TERRE HAUTE — Even at 40, Terre Haute native Anthony Thompson is being recognized for his outstanding football career.
On Wednesday, the College Football Hall of Fame announced that Thompson — known as “A.T.” back in his heyday as a record-breaking running back for Indiana University (1986-89) — is one of 14 former players and coaches who will be inducted in its 2007 class.
“This honor would not have been possible without coach [Bill] Mallory, his coaching staff and the support of my teammates,” Thompson said.
“Whenever I receive an accolade, I always reflect back on my relationship with them. I’m not going into the Hall of Fame because of Anthony Thompson; I’m going in because of all of those guys. It’s a great honor for Indiana University and everyone associated with the Indiana football program.”
Induction ceremonies will take place Dec. 4 at the National Football Foundation’s 50th annual awards dinner in New York. He is the fifth IU Hoosier to earn induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, joining Zora Clevenger (1900-03), Pete Pihos (1942-43, 1945-46), George Taliaferro (1945, 1947-48) and John Tavener (1941-44).
Thompson, who works in fundraising for the IU athletic department and as a pastor at a Bloomington church, felt honored to be selected.
“I had never really thought about the College Football Hall of Fame,” said Thompson, who was notified of the selection by letter last week. “The highest honor for me was Indiana University retiring my jersey number [32].”
Having played youth football in Vigo County, Thompson set records for coach Wayne Stahley at Terre Haute North Vigo High School before he graduated in 1986.
At IU, A.T. earned first-team All-America honors as a junior and senior. A two-time Big Ten Conference rushing champion, he captured the NCAA rushing and scoring title during his senior campaign and was named the Walter Camp Foundation’s Player of the Year, the AFCA “Coaches Choice” Player of the Year, won the Maxwell Award as the nation’s finest college football player and finished second in the 1989 Heisman Trophy voting.
Thompson finished his collegiate career with 5,299 rushing yards, including 377 yards in a 1989 game at Wisconsin. He owned the Division I record for career touchdowns with 65 until the 1998 season when it was broken by Texas’ Ricky Williams. He also held the Big Ten record for points scored with 412, a total surpassed in 1999 by Wisconsin’s Ron Dayne.
After his IU career, Thompson was chosen by the Phoenix Cardinals in the second round of the 1990 NFL draft. He played for the Cardinals and Los Angeles Rams before signing a free-agent contract with the San Francisco 49ers, but he retired from football in July 1994 without ever playing for the 49ers.
Interestingly, Thompson and his wife Lori have three children — Anthony II, 13, Ciara, 11, and Jacob, 7 — who have never seen their father play football, not even on tape.
“I’m more interested in their games than dusting off my old tapes,” he told the Tribune-Star.
Thompson said a fair share of his family still lives in Terre Haute, including his brother Ernie and uncles Hubert and Denny Thompson, along with cousins and aunts. His wife’s parents, Stanley and Betty Russell, also reside in Terre Haute.
The rest of the 2007 Hall of Fame class consists of Oklahoma center Tom Brahaney (1970-72), Michigan defensive back Dave Brown (1972-74), Clemson linebacker Jeff Davis (1978-81), Central Michigan coach Herb Deromedi (1978-93), Boston College quarterback Doug Flutie (1981-84), Texas safety Johnnie Johnson (1976-79), Ohio State quarterback Rex Kern (1968-70), Penn State coach Joe Paterno (1966-present), Oregon running back/wide receiver Ahmad Rashad (1969-71), Houston defensive tackles Wilson Whitley (1973-76), Dartmouth linebacker Reggie Williams (1973-75), Southern California linebacker Richard Wood (1972-74) and Notre Dame defensive tackle Chris Zorich (1987-90).
The College Football Hall of Fame is in South Bend.
Local & Bistate
Related Photos
-
Staff file photo
Discussion
College football hall calls Terre Haute native
Anthony Thompson was two-time All-American
- Local & Bistate
-
-
Valentine's Day a rosy business
Red roses, mixed bouquets and even a bonsai tree or two are being delivered today on perhaps the nation’s sweetest holiday.
-
Downtown gets Wi-Fi ‘hotspot’
Frontier Communications has reached an agreement with city officials to create a Wi-Fi “hotspot” covering much of downtown Terre Haute.
-
Board OKs $5.4M in work at schools
The Vigo County School Board has approved borrowing $5.4 million for an expansion of DeVaney Elementary School and energy-related projects at 15 other schools.
-
Stella’s Cafe downtown plans to close March 2
Not long after changing its name from Bit of Britain Tea Room to Stella’s Cafe, a downtown restaurant has announced plans to close its doors.
-
Bill would ease college credit transfers
Indiana college students worried about whether their credit hours will transfer to another university may get some relief if a proposed higher-education bill passes.
-
Court alters trial date for man accused in 1979 death case
A trial date has changed for a Riley man accused of a 1979 homicide.
-
Shift to online raises school cost concerns
Legislation that would require high school students in Indiana to take at least one online course is meeting resistance from some school administrators who say they can’t afford any more mandates from the state.
-
Cops nab man after squad car struck
A West Terre Haute man was arrested Monday after a police pursuit that began after his vehicle collided with a Terre Haute police car.
-
Victim unhurt when robbed by gunman
Terre Haute police were searching late Monday night for a suspect accused of using a gun to rob another person at about 7 p.m.
-
Man face gun charge after woman shot in leg
A Terre Haute man faces a misdemeanor firearms charge following an accidental shooting during the weekend.
-
Packing the hall
If you didn’t come early, the seats were hard to find.
-
Alternative-fuel project has Rose, ISU students all charged up
The future of Earth’s auto industry is intertwined with the career prospects of local university students, and a world-class team shined with green energy Sunday.
-
Montford Point Marine
In 1943, 19-year-old Ezell Odom was on the sandy beach of a tiny South Pacific island about 7,000 miles from his parent’s home in Terre Haute.
-
K-9 officer Shadow honored as a hero
A Terre Haute K-9 officer injured in the line of duty has been honored as a hero by the Indiana Veterinary Medical Association.
-
Freezin’ for a Reason
Hundreds lined up outside Hulman Center amid frigid air to participate in a warm-hearted cause.
-
Even as law, right-to-work dominates crackerbarrel
The flames of the right-to-work debate were gone, but the coals still seemed to smolder.
-
Vigo School Board to give OK on bonds for DeVaney project
The Vigo County School Board will meet at 6 p.m. Monday in the administration building, 686 Wabash Ave.
-
Bridging the gap to ‘forever’
They can be taken from their homes by strangers for reasons they may not understand, with no possessions other than the clothes they are wearing.
-
Students showcase keen problem-solving skills at Rose-Hulman
For the 16th straight year, Honey Creek Middle School students came out on top in the Wabash Valley MATHCOUNTS competition at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.
-
Ivy Tech to celebrate Black History Month
Ivy Tech Community College will celebrate Black History Month with a series of events at its campuses statewide.
-
Whitney Houston, superstar of records, films, dies
Whitney Houston, who ruled as pop music's queen until her majestic voice and regal image were ravaged by drug use, erratic behavior and a tumultuous marriage to singer Bobby Brown, has died. She was 48.
-
Giant welcome home for Steve
Terre Haute was suddenly home to thousands of cheering New York Giants fans Friday as residents welcomed Super Bowl champion Steve Weatherford back home for a parade.
-
‘One for Terre Haute,’ Steve tells crowd at North
“This one was for Terre Haute,” native son Steve Weatherford proclaimed Friday as he shared his Super Bowl victory with the community that helped send him on the path to a world championship.
-
Hometown support vital to success, Weatherford says
Steve Weatherford said Friday he wouldn’t be celebrating a Giants’ Super Bowl victory if not for the support he’s received from his hometown, his parents and mentors in his life.
-
Craning for a rare glimpse
A visitor from the Far East has naturalists flying to Linton, hoping some good comes from one bird’s bad directions.
-
Vigo’s primary election filings complete
The slate is set for the May 8 primary election, with the race for three at-large seats on the Vigo County Council drawing the largest pool of candidates at the county level.
-
Documentary on electric vehicles plays Sunday at Rose
The rising popularity of electric vehicles and their impact on the world eco-system is the focus of a documentary, “Revenge of the Electric Car,” being presented at 3 p.m. Sunday in Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology’s Hatfield Hall Theater.
-
Man gets 10-year sentence in battery case
A West Terre Haute man received a 10-year prison sentence Friday after pleading guilty to aggravated battery for beating a friend caught in bed with the man’s wife.
-
Asian hooded crane lands in Greene County wildlife area
Bird watchers are flocking to a southwestern Indiana wildlife area to try to catch a glimpse of a crane usually spotted only in Asia.
-
Slow drips: It’s maple syrup season in Indiana
More seasonal, colder temperatures will hit the Wabash Valley this weekend, which is ideal weather for maple syrup production, said Keith Ruble, superintendent of the Vigo County Parks and Recreation Department.
However, Ruble voices concern that this year’s maple syrup season may be short.
- More Local & Bistate Headlines
-
Bacteria Keep Swimmers Off Some Fla. Beaches
Raw Video: Israeli Embassy Car Attacked
Police: Houston Found Under Water, Unconscious
Authorities: Houston Found Underwater in Tub
Coroner: Don't Know Houston's Cause of Death Yet
Raw Video: Whitney Houston's Last Performance
Raw Video: Houston Body Flown From L.A. to N.J.
Sandusky Can See Grandkids, Have Local Jury
Valentine Greetings Sent Worldwide From Loveland
Obama Unveils $3.8 Trillion Budget
Reaction to Houston's Death at Clive Davis Party
Greek Austerity Measures Spark Riots
ShowBiz Minute: Houston, Grammys, BAFTAs
Nordic Festival Puts North Korea in Spotlight
Raw Video: Obama Budget Goes to Capitol Hill
Grohl, Grammy Nominees Cut Up on the Red Carpet
'Rumor Has It' Adele's Rolling in the Grammys
Arab League Wants U.N. Help in Syria
Whitney Houston's Church Mourns Her Passing
Arm Wrestler Not Guilty Plea in Wife's Death
Scarlett Johansson's Bikini P-D-A
Kissing contest heats up
Adele's First 'Vogue' Cover!
Jacqueline Kennedy's personal papers released
Romijn's 60 Pound Weight Loss
Did Tyler Perry Have a Secret Wedding?
Facebook Parenting: Father Posts Video Responding to Daughter's Post
Gregoire: Marriage Equality Is Right for Wash.
'Bachelor' Free Falls into the Ocean
Rosenthal: A's sign Cespedes
Bobby Brown on Houston's Death
Adele's revealing "60 Minutes" interview
Apple of their eye at $500 a share
Exclusive Video: Bobbi Kristina Leaving Hospital
Turkey's first face transplant
