[Rocketfan]

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.

One of his pals asked why he didn't do something about it? So Flynt started a comeback -- at age 59.

Flynt has returned to Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas, 37 years after he left -- and six years before he goes on Medicare. And, he's has made the roster of the Division III Lobos and could be in action as soon as Sept. 1.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2986313

[SuperJon]

How is he eligible?

[Innocent Bystander]

I'm not absolutely sure about this, but I think D-1 is the only level of NCAA sports with an age limit.

[01LUGrad]

I thought your eligiblity ended 4 years after you first compete, except for red-shirts.

Hummm, if he can get away with it....I still have one year left too! I'm going out for a run...

[TIMSCAR20]

Hey guys, I saw this earlier today and I am posting this from the practice field in Alpine Texas! I am on the team. I am 20 years (almost) younger than that other guy so they made me a starter...

[belcherboy]

I thought your eligiblity ended 4 years after you first compete, except for red-shirts.

Hummm, if he can get away with it....I still have one year left too! I'm going out for a run...

In Division I, I was told your eligibility starts the first day you take classes, regardless if you are on a team or not.

[01LUGrad]

So, that rule doesn't apply in D-III?

[shukcb04]

D1 is the only division where you have to complete your eligibility in 5 years. lets say for example you go to LC (D3) or VA union (D2). i play one year, then dont go to school for five more years, i can still come back and use my three years of eligibility.

01LUGrad, you wouldn't ever be able to play again. Since you played D1 (which I assume since you graduated from LU) your eligibility would have expired at all levels since you didn't use all 4 years in 5 years. now if you had played D2 or D3 it would be a different story, at least thats my understanding.

[blwall1416]

D1 is the only division where you have to complete your eligibility in 5 years. lets say for example you go to LC (D3) or VA union (D2). i play one year, then dont go to school for five more years, i can still come back and use my three years of eligibility.

01LUGrad, you wouldn't ever be able to play again. Since you played D1 (which I assume since you graduated from LU) your eligibility would have expired at all levels since you didn't use all 4 years in 5 years. now if you had played D2 or D3 it would be a different story, at least thats my understanding.

You are correct. The five year clock starts the moment you take your first class, regardless of athletic status, in D-I. In the lower divisions, it goes by years completed. So if you went D-III for 2 years, took 20 years off, then came back to a D-III school, you'd still have eligibility left.

[shukcb04]

blwall1416,

so let's say, for example, i graduated from Liberty last year and went to school for 5 years, but never played a varsity sport. i would be athletically ineligible for the rest of my life?

[SuperJon]

Yup.

[blwall1416]

blwall1416,

so let's say, for example, i graduated from Liberty last year and went to school for 5 years, but never played a varsity sport. i would be athletically ineligible for the rest of my life?

Superjon is correct. You would be ineligible.

[shukcb04]

what if i go to a D1 for one year they reinstitute the draft and i get sent to Iraq for four years?

[SuperJon]

If that were the case, you could petition the NCAA for a hardship year or something, but that's so hypothetical no one really knows what it'll be.


For example: Stephen Sene was given a hardship year on top of his redshirt season. He's in his sixth collegiate season this year.

[blwall1416]

I played football at LU in '99.

I went to community college from '96 - '98. I took a year off before LU. Because I transferred to a D-I school, my 5 year clock started in the fall of '96. Coach Karcher came in the next year, & I didn't feel like going through a new coach for my final year, so I didn't play. That was that; my eligibility ran out after the '00 season.

[Sly Fox]

This apparently is not a done deal. The AP leaked the story out before anyone on campus was prepared to talk about it.

I talked with a buddy of mine from that television market in West Texas and he told me the school asked him to sit on the story until the season started and they refused to let them come to a practice. Obviously this guy is ticked that the AP ran with it. Oh well.