Eric Sorenson
Ty’s Time
“The problem is, really, only one can play. No [position] room’s psyche is impacted more than that one. It can be mental gymnastics for everyone, including the coaches.”
That quote, said to me nearly a decade ago, by a college assistant, rings true more than ever today when sifting through the moving parts of a modern day high-level quarterback room.
As we all know, the transfer portal and NIL have completely changed the way coaches, and players, view this new, ever-evolving era.
Ty Thompson is the perfect example.
The 2021 4-star Mesquite High star signed with Oregon and spent three years in Eugene, but entered the portal after the 2023 season and signed with Tulane in early January.
roll wave💚@GreenWaveFB pic.twitter.com/JeL8MHx0co
— ty thompson (@ty_thompson7) January 5, 2024
Thompson’s time with the Ducks was impacted by a number of factors beyond his control. He redshirted his freshman year, playing behind Anthony Brown, then sat behind All-American Bo Nix who transferred from Auburn.
— ty thompson (@ty_thompson7) December 2, 2023
After head coach Dan Lanning landed former Oklahoma standout Dillon Gabriel, it was time for Thompson to seek a new beginning, on and off the field, even at a school he didn’t know much about four years ago.
“Honestly, when I was 16, 17 years-old and getting recruited, I didn’t really even know what Tulane was,” he said in a lengthy interview with Sports360AZ’s Brad Cesmat. “Looking back at it now, I can’t imagine anywhere I’d rather be…Tulane was some of the people who were genuine through the whole [transfer] process. They kept me number one in their eyes and on their list…this place is building something really special.”
Thompson holds no ill will towards Oregon. In fact, he believes his experiences in Eugene, which included making the Dean’s List, have helped better prepare him for this pivot from the Pacific Northwest to “The Big Easy.”
— ty thompson (@ty_thompson7) December 9, 2023
“I can’t thank Eugene, the school, the football team, the friends I’ve made, and the coaching staff enough for what they’ve done for me,” he explained. “No one would ever want to be in the position I was in, but it’s created a lot of toughness and put me through some adversity. If you look at the bright side of things, there’s been a lot of positives that have come out of Oregon.”
Thompson is battling redshirt junior Kai Horton for the Green Wave QB1 spot in fall camp.
Where’s the Beef?
Greg Davis is just looking for a few [big] good [young] men at Paradise Valley.
PV Nation: Official football practice starts tomorrow. As usual, we need more players! If you are interested, please contact me. As always, looking for the most important people in the game, lineman! (Sorry qb’s and wr’s) #WeUsOurs #TrojanPride
— Coach Davis (@FBCoachDavis) August 4, 2024
Since Davis arrived on staff, the Trojans have rare lacked skill players (Ryan Finley, Daniel Bridge-Gadd, Jacob Brown, Ben Finley, Jordan Brown, etc.), but almost always lack size, specifically in PV’s offensive line.
The long-time head coach always has been, and continues to be, almost at a loss for words.
“I don’t know, I don’t know,” Davis said to the “Zone Read” before pausing briefly. “On our campus, linemen are like unicorns.”
Further blurring the issue for Paradise Valley is neighborhood district schools Pinnacle (3.5 miles away) and Horizon (3.7 miles away), are usually stocked with not only size, but depth across their o-lines. Both schools have produced a number of Division I players in those positions in recent years.
Davis believes it could come down to stigma, or other unknown circumstances.
“It’s crazy to me that kids would be willing to sit on a bench when they have a place where they can play right away,” he explained. “The bottom line is there may be a perception there. If you’re football kid, you don’t go to PV, you go to other places. I don’t know to be honest with you. I don’t have an answer to that.
“We struggle to get them. We’d love to have more, that’s for sure.”
Paradise Valley, who plays in the 5A Central Region, has always been able to pivot and adjust under Davis and his staff. Numbers in the program have always been low compared to other PVUSD teams, particularly because PV’s CREST (Center for Research, Engineering, Science, and Technology) mainly produces more scholars than ballers, yet is included in the high school’s total enrollment.
“I want people in our community to know that we need them,” Davis said when asked about the tweet posted above. “I think whenever you’re talking about young people, maybe they’re looking at something they’re not quite sure they’re good at. I just want young people to know that we’re still looking…I just want to make sure that they know this is an option for them.”
Make no mistake, Davis is grateful for the hard-working linemen in his program, even if they don’t fit a typical body type of their peers at other nearby schools.
“You cannot coach 6’2, 280,” he explained. “There’s nothing that I can do to any of my guys that’s going to make them 6’2, 280. I like our o-line. I think our o-line is one of our better groups. We’ve had some [o-line] groups who play really, really hard. Unfortunately, we’ve never had size so our whole offense is based around not having size.”
The Trojans open their season at Central on August 30th.
Fresh Flag Swag
Sometimes fresh beginnings spawn from the darkest times.
Last year, Flagstaff High’s Stephen “Budda” Dick suffered a seizure after a workout inside the Eagles’ weight room in June of 2023. What followed was a series of tests, one which revealed a large tumor on his brain. It was Stage Three Anaplastic Astrocytoma cancer.
Throughout the recovery process, Dick’s FHS teammates showered him with endless support and encouragement, including driving to Phoenix the day after the terrible incident to deliver a signed team poster.
During his stay in the Phoenix, the Dick’s applied for a wish from Make-A-Wish Arizona. The family researched the best, safest helmets for high school players. Their homework concluded the Riddell SpeedFlex model was the choice. The model grades out well for concussion prevention.
The family was later notified the wish would be coming true – with a little help from Riddell and The Larry Fitzgerald Foundation.
Last weekend the team received 55 SpeedFlex helmets, each with a Make-A-Wish Arizona sticker on the back. Dick, a huge Cardinals’ fan, received an inspiring video message from Fitzgerald, as well as a helmet for himself.
The senior quarteerback’s recovery is progressing so well he’s expected to be in uniform for Flag’s season opener against Gila Ridge in Yuma.
For more, check out this story from our friend, Dave Zorn at KAFF Radio in Flagstaff.
