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MARSHALL SPORTS
Marshall WR Thompson back on the right path
HUNTINGTON — A single conversation absolutely can alter the path of a young person’s life.
Bearing witness is Tavaris Thompson, a talented wide receiver who has yet to realize his potential at Marshall University. It’s been an upstream course throughout his brief football career, sidelined first by the NCAA Clearinghouse and more recently by injuries.
Those football-related hurdles were dwarfed by comparison just prior to the 2007 season opener at Miami (Fla.) when Thompson’s mother died from an extended bout with diabetes.
“My mom passed and football was really just something that I was doing,” Thompson said.
Admittedly less than motivated, Thompson was middling through a less than productive offseason. Spring practice was approaching, and Thompson phoned his high school coach, Malcolm Spence, seeking out a sympathetic sounding board
“Football was on the back burner, and I had a talk with my coach before spring,” Thompson said. “I had got out there and hurt my hamstring and had a couple of injuries.
“I called him and he told him my hamstring went out again and I was having problems with the plays and everything and things weren’t looking so good.”
Then came the life-altering portion of the conversation.
“And he told me that actually I was hurting this program,” Thompson said
Not exactly the feedback he was seeking from a respected mentor. Thompson sought a keep-your-head up speech from the Boyd Anderson High School (Fla.) coach; instead, Spence opted for a jolt of reality.
“And I was shocked because usually he always has something positive to say,” Thompson said. “He told me I was hurting the program, me being so talented and not knowing the plays the way I’m supposed to and not getting myself into shape I’m supposed to be in to stay injury-free.
“(He said) that I was hurting the team. He told me to look around at the guys, and know that I owe them my best effort.”
The Lakeland Lakes, Fla., native has been a different student-athlete and a different young man from that point. No longer dwelling on injuries, Thompson turned proactive.
“I really kept that to myself, and I kept that in my head this summer when things got hard,” Thompson said. “I worked out with (fellow wideout Darius) Passmore and the quarterbacks and we did our own little thing without the coaches.
“And every time I got tired I would just know that I didn’t want to hurt the program. That’s still in my head, and I’m just working hard with (strength and conditioning) coach (Mike) Cochran trying to stay injury-free and I got in my playbook.”
Thompson is literal when saying he kept his talk with Spence to himself. When asked to comment on the needed assist from his coaching peer, Marshall head coach Mark Snyder initially was taken aback.
“I didn’t know coach did that,” Snyder said. “He’s a good man. His high school coach is a good man.
“He knows how much talent Tavaris has. And I think any time you hear from somebody other than where you’re at, whether it be your parents or coach or a mentor, usually it puts a spark in them.”
Now healthy and once again playing with passion, Thompson figures prominently into a deep Thundering Herd wideout rotation. He displayed versatility and athleticism last year, serving as a quarterback in a sub-varsity game against Harmony Prep.
Snyder appreciates Thompson’s enduring mental and physical drive and anticipates a productive season from the junior, whose next college football reception will be his first.
“It’s been a long road for Tavaris,” Snyder said. “But like most people that are made of the right stuff, he’s persevered and having a great camp right now.
“He’s going to help this football team this year. I’ve seen a maturity in him. And some of the life experiences he’s had — at an early age — I wouldn’t wish upon my worst enemy and he’s come through it and I think it’s made him stronger.”
Thompson’s consistency during preseason camp has earned first and second team snaps throughout. He caught two passes for 10 yards in Saturday’s scrimmage.
“(Wide receivers) coach (Todd) Goebbel pushed me and got my head right,” Thompson said. “And I’m trying to give this program and the fans what they deserve from me.
“I’m ready to go now.”
All of this born from a single conversation.
