‘Pops’ Frisby goes back in time at USC alumni football game

For once, Tim Frisby wasn’t the oldest player on the field at Williams-Brice Stadium.

On Saturday, the 51-year-old was just one of the more than 100 alumni who gathered to play in Saturday’s inaugural South Carolina alumni football game.

“Getting to see some of my former teammates, and not being the oldest guy out there, was great,” Frisby said.

That wasn’t the case when Frisby, known as “Pops,” was a 39-year-old former Army Ranger who walked on at South Carolina in 2004. Frisby’s story earned national acclaim, and he made appearances on “Good Morning America”, “The Late Show” with David Letterman and “The Tonight Show” with Jay Leno, among others.

Frisby also earned the Disney Wide World of Sports Spirit Award, given annually to college football’s most inspirational student-athlete or team.

Frisby spent two years with USC and recorded his lone catch, a 9-yard reception, against Troy in 2005.

Frisby looked in great shape running with the young guys, and that’s because he stays fit working as a personal trainer in the Columbia area. He has been doing that for eight years and trains people from all walks of life.

Frisby also started working for the state department in social services six months ago.

But the former receiver was excited to be back on campus and to see the direction new coach Will Muschamp has the program going.

“Coach Muschamp is doing a great job integrating the past and future here at Carolina,” Frisby said. “It has been a great experience for all of us. We’ve got the greatest fans in the country, and it is great to be a Gamecock.”

This story was originally published April 9, 2016 at 6:37 PM with the headline "‘Pops’ Frisby goes back in time at USC alumni football game."