Chase Swaringen

As I was exploring the wide world of college sports on the internet late last night, I came across the headline, “38-year-old bus driver makes College basketball team – end of Season Update.” It was a really strange choice to click on the link but luckily I found gold, along with the best comeback story of the year. Move over Johnny Manziel, 38 year old Dan Stoddard is the new official owner of #ComebackSZN.

In the spring of 2017, the 6’8″ Stoddard weighed about 380 pounds when the coach of Algonquin College in Ottawa, Trevor Costello, spotted him at a recreational tournament and approached him about playing. Six months later and 60 pounds lighter, “Old Man Dan” became an official member of the Thunder and competed in the 2017-2018 season.

In a follow up article with the Ottawa Citizen Stoddard described his season as disappointing but c’mon, the dude is pushing 40, has an entire family with two children, and drives a bus as a job. Can you imagine getting on a bus at school and seeing Marvin Bagley as your driver? Neither could I. Can you imagine being a college basketball player at a small school and having someone you thought was a players dad box you out and post you up? No, neither could I either.

What makes his story even more inspiring is that he has another year of eligibility left and he’s trying to drop even more weight for next year apparently. I struggle finding the time to eat, shower, and shit before I leave for class in the morning and this man can workout three times a day, work bus shifts, take online classes, raise children, and play basketball all at once. Sheesh. Seems like a much better comeback story than Johnny Football to me.

Dan’s kids also made him an Instagram page so be sure to follow him @oldmandan24