Katie Hnida was on the Today show this morning promoting her book, "Still Kicking: My Journey as the First Woman to Play Division I Football."

Almost all the footage was of UNM at the Emerald Bowl and some practice film, which they had from the last time she was on following the bowl game. Most of the segment was recounting her story as a star high school kicker, her tumultous time at CU and the second chance she got at UNM.

She was interviewed by host Meredith Viera, who asked a few questions after giving all the background information. The first question was why write the book when the topic is so painful. Hnida responded, "Well on one hand it never completely goes away. This I something I will have to deal with the rest of my life. ... It was really important for me to share this story. There are so many women and men who suffer from sexual assault ..."

Then she was asked whether she wished she had come forward when the rape first happened and if she thought it would have changed anything. That could be a pretty controversial question second-guessing the response of sex assault victim, but Hnida handled it pretty smoothly. She said " That is a very hard question to answer. I really don’t know if it would have made a difference .... I was 18 years old and in a very terrible situation."

Viera asked Hnida why she chose to speak out back in 2004 when she granted her interview to Sports Illustrated columnist Rick Reilly. Hnida responded she didn't think Colorado officials were taking the rape allegations by other women very seriously.

The Today show also played the infamous clip of ex-Colorado coach Gary Barnett saying she wasn't just a girl but a terrible kicker. Hnida was asked how she felt about his remarks years later. She said, "Actually the same as when that first came out. I think that that was a classless remark, but I was not that surprised because that was the coach that I knew."

Hnida was asked if she ever considered quitting, and she said she only entertained the idea for one really bad night and kept pushing herself to overcome the obstacles.

Then she was asked what it felt like to finally score. Hnida said it was wonderful, but it was even better the next day when she found out it was her teammates who pushed for her to get into the game.

And finally she was asked if she would recommend other girls take up kicking. She said, "Yeah absolutely. I think there are tons of great programs. And if it’s something you love to do, you should go for it."

Hnida will be on Larry King Live tonight.

She will be in Albuquerque Wednesday and Thursday. Hnida will speak and sign copies of her memoir at Book Works, 4022 Rio Grande Blvd. N.W., at 7 p.m. Wednesday and the UNM Bookstore at 2 p.m. Thursday.

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