The coined term and hashtag #BlackGirlMagic has been exemplified through women breaking barriers and shattering glass ceilings in various industries and careers, and Marcia Cotton is no exception. The former college basketball player and Baton Rouge native has become the first woman in Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA) history to officiate a varsity football game, WAFB reports.

Cotton became a part of the LHSAA officiating family on Nov. 4 during a varsity football game. But she wasn’t even aware of the historical achievement up until the kickoff between Belaire High and Liberty Magnet.

Former college basketball star Hobert G. Grayson of the Facebook group Off the Bench Sports praised Cotton and her achievements.

“I would like to acknowledge Marcia Cotton, she is the first Female Football Official in High School to work a LHSAA CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES GAME as an ONFIELD OFFICIAL. Marcia works from the Baton Rouge Area Football Officials Association. Congrats Marcia on a job well done. #OFFTHEBENCHSPORTS,” Grayson said.

With her new position, Cotton recognizes that her position will serve as an agent of change for many young girls everywhere.

“This is kind of eye-opening for all of the hard work that I have put in and for the people that have been behind me and pushed me to get to this point,” she said. “If there are girls or women out there that want to stay around sport and stay around it for a long time, this is the thing to do.”

Cotton revealed that her sister, an assistant coach at Southern University in Baton Rouge, motivated her love for the game.

“It started with me assisting my sister with coaching,” she said. “When she was in high school at Wossman, I started assisting her and fell in love with the game. After my four years of college basketball, I just wanted to stay around the sport.”

While Cotton’s sister served as a catalyst on her journey to become a basketball referee in 2016, the referee would see her path lead her from basketball to the gridiron.

“It was something about that gridiron that just kept drawing me in,” she said.

Showing only signs of confidence, Cotton said she feels comfortable officiating more football games whether collegiate or professional. As for any nervous feelings going into the game, Cotton saidnone of that matters.

Jen Welter is continuing the trend. 

Back in 2015, Jen Welter was appointed as the first female NFL coach, according to NBCSports. She was hired as an intern with the Arizona Cardinals during training camp. Kathryn Smith soon followed as the first full-time NFL coach for special teams while working with the Buffalo Bills.

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