Gentry practice ends with surprise : Former OU quarterback speaks to Pioneers
Posted on Wednesday, July 30, 2008
GENTRY — Senior Eric Watkins had a surprise for his football teammates Tuesday.
Former University of Oklahoma quarterback Paul Thompson visited with the Gentry Pioneers after their morning practice session and shared some of his experiences as a collegiate football player.
Watkins, who has autism, kept the visit a secret.
“ They didn’t know until (today ), ” he said excitedly after practice. Watkins met Thompson in June at an open house for Oklahoma
Healthcare Solutions, a home health agency where Thompson conducts outreach programs.
Watkins was his assistant as the former Sooner signed autographs and invited Thompson to talk to his team.
“ I always enjoyed having someone you watched on television or someone that’s been successful come and speak to me (when I was younger ), ” Thompson said. “ For me it’s good to come out here and be able to interact with them and have them ask questions. ”
Thompson told the Pioneers of his rollercoaster of experiences in college, from choosing the Sooners over homestate Texas to being the backup quarterback as a true freshman to being benched after the first game of the 2005 season.
“ I don’t think what I have gone through is any different than anybody else, ” he said. “ There’s ups and downs. It’s just how you handle them, how you respond to them and what you do to put yourself back on track. ”
Thompson picked Oklahoma because they wanted him to be a quarterback. When Jason White was injured early in the 2002 season, Thompson became Nate Hybl’s backup. He was White’s backup in 2003 and took a redshirt season in 2004 after White was awarded an extra year.
Thompson said he thought 2005 would finally be his season to shine but after a season-opening loss to Texas Christian University, he was demoted. He moved to wide receiver for the remainder of the season and the offseason but was asked to return to quarterback when Rhett Bomar was dismissed from the team just before the 2006 season began.
Thompson led the Sooners to a 11-3 record and the Big 12 championship and a Fiesta Bowl appearance against Boise State.
He told the Pioneers they had to stay focused on their goals and keep working hard no matter what obstacles get in the way.
“ I just want everyone to know it hasn’t just been a smooth ride to do the things I’ve done, ” Thompson said. “ It’s taken hard work. It’s taken coming out here in the hot sun when you don’t want to practice and practice. ”
It’s a message second-year Pioneers head coach Brian Little will continue to preach to his team.
“ We like to talk to our kids about that, ” Little said. “ We face the same types of situations and teach the kids about going with the flow and being a team member. ”
Little is pleased his players continue to be good teammates to Watkins, who was a member of the team last year and made an appearance at the end of a win against Decatur.
Watkins was on the field in his helmet and Pioneers shirt as the team practiced before Thompson arrived. He joined his teammates for speed drills at the school track after the talk.
“(Watkins will ) continue to talk about (Thompson’s visits ) the rest of the season, ” Little said. “ That’s how much it will have impacted his life. And that’s the thing that I think is great about it — he was able to share with his teammates something like that that was important to him. ”
Thompson, who spent time talking to Watkins about football during their first meeting, knows how important the Pioneers are to his new friend.
“ It’s more than a sport, ” he said. “ For this team to welcome him in, have him do whatever he’s doing, and make him feel part of the team makes him a better person and makes the (players ) better persons. It’s good for both sides. ”
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