McDaniel student working to become oldest college football player ever
By Jennifer Franciotti
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WESTMINSTER, Maryland (WBAL) — It’s not every day you get a do-over in life, but a 60-year-old Carroll County man is getting that chance.
He’s a cancer survivor who’s going to college for the first time, and not only that, he’s also playing college football with men less than half his age.
At an early morning spring practice on the McDaniel College football field, the Division III Green Terror works on conditioning and light contact drills. For No. 72, this freshman poly-sci major is matching teammates move for move, tackle for tackle, despite being three times their age.
“Last year I came out (and) I got onto the roster,” 60-year-old McDaniel student athlete Tom Green said.
At 60 years old, Green plays college football on the defensive line. He joined the team as a walk-on. It only requires a person to be a full-time student who can play, regardless of age. And if they are committed to participating every day, students can be members of the team. Skyler Fultz is the head football coach at McDaniel.
“Someone of that age who wants to get up on a cold morning like today and come out to practice. It shows a lot. Obviously, behind a little bit because he hasn’t played football in so long. Having to go through that, that’s the biggest difference,” Fultz said.
Green owns a wooden pallet company in Littlestown, Pennsylvania, but the Carroll County native never went to college. He did play some semi-pro football and, in 2015, was diagnosed with stage-four kidney cancer.
“I was totally sick heading out. I was checking out in 2017,” Green said.
But he beat cancer, and now he’s out to beat a different record, to be the oldest person to play college football in America.
“I knew that the number was 61. That’s the oldest player who ever played. I’m going to be 61 in June, so I’m (going to) be tying that record. But he(the record holder) just kicked extra points. He was kicker,” Green said.
So, what’s it like to play with someone old enough to be your dad or your granddad? His teammates said he’s taught them a lot.
“It’s a great experience. I get to learn a lot from him since he’s an older person. I feel like he brings a bunch of energy to the team, and that’s what I love,” teammate Quadeer Smith said.
“I had to get used to it. At first, it was kind of weird at first, but I got used to it because he teaches us lifelong lessons that we can use off the field,” teammate Jordan Weeden said.
Green said they’ve taught him a few things, too.
“What they are teaching me is a lot of new words,” Green said.
People can follow Green’s journey through his Instagram page, “Tom Green: 0 to 60 in 6 decades.”
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