text size

Linebacker Tiffany "Crash" James Tackles Two Totally Different Careers

Updated: Wednesday, May 9 2012, 11:17 PM CDT
For twelve years now, the Austin Outlaws have been tackling more than each other.

"These women are mothers, these women have full time jobs," says Outlaws defensive coordinator Lance Hines.

Linebacker Tiffany James had never played anything more than flag football prior to joining Central Texas' only women's full-contact squad.  Now, in her fifth season with the Outlaws, James has picked up a passion for the game, and a pretty solid nickname.  Her teammates call her "Crash."

"My first season, after a game one of the players said I looked like a crash test dummy out there, so that's what they started calling me," said James.  "I was fine, as long as it didn't get shortened to dummy!"

She just goes by "Crash" now, because "Dummy" definitely wouldn't be appropriate.  Not for a defensive leader nor a Montessori school teacher.  Yes, "Crash" James is both.

"They're very different personalities," said James, who works as a Head Teacher at Austin's School in the Hills.  "I don't by day, people would expect while I'm working with small children to pummel somebody that's 200 pounds."

James' roles in the classroom and on the field differ as much as the triple-option offense as the run-and-shoot.  However, her defensive coordinator isn't about to call an audible on either one of James' careers.

"That in itself takes patience, and a linebacker needs patience," says Coach Hines.  "So maybe being a Montessori school teacher is the key to her success."

"It's like I have 17 little trainers around during the day," says James.  "At school, I have to move and bounce around, and work on my agility."

When polar opposite worlds collide, it makes a crash.  And like a true linebacker, "Crash" James is happy to be right in the middle of the collision.

"I love it, it's where I belong," says James.Linebacker Tiffany "Crash" James Tackles Two Totally Different Careers