TOWSON, Md. - When Coach Rob Ambrose addressed the Minnegan Room crowd for the Football 101 Clinic for Women on Thursday night, he looked around and said, "I had heard winning increases the attention you receive. I just didn't expect so many students in this class."

More than 70 women signed up for Football 101, nearly doubling the number of students in last year's class.

Included those who enrolled in the class of Football 101 were the mothers of current Tiger football players, a pair of Hall of Fame gymnasts, the wives of two University of Maryland football coaches and long-time supporters like Jacki Molen, who should be a graduate assistant in the course.

After a welcoming session that featured a light dinner and refreshments, the students adjourned to different classrooms in the Field House for some classroom work.

With the threat of a severe thunderstorm, Professor Ambrose cancelled the lab sessions scheduled for Minnegan Field. However, the students did assemble for a class photo.

"Rob (Ambrose) and I were classmates here at Towson and I will always support him," said former gymnast Tandy Knight, '91, a member of the Hall of Fame. "I've always liked football but I didn't understand a lot of what was going on. Attending this class made me understand what I have been missing."

Eileen Edsall, the wife of Maryland Coach Randy Edsall, was among the students enrolled in the class, along with Cindy Johnson, the wife of Assistant Coach Lyndon Johnson of Maryland.