It is the stuff from which feel good sports movies are made. For Mike Flynt, this was very real, although it just might end up becoming a feel good sports movie.
Flynt played on the 1965 football team at Odessa Permian (in Odessa, TX). That team won the first state championship in school history and was the inspiration for Friday Night Lights. Flynt's path to college football took him to Sul Ross (in Alpine, TX), an NAIA school. Before his Senior season, Flynt was involved in a fight (a recurring theme in his younger life). The fight got Flynt booted from the school, but his story doesn't end there.
About 35 years later, when Flynt was out with some buddies, he discussed his big regret over being kicked out of Sul Ross. This led to Flynt discovering that he had one year od eligibility left. Flynt tried out for the Sul Ross team and made the cut. He played linebacker and special teams at the age of 59, becoming the oldest contributing player in NCAA football history.
If Flynt seems like an extraordinary person, it is because he is. I discovered a lot about Flynt in The Senior and a little more in some communication I recently had with him.
Flynt didn't just want to play college football again. He stated, "For me, it was truly about redeeming myself, overcoming the greatest regret of my life and fulfilling a dream. When word got out initially that I was going to try and make a comeback, I was offered a chance to walk on at one of the Division 3 schools in Abilene, TX. I told them, thanks but no thanks, for me it had to be Sul Ross or not at all. I had to go back to where it all ended and try and make it right."
Flynt also wasn't out for publicity. He said, "If no one had ever known I went back to play. that would be fine with me. I would know, my teammates would know and all of the former teammates I played with in '69 and '70 that came back and watched me play in 2007: they would know, and that's all that mattered to me." He even turned down an offer of a documentary of his comeback season, feeling it might distract the team.
Through all of the work to make the team and play, Flynt made sure to enjoy his experience. Flynt told me, "Every day, it was truly like going back in time, but this time I appreciated every hit, every time I got knocked down and every wind sprint. I knew this time how fast all of this was going to go by and I didn't want to waste one second of the experience."
Despite the fun, the redemption and the determination, Flynt still had to play football in a 59 year old man's body. Granted, Flynt was in excellent shape, but he was 59. Flynt revealed, "I was always sore somewhere and I couldn't stand around between drills in practice like the young guys do. No way! I would start to get stiff. I had to keep moving all of the time. No doubt the physical was much more difficult that the mental. It is definitely a young man's game." It might be a young man's game, but the 59 year old Flynt succeeded.
In The Senior, Flynt discusses just how he was able to accomplish his goal. On his website (www.MikeFlynt.com), has additional info, photos and insight. Flynt recapped by stating, "People often ask me how I was able to go back and play at such an advanced age. My response is always Strength training with Powerbase and JuicePlus for nutritional support."
Flynt believes in these products, himself, his family and his God. That appears to be a winning combination for Flynt. The results tell the story. Don't just see the end results though. Get the whole story by reading The Senior.
I appreciate Flynt taking time to discuss his book and life with me. He even mentioned Bruce Willis being his first choice if a movie is ever made. That's a great choice. A movie about The Senior would add another great chapter to the life of Mike Flynt.
Mike Flynt and his grandson Collin in Alpine, TX-Football season 2007.
1 comment:
I can't imagine how tough it was to play college fb at that age. Applause to Mr. Flynt.
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