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August 29, 2017

Video: Professor By Day, Placekicker on the Weekends

Mitchell Powers | University News

Professor Allen Lynch walking in a football uniform on the field
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Allen Lynch is a respected politics professor at the University of Virginia and an expert on Russian foreign policy. Over the course of several decades, he has gained a full professorship, a University-wide teaching award and a full head of white hair.

Few of his students would suspect, however, what he does each spring.

That’s when he pulls jersey No. 61 – a number reflecting his age – over his shoulder pads and kicks footballs for the Virginia Silverbacks, a Charlottesville-based team competing in the semi-pro Mason-Dixon Football League. He takes the field with players who are half his age.

And yes, it is tackle football.

Check out his story in the video above.