Spring Break
Thompson recalls the glory days of Aggie Athletics
By: David Harris
Issue date: 7/15/09 Section: Features
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The self-proclaimed college sports fan has been attending Aggie events since he was a child.
"Growing up, my grandparents, Robert and Betty Thompson, had season tickets to all the Aggie games," Thompson said.
"So I got to go with them to watch basketball games as the Aggies grew from bottom to the top, baseball games as we won the Big 12 Championship and went to the College World Series, and football games in the 1990s when we had the Wrecking Crew and the nation's longest home winning streak."
Thompson has become very fond of NBA star LeBron James. He can't help but cheer for the Cavs because of No. 23. He also likes to take in a little Astros baseball, and enjoys spending his Sundays with the Dallas Cowboys on the television screen.
The avid racquetball player looks to three former Aggie athletes as some of his sporting heroes.
Damon Johnson, Class of 1996, played for the Aggie basketball team from 1991 to 1995 under coach Tony Barone during the Southwest Conference days and supplied Thompson with many thrills at G. Rollie White.
Leeland McElroy, who played running back for the Aggie football team from 1993 to 1995, was the undisputed star of a team that was at the forefront of Thompson's childhood.
And Dat Nguyen stole Thompson's heart along with that of every other Aggie as he won a Lombardi Award and led his team to a Big 12 Championship in 1998.
Aggie sports have supplied Thompson with some unforgettable moments.
"I remember the last men's basketball game in G. Rollie White Coliseum, when we won our first game of the season at our last chance - and one of the players took off his sweatband and gave it to me," Thompson said.
"I remember being at Olsen Field and experiencing 'Olsen Magic' on a number of cool, windy nights. I remember watching the 1998 Big 12 Championship game on TV and seeing Sirr Parker dive into the end zone to win the game.
And, of course, I remember being at Kyle Field and watching Reggie McNeal have his redshirt pulled to go in the game and upset then-No. 1-ranked Oklahoma University."
President, senior class council
Blayne Thompson
senior agricultural leadership and development major
Commander, Cadet Leadership Council received the Buck Weirus Spirit Award
President's Endowed Scholar Eagle Scout
1 What do you love most about being an Aggie? While it may sound cliché, the simple and honest answer is the Aggie Spirit. Having so many passionate and spirited people on one campus, especially on game days, sets aflame a little fire inside of me. The goodness of our efforts, the scope of our traditions, the passion of our students and the strong community we have combine to make this place somewhere I truly consider to be one of the greatest places on Earth.
2 If you had three hours of free time, what would you do with it? Nap. I hardly ever have that much time with nothing to do, so I would gladly take the opportunity for a little rest and relaxation. I might even get a little adventurous and toss up a hammock to take a little siesta outside.
3 When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? When I was little, I always dreamed of being an astronaut. I thought (and still think) that there would be nothing more incredible than getting to go to space. I think all those dreams faded when I got into high school calculus and decided that I couldn't possibly do that for the rest of my life. I always had a safe back-up plan of being either a superhero or a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle.
4 What are your goals for after graduation?
My experiences at A&M have given me a strong interest in government and politics, which has brought me to Washington, D.C., for the internship that I'm currently at working for Congress. I could potentially see myself doing this long-term. In the short run, I'm applying to law school for fall 2010 (A-Whoop!)
5 What is your favorite memory made at Aggieland so far? I've been in Aggieland since I was less than 2 years old, so most of my fondest memories were made here. Among the highlights would probably be cutting down a tree with my dad at stack to be burned on the last Bonfire in 1998, going to the Midnight Yell Practice after the Bonfire stack collapsed and then watching as we BTHO t.u. the next day.
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