The love of the game is the same, regardless of gender. Football is football and, for the players in the Hawaii Women’s Gridiron League, it’s serious, physical competition.

This ain’t no Lingerie League.

It is, however, 8-on-8 flag and in its first season as part of the men’s Hawaii Gridiron League. Five teams, perhaps a sixth being added by this weekend, will compete in games held before the men’s tripleheader beginning April 20 at Waipahu High.

Many of the players on the Schofield Barracks-based Vixens are military wives who began playing while their husbands were stationed in South Korea. Women’s flag football was big on the posts and, when the Army transferred the soldiers to Hawaii, a number of the wives reconnected at Watts Field to play in the military league.

That league’s hiatus this season coincided with HGL’s vision to add a women’s league. Talk about a perfect connection, one reminiscent of those between University of Hawaii wide receiver Darrick Branch and quarterback Michael Carter that 1992 Holiday Bowl championship season.

Branch, HGL founder, said it was part of the league’s international plan to add a women’s program in addition to playing a key role in the Arena Football League-Global’s expansion in China.

“We had a team from Australia come to play a few months ago and they brought their women’s team,” Branch said. “We put together a women’s team and it was fun to see the level they played at. It started to come together after that.

“Our league is all about providing opportunities, and the women’s league fits in with what we want to do internationally. I saw their scrimmage a few weeks ago and it was amazing. They love football and they want to play it. They want real uniforms that demand the respect they deserve.”

“I grew up in a football house, my dad coached, my brothers played,” Vixens quarterback Brittney Patricio Alegre said. “I played soccer and basketball in high school (Roosevelt) but we only played powder puff football during homecoming week.

“Some people have the notion that football is only for men but I think once more people start watching, they’ll see it’s not fluff, it’s not the Lingerie League and it will be more accepted.”

“It is frustrating at times when people don’t think we take it seriously,” added running back Jennifer Garley. “It’s about the game and my teammates know a lot about football.

“It’s competitive. It’s serious. We have a lot of skill.”

“I started in Korea. It was an outlet for me while my husband was deployed. It kept me busy.”

It’s become a family affair now that husband Micah is back from deployment. He is the Vixens’ defensive coordinator, a defensive move made to avoid the conflict of coaching his wife.

“Coaching women is different but it’s the same game,” Micah Garley said. “There’s no pads or helmets and it’s legal to hit within certain limitations.

“I wish it were 11-on-11 instead of 8-on-8. In Korea it was 10-on-10. They’re still playing on the 100-yard field. My players are in shape.”

They also have various degrees of experience. Vixens head coach Barron Coleman said his first tryout is about determining who can play where and how well.

“Part of the time I’m just throwing the ball to see who can catch,” said Coleman, a running back and defensive end for HGL’s Kapolei Kings. “I’m paying attention in two-a-days to see what they can handle and can’t handle.

“I’m blessed to have so many women up here who love football, are athletes and want to play.”

“I love my team,” said Savannah Taylor, who plays on both the offensive and defensive lines. “Our team is a nice mix of military women and dependents.

“I played sports from when I was young, softball since I could swing a bat, basketball since I could shoot a ball, ran track. There was nothing for me after high school but, when we went to Korea, I found football.”

Branch said the league is still looking for more female players. Interested women can email the league at hawaiigridironleague@gmail.com.