Packers' Thomas relishes dad's record day

Joe Thomas couldn’t watch his father make college football history when it happened Saturday, but he caught the replay.

Joe Thomas Sr., father of the Green Bay Packers' inside linebacker, became college football’s oldest player over the weekend. South Carolina State’s 55-year-old running back didn’t just dress for his team’s 32-0 win against Savanah State. Thomas Sr. got four carries for minus-1 yards.

Thomas offered his critique Wednesday.

“His initial burst was pretty good,” Thomas said. “His first cut was good. But after that, I told him to lower his shoulder a little bit and break some tackles.”

Thomas isn’t surprised his father made it to college football, though he might not have expected it to happen when he was nearly a senior citizen. When his father was younger, Thomas believes, he had a chance to play professionally.

Instead, he’ll settle for a piece of history.

“He told me it was the greatest day of his life,” Thomas said. “He told me he was out there talking trash with the guys. I know that was fun for him.”