It’s not every day you get a do-over in life.Tom Green, 60, of Carroll County, is getting that chance.Not only is Green a cancer survivor who’s going to college for the first time, but 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 worked on conditioning and light contact drills. For No. 72, this freshman political science major matched teammates move for move, tackle for tackle — despite being three times their age.”Last year, I came out (and) I got onto the roster,” Green told WBAL-TV 11 News. Green plays on the defensive line after having joined the team as a walk-on. The only requirement is that he’s a full-time student who can play, regardless of age. And, if the student-athlete is committed to participating every day, they can be members of the team. “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, he’s behind a little bit because he hasn’t played football in so long. Having to go through that, that’s the biggest difference,” said Skyler Fultz, McDaniel’s head football coach.Green owns a wooden pallet company in Littlestown, Pennsylvania, but he never went to college. He did play some semi-pro football and, in 2015, was diagnosed with Stage IV kidney cancer.”I was totally sick heading out. I was checking out in 2017,” Green told WBAL-TV 11 News. 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 a kicker,” Green told WBAL-TV 11 News.So, what’s it like to play with someone old enough to be your dad or your granddad? Green’s 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,” said teammate Quadeer Smith.”I had to get used to it. At first, it was kind of weird, but I got used to it because he teaches us lifelong lessons that we can use off the field,” said teammate Jordan Weeden. Green said his classmates have taught him a few things, too.”What they are teaching me is a lot of new words,” Green told WBAL-TV 11 News.Follow Green’s journey through his Instagram page, “Tom Green: 0 to 60 in 6 decades.”
WESTMINSTER, Md. —
It’s not every day you get a do-over in life.
Tom Green, 60, of Carroll County, is getting that chance.
Not only is Green a cancer survivor who’s going to college for the first time, but 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 worked on conditioning and light contact drills. For No. 72, this freshman political science major matched teammates move for move, tackle for tackle — despite being three times their age.
“Last year, I came out (and) I got onto the roster,” Green told WBAL-TV 11 News.
Green plays on the defensive line after having joined the team as a walk-on. The only requirement is that he’s a full-time student who can play, regardless of age. And, if the student-athlete is committed to participating every day, they can be members of the team.
“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, he’s behind a little bit because he hasn’t played football in so long. Having to go through that, that’s the biggest difference,” said Skyler Fultz, McDaniel’s head football coach.
Green owns a wooden pallet company in Littlestown, Pennsylvania, but he never went to college. He did play some semi-pro football and, in 2015, was diagnosed with Stage IV kidney cancer.
“I was totally sick heading out. I was checking out in 2017,” Green told WBAL-TV 11 News.
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 a kicker,” Green told WBAL-TV 11 News.
So, what’s it like to play with someone old enough to be your dad or your granddad? Green’s 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,” said teammate Quadeer Smith.
“I had to get used to it. At first, it was kind of weird, but I got used to it because he teaches us lifelong lessons that we can use off the field,” said teammate Jordan Weeden.
Green said his classmates have taught him a few things, too.
“What they are teaching me is a lot of new words,” Green told WBAL-TV 11 News.
Follow Green’s journey through his Instagram page, “Tom Green: 0 to 60 in 6 decades.”
