Last year, Condoleezza Rice was one of two women to become the first female members of famed Augusta National.
Now, the former Secretary of State is set to break down yet another gender barrier.
Citing a person with direct knowledge of the process, the Associated Press is reporting that Rice, the daughter of a long-time Alabama high school football coach, will be part of the selection committee for the College Football Playoff. As has been the case with all previous reports attaching names to the committee, no one connected to the new playoff system will confirm or deny that Rice will be a part of determining a national champion in college football.
Rice served as Stanford’s provost from 1993-99 before leaving to become National Security Advisor under George W. Bush, becoming the first woman to ever hold that title. She served as Secretary of State from 2005-09.
In 2009, Rice rumored to be a candidate to become the commissioner of the then-Pac-10. She briefly considered the offer but ultimately declined the opportunity. Her name was also floated as a potential replacement for Bob Bowlsby as Stanford’s athletic director.
While Rice has had no official connection to the game of football, she’s been around it her entire life.
“Everybody always is [surprised], and they don’t understand,” she said in talking about her knowledge of the game. “I probably would have written several more books had it not been for the NFL on Sunday.”
Early last decade, Rice stated during multiple interviews that being NFL commissioner has long been her dream job.
“I really consider myself a student of the game,’' Rice said in a 2002 interview with the New York Times. ''I find the strategy and tactics absolutely fascinating. I find the evolution of the game really interesting. Again, as it relates to military history. Military history has swung back and forth between advantage to the offense and advantage to the defense. When the offense has the advantage, then a new technology will come along that will temporarily give the defense the advantage and vice versa. Football has that kind of pattern, too.”
According to a report that surfaced today, the names of the selection committee members will be announced Nov. 11.