‘It is truly ladies first’: WIU football program’s Women’s Football Night is bona fide success

MACOMB, Ill. — Ladies first.

The motto and message of Western Illinois University’s Women’s Football Night came across loud and clear.

“Ladies first. We mean it when we say it,” WIU cornerbacks coach Elven Walker said.

Walker was one of several WIU coaches and players who helped run drills at Hanson Field on Friday night as part of the event, which was designed to introduce the game to women ages 21 and older.

“Today was awesome,” Walker said. “We had a bunch of high-spirited women here. This is the backbone of Leatherneck football.”

Having grown up in a single parent household with his late mother Lashawn Washington, Walker experienced firsthand how impactful women are to the sport and the people in it.

“My mom was my dad also,” Walker said. “She’s the strongest person I know and the reason why I do what I do.”

Walker knows he’s not the only one who has gotten such support along the way.

“None of us would be here without a woman,” Walker said.

The same could be said for Joe Davis, who is in his first year as WIU head coach. His wife, Whitney, organized Friday night’s immersive experience, which included a tour of the WIU football facility, a “Chalk Talk” with Leathernecks offensive coordinator Brad Wilson, a football gear photoshoot, and plenty of smiles and laughter.

“What a great way to celebrate the women in our lives and the women in our community who support us,” the WIU coach said.

Whitney Davis said seeing upwards of 40 ladies show their enthusiasm and support for WIU football at this event has her ecstatic about things to come.

“It really makes me pumped up for the season knowing that we have the support of the community, of the women who are working for Western, who are living here in the surrounding area,” Whitney Davis said. “It just gets me really excited.”

The Davis couple had the pleasure of sharing this night with their daughters, Zoey and Jolie, which gave the head coach the chance to just be Dad.

“It’s humbling to have my family out here being a part of this,” Joe Davis said. “It’s real life. Football certainly consumes us as coaches during the season, but this is a reality check so to speak with your family and your daughters around. 

“I often say after the game, my daughters don’t really care about wins and losses. They just want to see Dad. To keep those things in perspective and to have a night like this to celebrate those who love us and support us is really special.”

Watching Zoey and Jolie bounce around Hanson Field with smiles on their faces, it is evident they are right where they belong.

“They’re very comfortable in the football world now,” Whitney Davis said. “It’s really awesome seeing them surrounded by what their dad does every single day. They’re really proud of him. I can tell by the way they walk around and how they interact with everybody that they’re proud and excited.”

The Leathernecks opened practice July 31, but they have yet to move from the practice field to Hanson Field. That takes place next week, which meant the women attending Friday’s event were the initial group to hit the field this fall.

“It is truly ladies first,” Joe Davis said.