Cottey Receives Stipend from NFL for Women’s Flag Football

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) notified Cottey College that the College would receive one of the $15,000 stipends from the National Football League (NFL) for starting Women’s Flag Football on its campus this fall. The stipend is intended to offset the costs of introducing this new team sport.

“We are very excited that you are going on this journey with us and thankful that we have institutions in the NAIA that continue to find new opportunities for young women to play a sport they love and get a great education as well!” said Austin Bennett, Director, Special Events & Sport Sponsorships for the NAIA.

“The opportunity for women to play a sport they love and get a great education is what excites us at Cottey as well,” said Dr. Jann Weitzel, President of Cottey College. “They will use those scholarships to attend Cottey, play their sport, and major in education, business, English, psychology, or one of our other excellent degree programs in their quest to earn a college degree. Just as with all our other athletic programs, sports opens the door for many women to receive an education and create their incredible future.”

Cottey College is one of 15 institutions, and the only women’s institution, who have agreed to incorporate this emerging sport. Other schools to offer Women’s Flag Football as a scholarship program include Florida Memorial University, Kansas Wesleyan University, Keiser University, La Sierra University, Midland University, Milligan College, Ottawa University, Reinhardt University, St. Thomas University, Tougaloo College, University of Saint Mary, Warner University, Webber International University and Xavier University of Louisiana.

The head coach for the new Comets team is Madeline Culbertson. Play will begin in spring 2021, and the Comets will play their home games at Nevada High School’s Logan Field.