October 27, 2000

Will Female Kicker's Legal Victory Reshape Gender Roles in Athletics?

By WELCH SUGGS

$2-million jury award raises questions about the role of women in contact sports like football

Heather Sue Mercer was a pretty good place-kicker in high school and college, by most accounts.

She could boot field goals consistently from about 40 yards out in practice, according to witnesses in the lawsuit she won against Duke University this month. She wasn't a candidate for the Lou Groza Award for college football's top place-kicker; she wasn't even as

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