Thunder Treats - When Brian Rice graduated from high school he knew he wasn’t ready for college. College, however, was ready for him. Rice had received several offers to play basketball at the collegiate level but he knew he wasn’t ready for the college life. “I knew I didn’t have the discipline to get myself up and go to class every morning,” Rice said. “I just wasn’t mature enough to go to college. I needed to do something else.” That was in 1987 and he was fresh out of high school. Also, he had more self-awareness than 99% of the kids that graduate these days. Instead of college, he decided to enlist in the Navy as an alternative but had no idea he would enjoy military life as much as he did. He enjoyed the world experience so much that he stayed in the service for 24 and a half years. While in the Navy, Rice kept up on his fitness and basketball skills by playing in the annual Armed Forces championships in Germany, which would prove vital in his quest to make a lifelong dream come true.
Already an ordained nondenominational minister, Rice decided that is what his life would be post-Navy. He enrolled at Geneva College in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, with a major in community ministry. Since he was there, he figured he would give college basketball a try. An opportunity he passed on 25 years ago. The current coach at Rice’s old high school is the one that tipped Geneva head coach Jeff Santarsiero off about Rice. He told him that Rice was in great shape and that the two should meet. Being 6’2″, in shape and having a great personality made it easy for Santarsiero to make a decision about Rice.
In the first five games of Geneva’s season this year, Rice has played 23 minutes and averaged 1.6 points and 1.2 rebounds and Santarsiero believes those numbers, and playing time, could increase as Rice picks up the intricacieses of the college game. Rice says that he sometimes has to ice his knees or get a soak at the local Y but otherwise feels he is able to handle the physical part of the game.
What is today like washed up, weirdly-old college hoops player day? First Big Sexy the 50 year old bro running center for Mission. Now this 43 year old at Geneva. Lucky for him he seems kind of completely normal compared to Sexy. Just a middle aged man fresh out of the Navy looking to fulfill his lifelong dream of…playing 2 minutes a game and averaging 1.6 points for DIII Geneva College. Hey whatever floats your boat. I’ve always said this is the biggest no brainer move in the history of middle-aged crisis. Just go back to college. I mean is there a better time in your life to revisit? Get away from all the stress of real world, the bills and taxes and family shit, and just hoop it up with some bros. Slam tall boys at frat parties and try to get laid. Nothing to rejuvenate that old body like a little college life. Brian Rice has the right idea.
Top 2 Comments
10 comments Sort by Popularity Sort by Date
Leave a Comment