Christa Tintelnot
Staff Writer
@christamarie123
Typically this is the time of year where high school seniors have made their college plans. Shelby Osborne of Jeffersonville, IN has finally made hers.
She will play football for the Tigers at Campbellsville University in Campbellsville, KY.
Courtesy of Wave 3 NewsThis isn’t the first time that Osborne has broken the mold, however, and to hear her say it, she was never really interested in football, either.
“…We were an anti football family, like we never watched football,” she told anchor Janelle MacDonald of WAVE 3 News. She continued on to talk about her frustration when Jeffersonville High School was playing opposing team, Castle. She saw the mistakes on the field and said, “I can play better than that!”
After being a walk-on to the team, Osborne took on the role of defensive back. At 5’6″, this was certainly a feat for her.
Coach Lonnie Oldham, who had coached another girl on his team, had his doubts about Osborne making it at a college and was honest from the start:
“I was like there’s no way that this girl is going to be able to play in college and you don’t want to shoot anybody’s dreams down but I had a conversation with Shelby and I said, ‘Shelby it’s going to be really tough for you to find anybody to take you.’”
Osborne didn’t let that advice sink in. Instead, she started writing and calling schools throughout the country looking for an opportunity to play. It wasn’t until a recruiting trip to Campbellsville University that everything changed for her. She is set to join the guys on the gridiron in the fall.
Other female high school football players have been contacting Osborne via her Instagram account with their well-wishes and support.
“You can’t ever make an excuse,” she said. “No matter how you feel, no matter how what, you have to be there on-time, do everything the coach asks you, never say because I’m a girl and never complain.”
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