If you thought that players in their late 20s were ancient for college football, then wait until you learn the inspirational story of Tom Cillo.
And here’s where Tom Cillo’s story gets even more fascinating: The competitive powerlifter graduated from high school way back when in 1984 never attended post-secondary, until now.
But if you need another reminder that age is just a number, let Mr. Cillo provide the latest example.
Per Laura Ulrich of NorthCentralPA.com, Tom Cillo made the Lycoming College Warriors football team, where he’ll play defensive line. Lycoming is a liberal arts college in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
Now a retired city worker, Cillo said he had dreams of playing college basketball when he was a youth, but struggles with alcohol derailed those hopes:
“There was quite a number of years where we would get people on work release that would have to work some time off, and I did get to interact with those people on a pretty regular basis,” he said.
“A lot of them, their issues were alcohol related. And you know that was something that I had a struggle with for years. They got caught, I didn’t — I guess that could be the bottom line.”
Let folks like Cillo and legendary NFL head coach Jim Mora serve as examples that getting older doesn’t excuse you from neglecting your physical health and well-being.
Cillo’s college football debut at the young age of 58 is now just 15 days away, as the Lycoming Warriors begin their 2025 season against The College of New Jersey Lions on Sept. 6 (1:00 p.m. EST).
The Warriors are coached by Mike Clark, who’s been at the helm since 2008. Lycoming qualified for the NCAA Division III Football Championship playoffs in his first year there, but Cortland ousted them in the first round.
Lycoming’s football team hasn’t experienced much success ever since, however, save for a victory in the 2021 MAC-Centennial Bowl. They’ve gone 4-6 in each of the last three seasons, but we’ll see if Cillo’s arrival can change that.
The post 58-Year-Old Man Who Never Went to College Makes NCAA Football Team History – Unbelievable Viral Inspiration originally published on Total Pro Sports.