59 yr old linebacker!

[bdann]

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/082307dnspooldlinebacker.5d0dfcd1.html

(in case DMN wants you to register):

59-year-old linebacker suits up for Texas college

03:13 PM CDT on Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Associated Press


 
Mike Flynt ALPINE, Texas - Mike Flynt was drinking beer and swapping stories with some old football buddies a few months ago when he brought up the biggest regret of his life: Getting kicked off the college team before his senior year.

So, one of his pals said, why not do something about it?

Most 59-year-olds would have laughed. Flynt's only concern was if he was eligible.

Finding out he was, Flynt returned to Sul Ross State this month, 37 years after he left and six years before he goes on Medicare. His comeback peaked Thursday with the coach saying he's made the Division III team's roster. He could be in action as soon as Sept. 1.

Flynt is giving new meaning to being a college senior. After all, he's a grandfather and a card-carrying member of AARP. He's eight years older than his coach and has two kids older than any of his teammates.

"I think it was Carl Yastrzemski who used to say, `How old would you be if you didn't know how old you were?' I'd be in my late 20s or early 30s, because that's how I feel," said Flynt, who has made a living out of physical fitness. "That's been my approach to this whole thing. I feel that good. I'm just going to find out if I can perform and make a contribution to the team."

A longtime strength and conditioning coach at Nebraska, Oregon and Texas A&M, he's spent the last several years selling the Powerbase training system he invented. Clients include school systems and the military. His colorful life story includes being the son of a Battle of the Bulge survivor and having dabbled in gold mines and oil wells -- successfully.

Flynt's life was supposed to be slowing down this fall. With his youngest child starting at the University of Tennessee, he and Eileen, his wife of 35 years, are planning to take of advantage of being empty-nesters for the first time.

Instead, they've moved to this remote patch of West Texas so Flynt can mend an old wound and, he hopes, inspire others.

He became emotional discussing his goal of "helping a bunch of young men to make up for those guys that I let down." Then he laughed about the reality that fellow Baby Boomers are getting the most out of his comeback.

"People are kind of in awe. They keep comparing me to themselves and where they are physically," he said. "If I can help anyone out by what I'm doing, then it's all worth it."

 
Sul Ross State University
Mike Flynt, 59, could be in action as soon as Sept. 1. Flynt's position is still being determined, but he used to play linebacker. Wherever he lines up, he'll likely become the oldest player in college football history. Neither the NCAA or NAIA keeps such a statistic, but research hasn't turned up anyone older than their mid-40s. And even those are rare, for obvious reasons.

"I told him he's an idiot," said Jerry Larned, who coached Flynt at Sul Ross in 1969 and counseled him at the start of his comeback. "I said, `Gosh, dang, Mike, you're not 20 years old any more. You're liable to cripple yourself.' He understands all of that. But he has a burning desire to play. ... He is in great physical condition. He still runs a 5-flat 40 and bench presses I-don't-know-what. He's a specimen for 59 years old."

Back in the day, Flynt was quite a player.

In 1965, he was on the first state championship team at Odessa Permian, the high school featured in "Friday Night Lights." He was offered a partial scholarship at Arkansas when the Razorbacks were among the top teams in the land, but instead went to Ranger Junior College.

He wound up at Sul Ross in 1969. An NAIA school then, the Lobos were in the Lone Star Conference with East Texas State, which at the time had future NFL stars Harvey Martin and Dwight White, and Texas A&I, which was starting a two-year run as national champs. The highlight of Flynt's two years at Sul Ross was sticking A&I with its only loss in '69.

Flynt was going into his senior year in 1971 when he got into a fight that was far from his first. School officials decided they'd had enough and threw him out of school. He earned his degree from Sul Ross by taking his remaining classes elsewhere.

"I actually grieved for more years than I can remember the loss of that senior year," said Flynt, who'd been a team captain and the leading tackler as a junior. "What really got me was I felt that was MY football team and I had let them down. ... I don't know if I ever got over it, but I finally learned to live with it."

Then came word of a reunion of former Sul Ross students from the 1960s and '70s. Randy Wilson, who has been best friends with Flynt since they met as college roommates in 1969, talked a bunch of his former teammates into using that event as an excuse to get back together.

During several days of reminiscing, Flynt's pain became fresh as ever, especially when one of the guys said their '71 season went down the drain without Flynt.

That's when he told them of his remorse. And, he added, "What really gets me is that I feel like I can still play."

"You might as well give it a shot," Wilson told him. "The worst thing that can happen is you get your head knocked off and come home."

When Flynt returned home to Franklin, Tenn., his wife wasn't as fired up by the idea.

"I feel like I'm married to Peter Pan," she said.

It took time to accept that instead of joining their daughter at Tennessee's home opener she would be watching her husband hit kids one-third his age.

Eventually she came around. They've sold their suburban Nashville home and are now living in Alpine, a town of about 6,000 residents near the Big Bend National Park, a three-hour drive from the nearest major airport.

"I told her, for me to know that I can do it and not do it would be worse than losing out the first time," he said.

A devout Christian, Flynt sees many religious undertones to his story. He also believes it touts the benefits of strength training.

"People have asked me, `Mike, what is the fountain of youth?' Well, it's strength training that builds muscle, increases bone density and burns calories," he said. "It's the one thing you can do in your 90s and benefit from."

Just to be clear, Flynt won't be playing football in his 90s.

He'll be out of eligibility then.

[SHANEA]

Talk about pursuing a dream.  Might be able to catch him play.

Looks like the Sul Ross Lobo's have a tough schedule this year.  First 3 games on the road.  They only get to play 4 home games out of 10 games.    



In case you are wondering, a Lobo is a Mexican wolf, which I didn't know until I looked it up.

Sul Ross Lobo's are NCAA Division III

[SHANEA]

One way or the other, Sul Ross is certainly getting some good free press out of this...  This should be a hoot.

Thanks BDANN for turning us on to this story!

I wonder how many other card carrying AARP members will decide to hit the gridiron one more time.  

Morning Buzz: Grandpa playing with the kids

Morning Buzz: Grandpa playing with the kids
59-YEAR-OLD DECIDES TO USE UP ELIGIBILITY AT A D-III COLLEGE
Compiled by John Ryan
Mercury News
Article Launched: 08/26/2007 01:46:25 AM PDT

Sul Ross State, an NCAA Division III school in Alpine, Texas, is going to have some serious senior leadership this season.

Mike Flynt, a 59-year-old grandfather and AARP member, is back to play out his eligibility.

"I think it was Carl Yastrzemski who used to say, `How old would you be if you didn't know how old you were?' I'd be in my late 20s or early 30s, because that's how I feel," Flynt told the Associated Press. "That's been my approach to this whole thing. I feel that good. I'm just going to find out if I can perform and make a contribution to the team."

It's unclear what position Flynt will play, but he was a linebacker in his first go-round at the school. He got kicked off the team in 1971 after one too many fights. It always ate at him, even as he became a strength coach at Nebraska, Oregon and Texas A&M and later invented the Powerbase training system.

So a former teammate said, play again. Flynt said, why not? Eileen, his wife of 35 years, said OK, even if that meant moving from Tennessee to the West Texas plains near Big Bend National Park.

Mike Flynt is eight years older than his coach. Two of his kids are older than any of his teammates.

"I feel like I'm married to Peter Pan," Eileen said.

59-YEAR-OLD GUY MAKES COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAM

59-YEAR-OLD GUY MAKES COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAM
Mike Flynt will be playing for Sul Ross State, a Division III team in Alpine, Texas. He immediately ordered his teammates to turn down their damn music and keep their paws off his Old Spice.

Dave Johnson can be reached at 247-4649 or by e-mail at djohnson@dailypress.com

Former Duck coach could become oldest college football player ever

Former Duck coach could become oldest college football player ever
Posted by The Oregonian August 22, 2007 09:59AM
Categories: College Football

Under his pads, Mike Flynt may look like any other football player at Sul Ross State, a division III program in Alpine, Texas. He is five-foot-ten, weighs 205 lbs and is in excellent physical condition. But under this helmet is a head of tightly cropped gray hair, and a man hoping to become the oldest college football player in the history of the sport.

Flynt, 59, is eight years older than his coach and a grandfather. He will turn 60 in January and will soon be getting discounts to ride the bus.

A former strength and training specialist with Nebraska, Oregon and Texas A&M, he has been sweating his way through two-a-days while taking advantage of his final semester of college eligibility at a school he first attended almost 40 years ago. He is also attending graduate school.

Randy Wilson, a former teammate of Flynt's, related the story of why Flynt decided to play again to Mike Organ of the Tennessean.

    "Mike was talking about how difficult that last year was with him not playing football,'' Wilson said. "One of the guys said, 'As good a shape as you're in, you ought to go back down there and play again.' Mike looked at me and said, 'You know, I could do this.'''

The Lobos' first game comes Sept. 1 against Texas Lutheran. The official roster is not available yet, but we should know within the week whether he has made the team, and history.

--Michael Russell

[SHANEA]

This is bound to be outstanding free publicity for the Sul Ross University and the Lobos...

Flynt, 59, to return to Lobos

By STEVE LANG
Sul Ross News and Publications

ALPINE – When Mike Flynt rediscovered Sul Ross State University, nearly every major media outlet but the Discovery Channel soon followed him to Alpine.

Fifty-nine-year-old students returning to college are not unheard of but, until last month, 59-year-old collegiate football players were.

Flynt, 59, seeks to complete his final year of eligibility as a Lobo football player. The newest darling of the AARP crowd last wore a Sul Ross uniform in 1970.

Dismissed from the team prior to the 1971 season because of a rules infraction, he welcomed the opportunity to compete again.

“There are not many times in life when you have an opportunity to go back and right a wrong,” he told a press conference of local, regional and national media Monday. “I want to play but, at the same time, I want to help these young men to make up for some young men I let down 36 years ago.”

Flynt is an Odessa native and a member of the Permian High School 1965 state champions.

He transferred to Sul Ross in 1969 with three seasons of eligibility remaining.

During the 1970 campaign, he was named team captain and co-defensive player of the year. He recorded 24 tackles in one game, recovered four fumbles and intercepted a pass in another as the Lobos enjoyed a 7-3 season.

The following year, a dormitory incident turned into a fight and Flynt was dismissed from the team.

Life continued, and Flynt finished his undergraduate degree.

He has worked in the physical fitness field for many years, as a strength and fitness coach at several universities, as a trainer for branches of the military and, six years ago, he invented a piece of strength training equipment and now has his own company. SHANEA SIDEBAR:  This certainly can't hurt his training equipment company!  What great publicity for the equipment and staying in shape.  I haven't been able to isolate his company - too much of the websearch has been clogged with all of the publicity surrounding him.  His name and comeback is certainly making the rounds on the fitness circuit...

Finishing that final year of eligibility remained an on-again, off-again dream.

Last summer, he contacted Lobo Head Coach Steve Wright, met with him in Alpine and asked for a try-out.  SHANEA SIDEBAR:  and I wonder what the coach's first reaction was.  This could be the stuff that a movie is made of...

Flynt passed muster in strength, speed and agility and, when the season-opening roster was announced, the grandfather was listed as a senior linebacker.

“Coach Wright and his staff evaluated me fairly,” Flynt said. His coach told the audience this was not a publicity stunt.

“I made a decision that Mike could come and we would take a look at him making our football team,” Wright said. “I’m not limited by barriers – barriers such as gender, race, disability or economic status.

“If this had affected our team framework, Mike would not be here,” he said. “If I did this for publicity, I would not be here [at the press conference].”

Flynt said countless e-mails from fellow non-traditional students and senior citizens called him an inspiration.

“So many people have prayed for me, I’ve had letters and e-mails from people all over the country who say I have inspired them. Well, they’ve inspired me.”

Like Satchel Paige who pitched three scoreless innings for the Kansas City A’s in 1965 at the age of 59, Flynt ascribes to Satch’s theory:

“How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you were?”

“Physically, I appreciate that I am able to take advantage of the opportunity,” Flynt said.

He said being a positive influence on his much-younger teammates remains a goal.

“If I can help them make some right decisions, that’s a victory for me,” he said. “One of the biggest victories for me thus far has been their acceptance of me.

“It’s a whole new experience looking out from inside the helmet this time,” Flynt said.

Wright, 51, joked that Flynt has already been a positive influence on him.

“I’m diabetic, and I’ve lost eight pounds just by watching Mike,” the coach said. “He’s already made an impact.”

A slight groin pull kept Flynt off the traveling squad for the season opener.

It remains uncertain if he will travel in uniform to the game tomorrow against Southwest Assembly of God in Waxahachie or the Sept. 15 contest in Belton against the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.
But when the team plays its home opener Sept. 22 at Jackson Field against East Texas Baptist University, number 49 – at age 59 – will be on the sidelines awaiting his chance after a 37-year hiatus.

[SHANEA]

'I will be ready'

'I will be ready'
Debut of 59-year-old linebacker pushed back a week
Posted: Wednesday September 19, 2007 7:46PM; Updated: Wednesday September 19, 2007 7:46PM

ALPINE, Texas (AP) -- The on-field debut for 59-year-old linebacker Mike Flynt will have to wait another week.

Flynt said Wednesday that doctors have not cleared him to play Saturday in Sul Ross State's home opener against East Texas Baptist. He's now eyeing the game against Howard Payne in Brownwood a week from Saturday for his first action in 37 years.

"I will be ready," Flynt said.

Flynt played for Sul Ross in 1969 was a captain in '70, but was kicked off the team for fighting prior to his senior year. He never got over the disappointment, but figured there was nothing he could do about it -- until learning this summer that he still had a season of eligibility.

Although he's now a grandfather and a card-carrying member of AARP, Flynt is no ordinary 59-year-old, having remained in terrific shape by working as a college strength and conditioning coach, then selling the Powerbase training system he invented.

He joined Sul Ross for a two-a-day practices this summer and had to earn his way onto the squad. He did, but nagging injuries kept him from traveling to the first two games. He made the traveling squad for last weekend's game against Mary Hardin-Baylor and suited up for the first time since 1970, but never got off the sideline, much to the dismay of fans of both teams.

[SHANEA]

I tried to get in touch with Mike Flynt by email @ Sul Ross, but Sul Ross doesn't provide a directory of email addresses according to some official at Sul Ross that emailed me back.  Personally, I thought that Texas Open Records Act mandated that, but, I didn't press it.  Instead, he gave me an address to address all inquiries to.  All I wanted to know was the name of Mike's fitness equipment company so I could invest in it - with all the free publicity he is getting - he should really be able to parlay his return to the gridiron that into big bucks...

[SHANEA]

I haven't been able to discern if he did in fact play this weekend against Howard Payne.  I do know that the Lobos did win.

Ageless Flynt rekindles fire: Sul Ross State's 59-year-old linebacker returns 37 years after being kicked out

Ageless Flynt rekindles fire: Sul Ross State's 59-year-old linebacker returns 37 years after being kicked out
By Mike Flynt
For The Associated Press
Published: Thursday, September 27, 2007
Former University of Oregon strength and conditioning coach Mike Flynt is a 59-year-old grandfather who has returned to his alma mater, Sul Ross State, to play the senior season of football he lost when he was kicked out of school for fighting 37 years ago. Flynt has also been strength and conditioning coach at Nebraska and Texas A&M. This is his take, as told to AP Sports Writer Jaime Aron, on what it's like being the ultimate ``senior'' in college football.ALPINE, Texas - At my age, I should've known better.

After making it through two-a-days in good health and earning back the roster spot I threw away 37 years ago, I was so happy, I got carried away.

A groin injury should have slowed me down ... but I wouldn't stop and a pinched nerve in my neck got worse. The groin healed; the nerve problem was still there.

Some of my teammates had the same injury and were back in days. At 59, it takes a lot longer to recover.

On Tuesday, though, I went full speed through a scrimmage and now I'm expecting to play Saturday when we face Howard Payne in Brownwood.

The timing couldn't be better.

All along, my family has been planning for this to be our reunion weekend because my 82-year-old mom - who still works 40 hours a week as a manager at Wal-Mart - lives in Brownwood.

My wife will be there and so will our three kids and our 1 1/2 -year-old grandson, about 20 relatives in all.

So why am I doing this?

Because I let down a bunch of seniors when I was kicked off the team in 1971. I wanted to make it up by helping another generation of kids, coming back with a lot more wisdom than I had then.

Spending time with them is major for me. They know I'm going to tell them what I think, just like they tell me what they think.

They kid me all the time about different things. One of the guys told me he was looking at my Web site www.powerbasefitness.com and some of the girls on there are hot. I said, ``Yeah, they are - and one of them is my daughter.''

One reason we get along so well is I don't judge the guys, or try to fit them into a mold. I don't like some of the rap music they play and things like that, but the last thing I would do is tell them to stop doing it.

In practice one day, a couple of players almost got in a fight. Helmets were dropped and they were coming to blows. Everyone was going to stand by and let it happen, but I was able to talk to both of them. It was resolved amazingly well and very quickly.

Our coach, Steve Wright, does an incredible job. I can't imagine there's a coach anywhere who cares for his kids more than him. Not many people realize the sacrifices he makes. I'm probably the only player that can see it because of my age and knowing what all is involved. He also has been monitoring me closely. He wants to give me every pportunity, but not at the risk of my health.

Being a college student again has been interesting. I'm taking three graduate school classes. We had to turn in grade reports this week and I had all A's. I told my defensive coach, ``These look a little better than the last time I turned one in.''

At night, I work on my business, getting on the computer with people back in Nashville. That has to stay on track because I've got a life after football. (Unless the NFL comes calling.)
advertisement

Life after football certainly will be different than it was before.

So many more people know me now. I've been on ``Good Morning America'' and the ``CBS Evening News.'' I was on Jim Rome's radio show. I've been in Sports Illustrated twice and I'll be in AARP's magazine next month. There aren't a lot of current football players in AARP.

So many wonderful things have come out of this, little things people have said.

At the last game, someone hollered at me from the stands. I turned around but didn't recognize the guy. He just said, ``Thank you.''

There have been so many e-mails and comments like that, people who are going back to play sports or to try different things simply because of what I'm doing.

There have been some funny things, too.

Before the opener, our school president, Dr. Vic Morgan, called and invited my wife, Eileen, and me over for dinner and to listen to the game on the radio. I told Eileen, ``Golly, the last time the president of Sul Ross called me, it was to leave town. It sure wasn't to come over and have dinner.''

This experience is special and I'm hanging on to every bit of it, remembering every drill, every tackle, every time I'm putting cleats on, getting taped, all the ice - everything.

When you're young, you don't appreciate it.

When you're 59, you know how fast it'll be over.

Photo Caption:  Mike Flynt watches from the Sul Ross State sidelines after returning to the school to play at age 59, 37 years after he last played for the team.  LM Otero  The Associated Press

[bdann]

Doesn't look like he played...

http://www.ascsports.org/template.asp?page=/sports/football/2007/fb0929a.htm&path=football#GAME.IND

[Roy]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21283090/http://
He's playing, at least a little.

[SHANEA]

Mike Flynt to Play...

Flynt, 59, to play for Lobos
By STEVE LANG
Sul Ross News and Publications

ALPINE – Mike Flynt, the 59-year-old Sul Ross State University senior – and grandfather – is slated to see football action in special teams duty tomorrow, Oct. 13, against Texas Lutheran University.

The American Southwest Conference Lobos edged the Bulldogs 33-31 in a season-opening non-conference tilt Sept. 1.

Texas Lutheran edged Howard Payne University 55-48 for its first win last week.

“We are planning for Mike to see some limited action on special teams this week,” said Sul Ross head coach Steve Wright. “He was in our scheme against Howard Payne but he re-aggravated an injury in warmups.

“As Mike’s health improves, he will likely see more extended playing time in the second half of the season,” Wright said.

Flynt was interviewed via satellite on ESPN’s “Rome is Burning” Friday, Oct. 5.

“Coach Wright wants me to be on a level playing field and be 100 percent playing against other athletes,” Flynt told commentator Jim Rome. “My teammates have really accepted me and I am now in much better shape than I was before because of the recovery time.”

Flynt had scrimmaged in full contact drills for two days prior to the Howard Payne contest.

 “I’m happy to report I went full-speed through a scrimmage and came out of it feeling good,” he said in an Associated Press report. “It was the first time since two-a-days that I was able to go and the guys were real excited.”

He said the size, speed and strength of athletes have increased significantly since his last on-field competition as a Lobo linebacker in 1970.

He noted that actual game competition will be at another level than practice time.

“Full-game speed is different than full-practice speed,” he said.

Coach Wright spent considerable flying time during the off-week to visit family members.

While heading to Palo Alto, CA, to visit daughter Stephanie, a freshman at Stanford University, the pilot on the flight to San Diego noticed Wright’s Sul Ross visor.

“Do you know that 59-year-old football player?” the pilot asked after the plane landed.

Wright nodded in the affirmative.

“Do you know the coach?” he asked. “What kind of guy is he?”

“I know him a little,” Wright replied. “He’s crazy as a goat.”

“Well, do you work at Sul Ross? What do you do?”

“I’m that crazy coach,” Wright replied.

[SHANEA]

'The Senior,' 59-year-old Mike Flynt, plays football after 37-year layoff

The Senior,' 59-year-old Mike Flynt, plays football after 37-year layoff
By JAIME ARON, AP Sports Writer
October 13, 2007

Sul Ross State linebacker Mike Flynt (49) puts on his helmet during a college football game against Howard Payne, Saturday, Sept. 29, 2007, in Brownwood, Texas. Flynt, 59, is playing linebacker, 37 years after he last played for the Lobos.

ALPINE, Texas (AP) -- To the shreiking delight of his wife, three kids, grandson and a legion of new fans, 59-year-old Mike Flynt returned to college football action Saturday night.

His Sul Ross State teammates marched for a touchdown on their opening drive against Texas Lutheran and Flynt went in at left end on the extra-point unit. He sealed his block as the kick went through, marking his first game action in 37 years. He remained a fixture at that spot on extra points and field goals.

His first block wasn't much, but it didn't matter. The play culminated a comeback that began almost as a dare at a reunion this summer, then was delayed by the kind of lingering aches and pains that slow most card-carrying AARP members.

"I wasn't nervous," said his wife, Eileen, who'd met Flynt the year after he was kicked off the team right before what was supposed to be his senior season, thus had never seen him play before. "It was just exciting. I thought I was going to be nervous."

Flynt might be giving new meaning to being a college "senior," but he's not the oldest ever as a 60-year-old played in 1997. However, he went in for one snap late in a blowout; Flynt is truly part of his Division III team, with expectations to eventually get in at his old position, linebacker. The Lobos have four games left and he expects to play in them all.

When Flynt ran in for his first play, his son, Micah, was the first to holler, "There he goes!"

All six members of his immediate family, even 1 1/2 -year-old Collin, screamed before, during and after the play. As Flynt ran back to the sideline, a fist pump showed his thrill.

"Awesome, awesome, awesome," said his oldest daughter, Delanie Flynt-Swanson. Then she turned to Collin and said, "You're grandpa just played football!"

"How many other grandpas can say that?" added son Micah Flynt.

"None. Zero," she said.

Before the first quarter ended, Sul Ross scored again, and Flynt went back to his same spot. When he returned to the sideline this time, he hugged the quarterback, then looked up into the stands and pointed at wife and grandson. Then he flashed another fist pump toward Delanie, who was videotaping his every move.

"I got all of that," she said, smiling as wide as he was.

His first good hit came on a second-quarter field goal try. The kick went through, but Texas Lutheran had called time. They did it again and Flynt again did his job, but the other end of the line didn't and a fake attempt was snuffed out.

Flynt doesn't look like most 59-year-olds. He spent years as a strength coach at Nebraska, Oregon and Texas A&M, and in recent years sold a piece of fitness equipment that he invented, with the military among his clients. In other words, he's in great shape.

He was quite a player back in the day, helping Odessa Permian (of "Friday Night Lights" fame) win its first state title in 1965. He wound up at Sul Ross in 1969 and in '70 he led the team in tackles. He was going to be a team captain in '71, but was ousted during two-a-days.

Flynt carried that regret throughout his life, sharing it with former teammates at a reunion this summer. One of them suggested he go back to school. Once he found out he was eligible, he did.

Now, he's played -- and intends to keep playing, providing his body lets him.

[SHANEA]

Sul Ross' 59-year-old returns to the field, for old times' sake

Ah, now we know why he was kicked off the team the first time around...

Ironically, it was an older student who caused his downfall in the summer of '71.

"We had just begun two-a-days and I was checking rooms one night," Flynt recalled. "Two guys were late for curfew. One was quite a bit older, 25-26, and had spent several years in jail. He and another guy were just sitting there, smoking cigarettes. They'd been drinking.

"Since it was way past curfew, I told them there'd be a penalty for that. He flicked his cigarette and came at me."

Flynt paused as he told the story.

"Anyway ... they called an ambulance for him."

Flynt's fist smashed the guy's nose, among other bodily parts.

The story gets weirder: While being transported by ambulance to a local hospital, the injured guy jumped out at a stoplight and threatened to take a gun back to the dorm and kill Flynt.

The police became involved. The dorm went into lock-down. And the school expelled Flynt, figuring he couldn't control his temper.

"I had a stellar reputation with the team, but the faculty wasn't crazy about me," Flynt recalled. "I wouldn't start trouble, but I wouldn't avoid it, either."

[SHANEA]

Picture Day provides another highlight for 59-year-old college athlete

Some selected quotes...

But their feelings really came through loud and clear on Monday when coach Steve Wright told me that everyone wants to have their picture made with me.

How cool is that?

Coach even called it "a high-water mark in this program."

Our next game is a week from Saturday, at home, against Texas Lutheran. I am confident that I will be ready to go. So confident that my three kids already have bought their plane tickets to come see their old man try again.

The doctor I saw didn't know me or my story. After I showed him my bruises and explained where it was hurting, he asked how it happened. The rest of the conversation went something like this:

Me: It was through two-a-days, during a drill we were doing.
Doc: Whoa? Two-a-days? (Then he grabbed my file and looked at my age.) Do you play football? At 59 years old?!
Me: Yes sir. I went back for my senior year and made the team.
Doc: Well, I can help you with this abdomen, but you need to go somewhere else to get your head examined.

We had a good laugh and he ended up wishing me the best and offering more help if I ever need it. No offense, doc, but I hope to never see you again, at least not professionally.

My mom still has scrapbooks filled with pictures from those glory days.

Soon, I'll have a bunch more pictures to add from these glory days.

How cool is that?

[SHANEA]

2. Imagine instead of your grandfather coming to watch you play football in college, high school or Pop Warner, you actually went to watch him play.

Well, that’s what happened when 59-year old Mike Flynt helped his Sul Ross State (Alpine, Texas) Lobos beat Texas Lutheran on Saturday.

After a 37-year hiatus, Flynt returned to college on a dare from a friend.

As his wife, son, grandchildren and a group of 50-somethings sporting homemade t-shirts that read “Put Me In Coach! I’ve Got Eligibility!” watched, Flynt played a key role in blocking on the final play that allowed his team to score the game-winning field goal.

From Talking Points to Flynt: Way to go Grandpa!

Talking Points

[SHANEA]

ACC Headlines