Sul Ross State linebacker Mike Flynt, foreground, cheers during a
college football game against Texas Lutheran, Saturday, Oct. 13,
2007, in Alpine, Texas. Flynt, 59, is playing linebacker, 37 years
after he last played for the Lobos. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
" Sul Ross State linebacker Mike
Flynt, right, holds his grandson, Collin Flynt, 1, after a college
football game against Texas Lutheran, Saturday, Oct. 13, 2007, in
Alpine, Texas. Flynt, 59, is playing linebacker, 37 years after he last
played for the Lobos. Sul Ross State won, 45-42, in triple overtime.
Sul Ross State linebacker Mike
Flynt, left, blocks Texas Lutheran's Billy Hardee during a field goal
attempt in the second quarter of a college football game, Saturday, Oct.
13, 2007, in Alpine, Texas. Flynt, 59, is playing linebacker, 37 years
after he last played for the Lobos.
Sul Ross State linebacker Mike Flynt (49) laughs with teammates
Kelton Keck (65) and Adrian Vital (69) before a football game
against Texas Lutheran, Saturday, Oct. 13, 2007, in Alpine, Texas.
Flynt, 59, is playing linebacker, 37 years after he last played for
the Lobos.
Hello Sul Ross Baby Boomers,
His reliable source
told me that Mike is overwhelmed with all the support and humbled by
your prayers and thoughts about him. He is able to read the news
updates with all of your comments. He thanks us again for all the
kind and wonderful things we say about him. He is proud being back
at Sul Ross, knows this is a blessing, and opportunity for all of us
to work together to do our school proud. He feels a deep commitment
that with help from above, he will be able to achieve his goal and
make our Sul Ross family proud. There will be more released from
Mike after the press conference. What Mike doesn't know or hasn't
figured out is that everyone is already proud of him because he made
the team by doing the almost impossible! With everyone's support, we
wish Mike a rewarding football comeback. This comeback is not only
putting Sul Ross on the map, it has brought so many of our Sul Ross
family together after so long. We as his Sul Ross family want to
wish him the best; above all to enjoy this experience and have fun
doing it. It is a chance of a lifetime and we want him to have the
time of his life. So Mike, just enjoy yourself and have a great and
memorable time. The rest should come easily for you with your
courage and help from your "special angel" who is watching over you.
What else can I say after reading all the comments that have come in
about you from all over the United States from members of your Sul
Ross family. It is certainly obvious you are certainly loved by so
many who knew you. We want you to be proud because your Sul Ross
family is certainly proud of you. Everyone is behind your effort!
Love and Hugs to Mike from his Sul Ross Family,
Corra
(AP
Photo/Sul Ross State University)
This photo
released by Sul Ross State
University shows Mike Flynt, 59,
during a workout in Alpine,
Texas. Flynt has been working
out the the school's football
team for several weeks and is
expected to be in uniform when
they open the season Sept. 1.
Go Mike!
A Mothers' and Son's love is ageless. Mike's
Family were in Alpine at he game. They saw him make Football History.
The crowd was great, the team never gave up and came
through like champions. No one ever came close to getting by Mike when
he was blocking. You can tell that he is there to play. It is past
midnight and I am still reveling in the thrill of the moment. I was so
glad that Mike's family was there to cheer him on. At one time when the
crowd needed to be up and cheering his daughters and daughter in law
stood up at the railing, turned around and started doing the
cheerleading that was needed. They are darling girls. Believe me every
media cameraman went running to get shots of those girls inciting the
crowd. The Flynt FAMILY came to play! Great family great night. I wish
everyone could have been here to see it. Try to make homecoming. You
will be proud.
Division III
football player is 59
The Detroit News.
Mike Flynt , 59, has made the football team at
Division III Sul Ross State in Alpine, Texas. He had left
the school 37 years earlier when he was kicked off the team
before his senior season for getting into a fight.
"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 said.
He's a grandfather and AARP member. Flynt is eight years
older than his coach and has two children older than any of
his teammates. A longtime strength and conditioning coach at
the college level, he's spent the last several years selling
the Powerbase training system he invented.
As I remembered Mike at Sully, He was a ball
of fire and fury. A tough young man with a short fuse. When I met him
again at the Baby Boomers Reunion I saw a difference in Mike that
radiated throughout the room. This change made me feel very good.
Someone planted a seed that grew. I saw a man that was in sponged with
the sprit of Christ. He views this quest as a gift from God, I see it as
mission of inspiration. Mike has brought many people together again that
are proud of Mike and our school. I noticed Mike giving thanks for his
meal and it moved me. This open exhibit of spiritual belief is a
testimony for all of us that God can make a change in our lives and make
our dreams come true.
Thanks Mike,
Toyah
Flynt,
a 1966 Odessa (TX) Permian High School graduate, has one season of
eligibility remaining. He has been slowed by a minor muscle pull,
but will continue to be evaluated when he returns to pads. He will
not be on the traveling squad to the Lobos' season opener, Sept. 1
against Texas Lutheran University in Seguin.
Wright's assessment thus far:
"Pound for pound, Mike is one of our strongest players. He is also a
mentor and a
positive influence to other players. We recognize that this might be
considered a high risk situation, but if we did not think he could
help the team, this scenario would not exist. Heck, our coaching
staff is probably considered high risk; a lot of our students are
probably considered high risk. We will think of the opportunities we
have in education/athletics if you are working outside the norm.
"This is the beauty of [NCAA] Division III athletics," Wright added.
"It's non-scholarship and possibly the only avenue where this could
be done. We would like for our team to be competitive and have a
good time at this student activity. I believe Mike can contribute in
both categories."
When
pondering the question, "Why consider a 59-year-old candidate for a
college football team?", head coach Steve Wright answered, "Why
not?"
Thus, 59-year-old Mike Flynt, who last saw collegiate action in
1970, was given permission to return to the Sul Ross State
University program and vie for a spot on the 2007 Lobo roster.
"My wife, Anita and I have raised our daughters to think outside the
box, because folks are often limited by the perception of what
cannot be done," Wright said. "This decision [to invite Flynt to
compete] had nothing to do with publicity; it was just thinking
outside the box.
"Our entire football program is structured a little differently than
Football 101, and as far as this individual is concerned, he is on
our roster at this time not as a coach or support personnel but as
an active player."
Within the Lobo football team, life remains business as unusual,
according to Wright.
"There are a lot of unusual things about this team, so Mike's a good
fit, " Wright said. " Our defensive secondary coach [Jeff
Pendergraft] is an unpaid volunteer who is also an associate
professor of Animal Science and the head of the Equine Science
Department. Our graduate assistants are full-time position coaches
and recruiters. We are creative with the resources we have available
to us."
Thursday the bookstore at Alpine
will be selling Flynt T-Shirts for those who might want one if you go to
Homecoming.
The
store manager is Holly Moore
The link to the Bookstore to
purchase online is not available yet. Call the bookstore to order.