Title: Mike Flynt Visits with ESPN's Jim Rome

Date: Monday, October 8, 2007

Story:

Los Angeles, CA -- On Friday, October 5, 2007, Mike Flynt, Sul Ross State's 59-year old linebacker sat down with Jim Rome of ESPN's Jim Rome is Burning via satellite and visited about his experience with the Sul Ross football program, after 37 years out of uniform.

"There are not many times in life when you have an opportunity to go back and right a wrong," he told a Monday (Sept. 3) press conference of local, regional and national media. "I want to play, but at the same time, I want to help these young men; to make up for some young men I let down 36 years ago."

Flynt, an Odessa native and a member of the Permian High School 1965 state champions, transferred to Sul Ross in 1969 with three seasons of eligibility remaining. During the 1970 campaign, he was named team captain and co-defensive player of the year. He recorded 24 tackles in one game; recovered four fumbles and intercepted a pass in another as the Lobos enjoyed a 7-3 season.

The following year, a dormitory incident turned into a fight and Flynt was dismissed from the team. Life continued, and Flynt finished his undergraduate degree. He has worked in the physical fitness field for many years, as a strength and fitness coach at several universities, as a trainer for branches of the military, and six years ago, he invented a piece of strength training equipment and now has his own company.

Finishing that final year of eligibility remained an on-again, off-again dream. Last summer, he contacted Lobo head coach Steve Wright, met with him in Alpine and asked for a try-out. Flynt passed muster in strength, speed and agility, and when the season-opening roster was announced, the grandfather was listed as a senior linebacker.