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#19 Allyson Hamlin, Quarterback 
It's third and long. Down by four, two minutes left to play. Ten faces stare back at you in the huddle and await the play call. "Gun spread, twins right, Z zig, X post on one, on one… ready, break!" Quickly now, out of the huddle and to the line of scrimmage. Check the formation: are we lined up correctly? Not quite; a quick reminder to a teammate out of position. Look over the defense: will this play work against that 'Cover 1' look? A split second decision not to audible. Watch that linebacker cheating up. Steal a glance at the play clock, time winding down now, hurry up. Ignore the roar of the crowd, the elements, the ache in your bones, the relentless chatter of the opposition. Get under center, bark out the cadence, and concentrate… And that's all before the snap of the football. What follows is a complicated whirlwind of choreographed insanity. A sophisticated, frenetic kaleidoscope of bodies in motion, that is both brutal and elegant. At the epicenter of this organized madness the spotlight shines most brightly on one solitary individual. Such is the life of a quarterback. On any level of competition it takes a certain type of person to play the position. Someone with an unflappable, razor sharp mind to match their unique athletic abilities. A leader, full of grit and guile, who inspires confidence by action and deed. Someone tough enough to take the worst punishment a defense can deliver and still come back for more. That rare individual with just the right balance of swagger and bravado, patience and humility. Allyson Hamlin, the veteran quarterback of the DC Divas, fits the mold perfectly. Hamlin may look and act the part, but she's the first to admit the challenges of football are daunting. "Quarterback is the single most complicated position in all of sports. I'm still learning at every practice, on every play." Her prior athletic experiences certainly have helped to shorten the learning curve. She was the starting catcher for the 1999 University of Maryland softball team, the only squad in school history to win an Atlantic Coast Conference regular season title. "As a catcher you have a lot of responsibility," says Hamlin. "Handling the pitchers, helping to set the defense. I've always loved the mental aspects of team sports." A career as a police officer has also been a major benefit. Seven years on the sometimes hard-scrambled streets of Prince George's County, Maryland has taught Allyson discipline, focus and confidence. It also brings a unique blend of toughness. "People ask me all the time about getting hit," she sys with a laugh. "Believe me, I've been hit much harder on the job, than I ever will be on a football field." 
Hamlin's dedication to her profession may be unparalleled: she once raced off the practice field after witnessing a hit and run accident. She chased down and arrested the suspect, while still in uniform. Football that is, not law enforcement. Remembering the incident, she eludes accolades as if they were an attacking defensive line. Her demeanor is much the same when discussing her accomplishments on the football field. As one of five Diva team captains, she is humble, self-effacing and quick to divert praise to those around her. "My teammates make me look a lot better than I am. I don't have to carry the whole team. In fact, I feel very, very lucky." The numbers betray her endearing modesty. She is 24-4 as a starter, with a quarterback rating well above the median average of her counterparts in the NFL. Perhaps that is why the Divas are evolving into a more balanced offensive team. "For the last few years we just ran the ball right at you," explains Hamlin. "We'd just go with a Power I formation and pound it. This year is a little different. We're trying a new passing system this year… it's much more of a Run and Shoot or West Coast system." That means dedicating even more time to studying her playbook, breaking down film and learning on the practice field. Add that to an already hectic schedule full of career and personal responsibilities. And then there's the onus of trying to help grow a league that is still in its' infancy. "I can't believe how far we've come," Hamlin reflects. "I know it's going to be a process, but you cannot deny a good product." Despite all of these challenges Allyson wouldn't have it any other way. For her love of the game makes all of the hard work and sacrifice worthwhile. "Football is the one place where nothing else matters. It's the greatest sport there is."
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