Any college football program will tell you they put the health and safety of their players first. Few go beyond and extend that philosophy to the reporters who cover them.

However, one unnamed Power Five school is, according to Nicole Auerbach, a senior writer for The Athletic CFB.

Auerbach explained in a Twitter thread on Wednesday that one school with “a lot of night games” took a proactive approach to safety and called her for some insight ahead of the season.

The school asked Auerbach what they could do to help protect the women who cover the games, and subsequently, often walk to their cars alone late at night.

 

 

 

Staying safe while covering sports is nothing new to women reporters. In a 2016 Sports Illustrated story, a group of high-profile female sports reporters opened up about safety while on the road.

Former MLB reporter Trenni Kusnierek shared that while covering the Milwaukee Brewers in 2008, a stranger had followed her back to the hotel and got on an elevator with her. Thankfully, Prince Fielder and another Brewers player were on the elevator as well.

“I was scared. Why would this person get on this elevator and try to pretend he knew me? He was talking to me as though we were together. I gave Prince a look like I don’t know this guy,” Kusnierek told Sports Illustrated.

No words were needed. Prince picked up on the frightening situation, got off on Kusnierek’s floor and walked her to her room to ensure her safety.

“If Prince and one of his teammates had not been there, I honestly don’t know what would have happened,” she explained.

So, for a Power Five football program to take-charge and try to prevent the worst is a thoughtful, albeit, necessary step.

After all, the headlines should be about the game itself, not a tragedy that occurred after the stadium lights cooled down.

Here’s to other teams and leagues following suit, not only for women, but men, too.