When the pint-sized players with the oversized shoulder pads for the Pearland Patriots would gather for wind sprints at the end of another practice, an athletic-looking woman would emerge from her car and line up next to them.
It became a daily challenge for the boys in the Pearland (Texas) Youth Football League – trying to finish ahead of Gloria Whittaker in the 20- or 30-yard sprints.
It never happened.
“We could not beat her. She used to come out there and she still had her speed,” Panthers running back Fozzy Whittaker said. “They obviously knew where I got my speed from.