Kathryn Smith always wanted to pursue a career in sports, and that goal translated to the historic move of becoming the first full-time female coach on an NFL staff. Earlier this year, she was named the special teams quality control coach for the Buffalo Bills.We talked to Smith about her role in the Bills organization, how women can break into coaching in the NFL, and how she handles being the first full-time female coach in the history of the league. Also, what would she do to improve womens standing in the league if she were commissioner for a day?This interview has been edited for length.espnW: Do you think players treat you differently from the other coaches?Kathryn Smith: I really dont. Its not like I see them interacting with other coaches in a certain way and then being completely different when they interact with me. I feel I get a mutual amount of respect. You know, Im quality control, Im on the lower rung, so Im not out there yelling at players to do this or that. But if Im asked my opinion or if I see something I want to point out, I can say it, and its not like its dismissed. I feel like my opinion is valued.espnW: What is your typical day like?KS: Its mostly breaking down film of our previous game and film of our future opponents, getting the game plan ready for meetings, and helping out the special teams coaches in practices. Basically, I assist them in all the prep work. Its a one game, one week, one season at a time kind of approach.espnW: What has been the most difficult part of being the first full-time female NFL coach?KS: Honestly, all of the added attention. Its odd, being an entry-level coach, because Im just trying to get my work done -- not that its been necessarily bad, but its been something that other men in my position havent had to deal with on a regular basis.When I step back and look at it, the reaction is understandable, but its not what we expected. I think it was a bigger deal outside of the [Bills] organization because no one knew who I was. Here, it wasnt a big deal. Id worked with [head coach] Rex [Ryan], and some of the other players and coaches before.espnW: How do you shut out negative comments you hear from fans in visiting stadiums?KS: As much as you cannot hear it, I dont hear it. But at the same time, fans are heckling everybody. I havent felt like its been extra worse for me, and its not like Im the only one getting heckled. Theyre yelling at all of us as we come out of the tunnel. All you can do is tune it out and focus on the game.espnW: How does your presence on the coaching staff make the Bills better than or different from other teams? What makes having you on staff unique?KS: My hope is that its the work ethic that I bring -- doing my job and paying careful attention to detail. If I can do that better that someone else in my position, then were at an advantage.espnW: What advice would you give to a woman whos trying to break into NFL coaching?KS: My advice would be: Get in where you can and do what you can to the best of your ability; work hard and be persistent, but also be patient because its not going to happen overnight. I know I keep saying this, and it sounds cliché, but its important: If you do the best job, thats whats going to help you advance. Its all about whos doing a better job, because ultimately teams just want to win.espnW: If you thought it would improve your chances to get into the NFL, would you go the college coaching route?KS: I think for anyone, if you think something is going to help you advance your position then, yeah. Really, at any level, if its going to get you more experience and get your foot in the door, its definitely worth it. For me, Ill always look at each opportunity as it comes up and see what makes the most sense, and what would be the best fit.espnW: If you could be commissioner for a day, what would you do to give women more opportunities in coaching?KS: To me, its important that its an equal footing thing. I think women should get the same opportunities for doing the same amount of work to get there. You shouldnt not get a job because you are a woman, but at the same time you shouldnt just get a job because you are a woman.I think I would do something at the entry-level side of things, like internships, to help women grow and develop the same way men get to. I think in the long run that would be the best way to do it because it would be a more organic way to progress.espnW: Do you think there are opportunities for women to break into NFL coaching staffs?KS: When you look around the league and other organizations, youre seeing more women on the field. Maybe not necessarily on coaching staffs, but as trainers and in a variety of departments at the organization level. Im not the only woman on staff here who works with the players. Its growing. You can see it more at the college level, and its translating to the NFL. And I think it will continue to grow and move in that direction.espnW: Does the public have a misinformed opinion of what locker rooms and coaching staffs are like?KS: There are women around the players in all aspects, and its not as extreme as its made out to be. There are incidents here or there that get all the attention, and thats not the way it is for most of the time. It hasnt been my experience with the players. They are great guys.I mean, if you have 53 guys on a roster, maybe one guy says or does something. But you could take 53 of any type of the population and the overwhelming majority act like adults and are professional. Vapormax Flyknit Rebajas . Deulofeu injured a muscle in his right leg in Evertons 4-1 win over Fulham in the English Premier League on Saturday. Barcelona says that its team doctors will "co-ordinate" with Evertons medical staff as Deulofeu recovers. Nike Air Max Plus Tn Ultra Baratas . Lack made 20 saves for his third shutout of the season as the Canucks blanked the St. Louis Blues 1-0 in the first post-Olympic game for both teams night. http://www.vapormaxbaratas.com/vapormax-flyknit-baratas-venta.html . Zvonareva, who won the tournament in 2009 and 10, couldnt handle her opponents big groundstrokes in only her third event back after 17 months out with a shoulder injury. Zvonareva made her comeback in January in Shenzhen and played in the Australian Open but lost her first matches at both tournaments. Nike Air Max Plus Tn Hombre . Anthony Davis had 31 points and 17 rebounds in his seventh straight game with more than 20 points, but that was only enough to keep the Pelicans competitive into the final minutes. Andrew Bogut had 10 points and 15 rebounds for Golden State, which rebounded from a loss a night earlier in Oklahoma City and snapped a two-game skid. Zapatillas Nike Just Do It Negras . Mickelson barely made the cut but had the best round of the day with nine birdies and an eagle coupled with two bogeys to sit two shots behind leader Craig Lee of Scotland. Lee shot a 69 for a 12-under 204 total. "I just love the fact I am in contention and have an opportunity in my first tournament of the year here in Abu Dhabi," Mickelson said. CHICAGO -- The party will have to wait for another day, and thats just fine with the Chicago Cubs.They are looking for a lot more than a division crown anyway.This is just the first step, manager Joe Maddon said. I mean, we have much larger baseball fish to fry in our skillet.Chicago wasted its first chance to clinch the NL Central title when pinch-hitter Scooter Gennett delivered a tiebreaking, two-run double in the seventh inning Thursday night, leading the Milwaukee Brewers to a 5-4 victory.The Cubs (93-53) were hoping to begin a 10-game homestand with a boozy celebration of their first division title since 2008. But Keon Broxton homered and Orlando Arcia drove in two runs for Milwaukee, making Chicago wait for the result of St. Louis game at San Francisco to find out if its season-long dominance of the Central was complete.The crowd of 41,362 cheered loudly when Hunter Pences two-run homer in the first inning against the Cardinals was shown on the video board in left field. But it looked as if most of the Cubs were headed home rather than staying together to see the end of the West Coast game.Whatever happens in San Francisco is what happens in San Francisco and well take care of tomorrow tomorrow, right fielder Jason Heyward said, just like we always do.Jorge Soler hit a two-run homer for the Cubs, who had won three of four. Mike Montgomery pitched six solid innings and helped himself with a tying single in the fourth for his first career hit.Justin Grimm (1-1) replaced Montgomery in the seventh and the Brewers put runners on first and third with one out. Gennett, batting for Jimmy Nelson (8-14), blooped an 0-2 curveball into the corner in left for a 5-3 Milwaukee lead.I was just trying to put the ball in play, Gennett said. Hes a guy who throws a lot of curveballs so its important not to get too big or try to do too much. Its really just, get a good pitch to hit and put it in play.The Cubs got one back on Heywards RBII double in the eighth, but Tyler Thornburg threw a called third strike past pinch-hitter Willson Contreras with runners at the corners to end the inning.ddddddddddddThornburg also worked the ninth for his 10th save in 15 chances.It was just a flat-out good ballgame, Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said. Obviously with where theyre at, there was great energy in the park tonight.Nelson won for only the second time in his last 11 starts as Milwaukee (66-81) improved to 4-4 on an 11-game trip. The right-hander allowed eight hits, struck out seven and walked two.Even with the loss, its only a matter of time before Chicago clinches the division. But the NL Central crown is not how this group of Cubs will be judged, not this year. After running roughshod over the rest of the majors for most of the season, Anthony Rizzo and Co. are trying to end the franchises famous championship drought, going all the way back to when the Cubs beat the Tigers in the 1908 World Series.Weve got a lot ahead of us. We really do, president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said before the loss. It kind of all boils down to how you perform in October.TRAINERS ROOMBrewers: RHP Michael Blazek (right forearm strain) threw a simulated game. Counsell would like to get Blazek into some games before the end of the season, but he said theres no rush. The goal with Mike is just to go into the offseason healthy, Counsell said.Cubs: RHP Pedro Strop, who tweaked his right groin while working his way back from arthroscopic left knee surgery, threw a bullpen and said it went well. Hes getting close, Maddon said. Its not far off.UP NEXTCubs RHP John Lackey (9-8, 3.35 ERA) is scheduled to face RHP Chase Anderson (8-11, 4.53) in the second game of the four-game set on Friday afternoon.---Follow Jay Cohen at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap ' ' '
