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Averett · 09-27-2004, 05:22 AM

Quote:

''Pops'' making South Carolina headlines

PETE IACOBELLI, AP Sports Writer
Saturday, September 25, 2004

(09-25) 19:23 PDT COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) --

The legend of "Pops" Frisby continued to grow Saturday night as South Carolina's 39-year-old walkon receiver saw his first college football action.

Tim Frisby had been the focus of attention not for his play so far this year, but for his age and story of perseverance. That changed late in the Gamecocks 17-7 victory over Troy on Saturday night when Frisby got the call to go in for his team's final four plays.

He got a loud cheer from the crowd of 79,700 at Williams-Brice Stadium, then lined up by himself wide to the right as the Gamecocks ran four times through the middle to finish things off.

When it ended, he got back slaps and pats from teammates and coaches.

The NCAA gave Frisby, a 20-year Army vet who retired this summer, clearance to play for the Gamecocks this week and he rushed out to opening song of "2001, A Space Odyssey," as part of the team's 105-man dress roster.

Frisby did the game against Georgia on Sept. 11, but eligibility questions from his time at two Allentown, Pa., high schools kept him on the sidelines.

Gamecocks coach Lou Holtz said Frisby would've played in last week's 34-3 blowout of South Florida if not for the NCAA issues. Those were resolved this week when the NCAA told Frisby in a conference call they had given him the green light.

Frisby's story has hit a feel-good nerve around the country. On Saturday morning, Mark Roybal of the Scott Rudin Productions movie company out of Los Angeles showed up on Frisby's door step to discuss a project. The New York Times featured Frisby in its Saturday editions.

Frisby is scheduled for appearances on CNN and ESPN's "Cold Pizza" on Wednesday. There have been inquiries from ABC's "Good Morning America," NBC's "Today" and "Late Night with Jay Leno."

Frisby even got a card from the original football movie walk-on, Notre Dame's Rudy Ruettiger of "Rudy" fame asking Pops to call and chat. Frisby did this week, according to South Carolina spokesman Gavin Lang.

During his military career, Frisby was a Ranger-qualified member of the 82nd Airborne. He served in Desert Storm and the conflict in Kosovo.

He carries a 3.8 GPA in broadcast journalism, which he hopes becomes a second career.

Another difference between Frisby and his much younger teammates -- he's got six children ranging from 16 years to about six months.

Frisby was among five Gamecocks who led the rest of the team in pre-game calisthenics. He raised his helmet to the sky like his teammates during the opening kickoff. Then stood and watched the opening half. The second half went largely the same way until Frisby's debut at the end.