John Thompson, the former coach of Georgetown Basketball, has passed at the age of 78.
I was fortunate enough to begin my freshman year at Georgetown in 1979, the inaugural year of the Big East. There is no music department at Georgetown so pep band members are just people who could play instruments - in those days, before the elevated drinking age - while drunk. The drum set player had just graduated so I walked right into a sweet gig, with a great seat, for high level competitive college basketball. During those years Coach Thompson went out of his way to speak with us and encourage us. He would remember our name and greet us when he saw us about.
It is impossible to describe just how revered Georgetown was in the African American community in the 1980's. People of color I knew from high school would seek me out during my return visits to Savannah and speak of the program with respect and awe. John Thompson built that connection and he maintained it by putting his money where his mouth was. There were no remedial classes at Georgetown. Thompson was the first coach in basketball to put an academic counselor on the bench. He had one of the highest graduation rates in basketball. The legend was true - he kept a deflated basketball on his desk to symbolize how your career could go if you did not put academics first. The players went to class and worked hard. Freddie Brown was in Philosophy class on Wednesday after his ill-fated pass, taking notes and answering questions, though obviously grieving.
Thompson's coaching style was defensive and pugnacious. No one wanted to play us. We were physical and in your face the whole game. During the 80's, his teams set multiple NCAA records for field goal percentage defense.
I did not become a huge Georgia fan until I went there. My sister was going to Georgia when they won the championship in 1980. I watched it with a group of Catholic guys (Notre Dame fans) at Georgetown and rubbed it in a bit. Only two teams I was wholly invested in ever won a championship - Georgetown and the Braves. It is one of the greatest sensations you will ever experience. Thank you, Coach Thompson, from the bottom of my heart, for allowing me to feel it with you and your team.
Hoya Saxa!
I was fortunate enough to begin my freshman year at Georgetown in 1979, the inaugural year of the Big East. There is no music department at Georgetown so pep band members are just people who could play instruments - in those days, before the elevated drinking age - while drunk. The drum set player had just graduated so I walked right into a sweet gig, with a great seat, for high level competitive college basketball. During those years Coach Thompson went out of his way to speak with us and encourage us. He would remember our name and greet us when he saw us about.
It is impossible to describe just how revered Georgetown was in the African American community in the 1980's. People of color I knew from high school would seek me out during my return visits to Savannah and speak of the program with respect and awe. John Thompson built that connection and he maintained it by putting his money where his mouth was. There were no remedial classes at Georgetown. Thompson was the first coach in basketball to put an academic counselor on the bench. He had one of the highest graduation rates in basketball. The legend was true - he kept a deflated basketball on his desk to symbolize how your career could go if you did not put academics first. The players went to class and worked hard. Freddie Brown was in Philosophy class on Wednesday after his ill-fated pass, taking notes and answering questions, though obviously grieving.
Thompson's coaching style was defensive and pugnacious. No one wanted to play us. We were physical and in your face the whole game. During the 80's, his teams set multiple NCAA records for field goal percentage defense.
I did not become a huge Georgia fan until I went there. My sister was going to Georgia when they won the championship in 1980. I watched it with a group of Catholic guys (Notre Dame fans) at Georgetown and rubbed it in a bit. Only two teams I was wholly invested in ever won a championship - Georgetown and the Braves. It is one of the greatest sensations you will ever experience. Thank you, Coach Thompson, from the bottom of my heart, for allowing me to feel it with you and your team.
Hoya Saxa!
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