Austin Blythe Honoring Ed Thomas this Week
- Thread starter RobHowe
- Start date
And he never even played for him. Ed Thomas was sure something else. Take out that he once had 4 NFL players from his small school all playing at the same time. He was just a heck of a man and touched a ton of kids like a lot of HS coaches do. Pretty cool Austin is doing that.
kameltoez102
Well-Known Member
I got to meat Ed Thomas a few times in my high school career being from a conference opponent. Cannot say enough about the impression he made on myself, my coaches, and my teammates. That says a lot when our access to him was very limited.
I will never forget when we ran Track at A-P and the football field was roped off and if someone jumped the rope he was on the PA system telling them to get off the grass right away. I believe that if your team was a consistent offender you were not asked back. I played college football in the Iowa Conference and have the opportunity to be at many Big Ten fields. In my opinion the A-P football field was better than any of them. It was like playing on a mattress you almost enjoyed getting tackled on it. Just a great person period and was glad I got to meet him
I will never forget when we ran Track at A-P and the football field was roped off and if someone jumped the rope he was on the PA system telling them to get off the grass right away. I believe that if your team was a consistent offender you were not asked back. I played college football in the Iowa Conference and have the opportunity to be at many Big Ten fields. In my opinion the A-P football field was better than any of them. It was like playing on a mattress you almost enjoyed getting tackled on it. Just a great person period and was glad I got to meet him
NEIChawk
Well-Known Member
I heard Ed Thomas talk a week after the tornado, his message was clear as crystal.....if you work hard good things will come your way, but to sacrifice that way each day is the hardest job of all when it comes to family, community, and your faith in God.....I'll never forget what he's done for football, community, and what it means to belong...
99topdawg
Well-Known Member
[QUOTE="kameltoez102, post: 1558523, member: 76918"
I will never forget when we ran Track at A-P and the football field was roped off and if someone jumped the rope he was on the PA system telling them to get off the grass right away. I believe that if your team was a consistent offender you were not asked back.[/QUOTE]
I also remember that. Also remember all the other coaching talking about what an ass he was. Went to college with a few guys that played for him. They'd tell stories about him that were much less than flattering, to the point where I couldn't believe they'd let a guy like that coach--except that he won games. Swore a lot, FB was everything, very self-centered, if you weren't in FB , you were dead to him, and worse things I won't post here. Never heard a lot of good things about him until he died, which of course, is what usually happens. Played and coached against him and coached with a former player and a former assistant coach of his. They all said the same things. Sorry if I'm ruining anyone's vision of him.
I will never forget when we ran Track at A-P and the football field was roped off and if someone jumped the rope he was on the PA system telling them to get off the grass right away. I believe that if your team was a consistent offender you were not asked back.[/QUOTE]
I also remember that. Also remember all the other coaching talking about what an ass he was. Went to college with a few guys that played for him. They'd tell stories about him that were much less than flattering, to the point where I couldn't believe they'd let a guy like that coach--except that he won games. Swore a lot, FB was everything, very self-centered, if you weren't in FB , you were dead to him, and worse things I won't post here. Never heard a lot of good things about him until he died, which of course, is what usually happens. Played and coached against him and coached with a former player and a former assistant coach of his. They all said the same things. Sorry if I'm ruining anyone's vision of him.
proudhawkfan21
Well-Known Member
I also remember that. Also remember all the other coaching talking about what an ass he was. Went to college with a few guys that played for him. They'd tell stories about him that were much less than flattering, to the point where I couldn't believe they'd let a guy like that coach--except that he won games. Swore a lot, FB was everything, very self-centered, if you weren't in FB , you were dead to him, and worse things I won't post here. Never heard a lot of good things about him until he died, which of course, is what usually happens. Played and coached against him and coached with a former player and a former assistant coach of his. They all said the same things. Sorry if I'm ruining anyone's vision of him.[/QUOTE]
I also remember that. Also remember all the other coaching talking about what an ass he was. Went to college with a few guys that played for him. They'd tell stories about him that were much less than flattering, to the point where I couldn't believe they'd let a guy like that coach--except that he won games. Swore a lot, FB was everything, very self-centered, if you weren't in FB , you were dead to him, and worse things I won't post here. Never heard a lot of good things about him until he died, which of course, is what usually happens. Played and coached against him and coached with a former player and a former assistant coach of his. They all said the same things. Sorry if I'm ruining anyone's vision of him.[/QUOTE]
From what I've heard Aaron Thomas is a great guy and if the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, how can all of the above be true?
proudhawkfan21
Well-Known Member
[/QUOTE]
You aren't ruining anyone's opinions or memories of him, you are simply revealing who you truly are as a human being disrespecting a dead man in a post about him. Here's what I could tell you about those kids or coaches that spoke poorly of him...they underachieved, they were jealous and they don't take well to being coached by a champion who demanded excellence through hard work and discipline. Or his teams just simply dominated their teams.
I coached against Coach Thomas at a rival school. I had the privilege to sit with him as a coach at those same track meets. He was always coaching. He demanded that you work hard and push yourself. He demanded that you had discipline. You didnt get away with a thing. Some people dont take kindly to a domineering personality. But the bottom line is he cared about kids and being a winner. He expected a lot of people but he GAVE a hundred times more of himself.
I know Todd, his son, and many of his former players as acquaintences, not friends, but none had the impression you speak of. I would not be surprised if someone didn't like or appreciate him or his style. I would only assume that person to be soft. That's truth. Coach Thomas was a man's man. A coach's coach. He was a man of God.
I don't understand what would possess a decent human being to post what you posted. Other than the fact that you might not be decent. If you have that opinion did it make you feel better to attack a deceased person? I hope it helped you deal better with whatever is troubling your soul.