Eric Castillo’s story sounds like a clichéd Hollywood movie, except that it is completely true.

Castillo, who had never played organized football growing up, decided to pursue his dream of playing college football at nearly 30 years old. At the time, he was running a successful business but felt that something was missing.

“I closed down my personal training studio that I owned for two years and took a leap of faith,” Castillo said. “The commitment toward my dream came with lots of sacrifice and support from my family. The commitment was more than just about me; it was about proving to everyone who ever doubted me.”

He pursued admittance to the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas, to play for the Cardinals. The university and its football team was getting ready to move to NCAA Division I college athletics. He was 28 years old at the time of his first season – a full decade older than many of his teammates. He walked on to the team and impressed his coaches with his dedication.

“Becoming a student athlete at 28 years old was a challenge within itself,” he said. “In football, everything came with a challenge: the workouts, conditioning, learning the game, learning my position, practices, film, camps and the schedule of a full-time student athlete. We had 6 a.m. workouts four to five days a week and having to drive 30 minutes to campus at 5 a.m. having a few minutes to lace up the cleats and head to the field became hard for me by my third year of being in the program. It takes a lot out of you.”

Football is a difficult sport, and Castillo’s difficulties extended beyond the traditional student-athlete ordeal. Not only does he balance his school load with football, but he carried the weight of chasing his dream for himself and for his sons. Making his sons proud is a driving force for Castillo when things get to be difficult.

“I remember one time arriving on campus for a 6 a.m. workout and sitting in my car staring at the field as the lights hit it filled with cones for our daily conditioning and thinking to myself, “Why am I doing this?’ ” Castillo said. “Then I realized how far I had come and that the light at the end of the tunnel was near. My sons have been my motivation since the beginning, and every time I doubted myself or felt discouraged, it was the thought of them that keep me going.”

After spending his first three seasons dressing for games but never getting the chance to play, Castillo got the chance to play in his final game of his senior season. Like a scene from the movie “Rudy,” Castillo made the most of his opportunity and made several special teams plays to close out his storybook career.

“I feel like I began living my dream the first day of practice, but it didn’t hit me that I actually achieved my dream until I received my jersey at our football banquet when all the seniors where recognized three years later,” he said. “At that moment, I knew I lived out my dream. Having my sons there to witness my accomplishment meant everything to me because at the end it was all for them.”

A documentary has been made about Castillo’s journey, which will debut his month. He also has enrolled in the San Antonio Fire Department. He is grateful for everything the game has given him and is now ready to take it forward and apply it to the rest of his life.

“I think I have come to the point in my life where this is where I want to be going forward. I feel fulfilled in this mission,” he said. “For me, I want to continue moving on in my life and to be the best that I can be and continue to positively impact people’s lives.”

Eric Moreno is a freelance writer based in San Antonio, Texas. He is a graduate of the University of Texas-San Antonio and a lifetime season ticket holder for UTSA Roadrunner football. In his free time, when not attending games, is an avid reader and traveler. Follow him on Twitter at @EricMoreno6477.