NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Sarah Fuller went from Vanderbilt soccer player to a featured guest in the Joe Biden-Kamala Harris inauguration celebration in less than two months.
She will appear on “Celebrating America,” a television show, which begins at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and will simulcast on ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC, MSNBC and PBS.
That’s quite an honor for Fuller. How did it happen?
Fuller hit the national stage by becoming the first woman to play in a Power Five college football game on Nov. 28. She filled in as Vanderbilt’s kicker when COVID-19 sidelined numerous players. She played two games and made two extra-point kicks, becoming the first woman to score in a Power Five college football game.
Fuller’s only football season ended. And then the Biden-Harris team reached out to her.
On Dec. 20, Biden’s presidential inaugural committee emailed Vanderbilt to gauge Fuller’s interest in being highlighted as part of Inauguration Day events.
During the Christmas break, the inaugural committee communicated with Vanderbilt university and athletics communications.
On Jan. 3, a Zoom call was held that included Fuller, Vanderbilt athletics communications staff and the inaugural committee. Fuller’s part in the inauguration celebration was discussed and requested.
On Jan. 5, Fuller officially accepted the invitation.
Later in January, Fuller recorded a video for the inauguration event. The university communications staff filmed the content in Vanderbilt Stadium and coordinated with the inaugural committee via Zoom.
Fuller, a native of Wylie, Texas, flew from Dallas to Nashville for the filming. Sarah Fetters, director of football communications, drove from Michigan to Nashville to coordinate it. (TV viewers will know Fetters as the woman who accompanied Fuller from the football team bus to countless interviews during broadcasts of Vanderbilt games.)
Vanderbilt declined to disclose the date of the filming or the contents of Fuller’s part in the inaugural celebration. Fuller is unavailable for interviews during Vanderbilt’s holiday break, which ends this weekend.
On Jan. 17, Fuller, referring to Harris, tweeted, “This historic inauguration is especially meaningful for American women and girls. The glass ceilings are breaking and it is the time to #LeadLikeAWoman.”
Reach Adam Sparks at asparks@tennessean.com and on Twitter @AdamSparks.
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