South Carolina Gamecocks

[Guest El Blanco]

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - "Pops'' has gotten the green light from the NCAA to play football at South Carolina.

Tim Frisby, the Gamecocks' 39-year-old walk-on receiver, was granted his eligibility by the NCAA membership services staff, the school said Thursday.

Frisby is expected to be in uniform when the Gamecocks play Troy at Williams-Brice Stadium on Saturday night.

Frisby, nicknamed Pops by his teammates, recently retired after 20 years in the U.S. Army, where he was Ranger-qualified with the 82nd Airborne. He served in Desert Storm and the Kosovo conflict.

His playing status was on hold because of eligibility concerns with the NCAA Clearinghouse, which certifies the eligibility of college football players and was not in existence when Frisby graduated from an Allentown, Pa., high school in 1983.

Kevin Lennon, NCAA vice president for member services, said Frisby's unique circumstance "was a key factor for us in making this decision."

Frisby began working out with the Gamecocks during the winter and went through spring practice with the team. He was invited back to South Carolina following summer camp last month.

Frisby caught a pass in the Gamecocks' last preseason scrimmage and dressed out in his No. 89 jersey for the Georgia game on Sept. 11. However, he did not play in South Carolina's 20-16 loss.

"To say that I'm excited would be an understatement," said Frisby, who turns 40 in February. "I'm just so thankful that this request had a happy conclusion."

Frisby is the father of six children ranging in age from 16 to about six months. Coach Lou Holtz has joked that he loves having Frisby on the team because his family boosts game attendance.

On Monday, Holtz said he wanted to play Frisby as soon the NCAA cleared him. "He's going to play this year because he deserves to play," Holtz said.

[oldskool]

I don't know, he was Ranger-qualified. If he can make 20 years in the Army, I think he'll be able to take more than a few hits in college ball. He won't be a Mike Williams or a Larry Fitzgerald, but he'll probably get a few passes thrown his way every game he plays in.

[DMN in the House]

I hope Troy State whips their ass.

[Agent Risktaker]

Haha, that's a joke right? I hope so, because USC will DESTROY TS.

[DMN in the House]

Haha, that's a joke right? I hope so, because USC will DESTROY TS.

←

Yup, just like Marshall and Mizzou were going to DESTROY Troy State.

Trust me, the fake SC (and this is coming from a UCLA fan, I hate the Trojans, but at least they don't completly fucking suck), are shit. If... sorry, WHEN, Troy State beats them, and they will, their a good team, the class of the Sun Belt with North Texas, who won a bowl last year, beat the 'Cocks... they'll run the table and finish undefeated.

[GhostMachine]

I dislike Lou Holtz with a vengeance. I thought he was a dirty coach when he was with Notre Dame, and he's just a whiny has-been with the Carolina Suckcocks. (Look at my sig - I'm a Vols fan, so I gots ta take my shots. Mkay?) He constantly makes excuses whenever his team loses, instead of admitting they legit got beat. Holtz needs to retire while he's got a shred of dignity left, unlike Joe Paterno who has pretty much trashed his legacy the last few years up in Penn State.

As for `Pops'....I kind of think its cool, but I also look at it as if he's taking away the spot of someone who might want to get into the NFL someday. There is NO WAY any NFL team would take a 39 year old player, unless its as a publicity gimmick, and they'd likely be one season and done.