'I can't think of a more perfect way to end a career'

Brickhouse

After nine years of laying it all on the line, Boston Militia RB Mia Brickhouse says it's time for to retire. With a new job in California taking her away from the East Coast, Brickhouse capped a career as one of the truly remarkable running backs in women's football by winning a world title with Team USA and leading the Militia the IWFL championship in Texas last weekend. A Militia team captain, Brickhouse was also selected as an IWFL all-star and the championship MVP.

Here's what she had to say:

CB: You've been playing ball a while and it has to have taken a toll on your body, especially given the conference you play in. Going out now, after the Team USA experience and winning the championship game, would seem to be pretty tempting.

MB: I can’t think of a more perfect way to end a career. … So in short, I plan to retire now that I've got a gold medal and a IWFL championship on my resume (and I hope to stick with that decision).

CB: What does it take for a team to be competitive in the IWFL, or any league for that matter?

MB: I have played in a few leagues over the course of my nine years and it’s my humble opinion that the IWFL has the most talented teams in the country. The parity is there and any given team can win it year in and year out. Having said that, no matter what league you compete in, if you aren’t watching film and preparing for success it’s not going to happen no matter how much talent you have. Coaching is a big part of our success and Coach Beasley turned his game up a notch this year.

CB: Boston has been near the top the past couple of years, but this is the first year to play in a championship. Why is this year different than the last two?

MB: I think a few factors went into this year's team. 1) We grew as a team from last year. We had to learn the lesson the hard way in last year's conference championship game. This year it was important for us all to finish games and that’s what we did. 2) We added some key new players who fit in perfectly with the system and the attitude of the team. This team should be good for many years as a result of the great new talent that was added. 3) We played a difficult schedule that prepared us for the playoffs. We knew if we wanted to be the best, we had to play and beat the best. This year's schedule was tough, but it ended up paying dividends for us in the end.

CB: What's your favorite moment as a football player?

MB: This whole year has been one great memory. Obviously nothing tops Saturday night when we won the championship, but winning in the conference finals was right up there with it. Being able to give our fans the win they deserved was amazing. I will never forget going over to the crowd at the end of the game against the D.C. Divas and hearing the roar from the crowd.

CB: Did you play football when you were younger? Flag?

MB: Just at the family barbecues. Even though I'm a girl, I was always picked first. That’s the greatest measure of respect for me. Brickhouse family cookouts are the best! I started playing flag in the offseason, but only to keep in shape for tackle.

CB: You have had great success as a running back. Do you have a secret linebacker inside you?

MB: I actually do play linebacker so there’s no secret to that. I started my career on defense and Coach Beasley had a vision for me to play both ways. I was blessed that my body held up and I was able to play both positions. Ideally that’s the kind of player that I want to be... never leaving the field.

Is title game Brickhouse's last run?

Boston Militia RB Mia Brickhouse running through the DC Divas.

The big question after the Boston Militia completely  dominated the Sacramento Sirens 39-7 in Texas to win the IWFL title: Where will Fan Favorite MVP Mia Brickhouse play next year? The Militia's gifted RB has taken a job as an executive with the West Coast Conference, which is  based in San Bruno, California. Brickhouse, a standout center fielder on the Villanova University softball team, started playing football for the Philadelphia Phoenix while attending law school at Villanova. After graduation, she took a job with the Big East Conference, based in Providence, RI, and moved into the Boston Militia backfield. She was also a member of the  Team USA squad that won a world championship this summer. Now that her day job is taking her to the Left Coast, it looks like Brickhouse will be switching uniforms again, unless she decides to hang it up at the peak of her playing career. In case you were wondering, the West Coast Conference headquarters in San Bruno is 30 miles away from Contra Costa, home to the Tier II runner-up Bay Area Bandits. It's also a commutable 90 miles from Sacramento.