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Morning Edition
Tom Crann and Julia Franz

49-year-old college football player on joining the team: ‘I didn’t know what to expect’

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The story of Ray Ruschel, a 49-year-old college football player from North Dakota, has garnered national attention in recent weeks. For a bit of perspective, Ruschel is only four years older than Tom Brady.  

Ruschel is a business management student at North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton, on the border with Minnesota. When he decided to go back to school earlier this year and get his degree, he also tried out for the football team. MPR News host Tom Crann talked with Ruschel about the how — and why — of playing college sports as an older athlete.

Listen to the conversation with the audio player above.