2010, only woman to play American football
professionally. She was a placekick holder
for her husband Steven Palinkas for the minor league (or semi-professional, depending on the source) Orlando Panthers in the Atlantic Coast Football League
. She attended Northern Illinois University
.
of 35-24-34) was attacked by Jets defenseman Wally Florence, who admittedly (and unsuccessfully) attempted to "break her neck" as punishment for what he perceived to be "making folly with a man's game." Palinkas went on to appear four more times: three consecutive successful extra point kicks, and a field goal attempt that was blocked.
After her husband injured his leg (reducing his field goal range
from 40 yards to an unacceptable 25 yards) and failed to make the preseason cut, Palinkas (after surviving a threat from ACFL Commissioner Cosmo Iacovazzi to block her contract and prevent her from playing) remained the team's holder for a new kicker, Ron Miller, mainly because she was a draw at the box office; she lost interest in the game shortly after the decision and eventually was suspended shortly after the start of the season.
After being placed on the Panthers' taxi squad
, Palinkas left the team, in part due to the low pay (she received $25 for each of the two preseason games in which she appeared, and was planning on demanding a greater share than the standard $100 ACFL salary had she played in any regular season games). She held an option to return to the team in 1971 but let it lapse.
Palinkas, after her brief stint in professional football, returned to her home in Tampa, Florida
to start a family and continue her career as a first grade teacher.
Katie Hnida
Katharine Anne "Katie" Hnida is an American football player who became the first woman to score in an NCAA Division I-A game, college football's highest level...
signed with the Fort Wayne Firehawks
Fort Wayne Firehawks
The Fort Wayne FireHawks are an indoor football team affiliated with the Continental Indoor Football League. Based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the FireHawks play their home games at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum....
in 2010, only woman to play American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
professionally. She was a placekick holder
Holder (American football)
In American football the holder is the player who receives the snap during field goal and extra point attempts made by place kick. The holder is usually positioned between seven and eight yards behind the line of scrimmage. The holder kneels down and places the hand farthest from the line of...
for her husband Steven Palinkas for the minor league (or semi-professional, depending on the source) Orlando Panthers in the Atlantic Coast Football League
Atlantic Coast Football League
The Atlantic Coast Football League was a minor football league that operated from 1962 to 1973. Until 1969, many of its franchises had working agreements with NFL and AFL teams to serve as farm clubs. The league paid a base salary of $100 per game and had 36 players on each active roster.For the...
. She attended Northern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University is a state university and research institution located in DeKalb, Illinois, with satellite centers in Hoffman Estates, Naperville, Rockford, and Oregon. It was originally founded as Northern Illinois State Normal School on May 22, 1895 by Illinois Governor John P...
.
Career
Palinkas's first day of play was August 15, 1970, against the Bridgeport Jets, in front of twelve thousand fans. On her first play, Palinkas (described as a petite and curvy 5 feet 8 inches, 122 pounds with a BWHBWH
BWH is an abbreviation of bust, waist, and hip measurement. Also informally called vital statistics, these measurements are a common method of specifying body proportions for the purpose of fitting clothes. It is also often used in women's personal ads or Internet profiles to indicate their...
of 35-24-34) was attacked by Jets defenseman Wally Florence, who admittedly (and unsuccessfully) attempted to "break her neck" as punishment for what he perceived to be "making folly with a man's game." Palinkas went on to appear four more times: three consecutive successful extra point kicks, and a field goal attempt that was blocked.
After her husband injured his leg (reducing his field goal range
Field goal range
Field goal range is the part of the field in American football where there is a good chance that a field goal attempt will be successful.A field goal is normally 17 yards longer than the distance of the line of scrimmage to the goal line, as it includes the end zone and 7 yards in which the holder...
from 40 yards to an unacceptable 25 yards) and failed to make the preseason cut, Palinkas (after surviving a threat from ACFL Commissioner Cosmo Iacovazzi to block her contract and prevent her from playing) remained the team's holder for a new kicker, Ron Miller, mainly because she was a draw at the box office; she lost interest in the game shortly after the decision and eventually was suspended shortly after the start of the season.
After being placed on the Panthers' taxi squad
Scout team
In sports, the scout team, also referred to as a practice team, taxi squad, practice squad or practice roster, is a group of players on a team whose task is to emulate future opponents for the featured players. Frequently used in American or Canadian Football, these teams consist of less...
, Palinkas left the team, in part due to the low pay (she received $25 for each of the two preseason games in which she appeared, and was planning on demanding a greater share than the standard $100 ACFL salary had she played in any regular season games). She held an option to return to the team in 1971 but let it lapse.
Palinkas, after her brief stint in professional football, returned to her home in Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
to start a family and continue her career as a first grade teacher.