By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
"You might not change the world, but you might spark the brain of the one who does."
The thought may be commonly cited to legendary musician Tupac Shakur, but Tennessee Tech football and men's basketball player Jamaal Thompson repeated the mantra as he reflected on the events of the past year and pledged to carry on his efforts as his time in Cookeville at Tech continues for the near future, it echoed.
Thompson, in just the last 15 months or so, made a tremendous impact on the Tennessee Tech campus, not just within athletics, trying to spread a message of equality and love for one another through as many avenues as he could.
In his efforts, a diverse organization was created, peaceful gatherings were held and people from all walks of life among the Tennessee Tech community – coaches, professors, administrators, students and student-athletes – came together not to protest but to understand one another and broker an olive branch of understanding.
For any Tennessee Tech student, much less a student-athlete, to pursue such an undertaking is massive. To throw all of the time to organize and promote, meet with others and create ideas, while also dedicating the time and energy it takes to be a student-athlete on not one, but two varsity teams, and excel in the classroom, it's amazing he had time to get everything done.
His efforts certainly didn't go unnoticed.
The Ohio Valley Conference's athletic directors and sports information directors paid attention – the group selected Thompson as the 2020-21 recipient of the Steve Hamilton Sportsmanship Award on Tuesday. He becomes the third recipient for the award to hail from Tennessee Tech since its 1999 inception, joining Grant Swallows (football, 2001-02) and Beth Boden (softball, 2007-08),
The Hamilton Sportsmanship Award is given to an OVC student-athlete of junior or senior standing who best exemplified the characteristics of the late Morehead State student-athlete, coach and administrator. Hamilton, a 1958 bachelor's and 1963 master's graduate from Morehead State, earned OVC championships in baseball, men's basketball and track.
He pitched in the Major Leagues between 1961 and 1972 with the Cleveland Indians, Washington Senators, New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox, San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs, before coaching in the minors and returning to his alma mater in 1976 to become the Eagles' head coach. Over 13 seasons, he put together a 305-275 record with five OVC division titles and two conference championships.
He became Morehead State's Director of Athletics in 1988 and held the post until he passed away in 1997. Hamilton stands as the only individual to play in the NCAA Basketball Championship, the World Series and the NBA Finals.
"Jamaal Thompson is a special person," said Tech head football coach Dewayne Alexander. "He has made a huge impact on our campus, in our community and in our athletic department. He is a great example of what positive action by one person can do to change, inspire and motivate others. I am a better person and coach for having spent the past three years with Jamaal. He is very deserving of this honor. He truly represents the Golden Eagle Way."
Tech head men's basketball coach John Pelphrey said: "JT embodies the characteristics all coaches desire in a student-athlete: respectful, hard-working and has a desire to learn. The Tennessee Tech men's basketball program owes JT a debt of gratitude for his positive attitude, leadership and modeling a professional behavior that supported myself, the coaching staff and his teammates through the challenges of COVID-19 during the 2020-21 season.
"We are very proud of his previous and current success as a student-athlete and even more excited for his future as a young man. We have great confidence that JT's servant attitude will not only create multiple professional opportunities for himself but will assist his efforts as an agent of change."
The award, announced in conjunction with the conference's Male and Female Athletes of the Year, stands as one of the highest single-season honors the conference bestows on a student-athlete.
"I got the call from Coach A (Tech head football coach Dewayne Alexander) and Mark Wilson, and honestly, I didn't know the award was a thing," Thompson said earnestly. "They explained it to me and that's when the shock of it kind of hit me – it's a huge honor, a tremendous honor. It's definitely a blessing and it's something that wasn't even on my radar."
To be fair, everything Thompson has been striving for in the last few months hasn't been with awards in mind – it's to help make things equal for everyone, which in itself is a true measure of sportsmanship.
"I definitely didn't start on this path for that," Thompson said. "Being able to work alongside some great people on two different sports teams, various coaches and my CODE (Center of Diversity Education) family, that's really where I got my joy from. Being able to share this sportsmanship award with all of them is truly the biggest blessing for me."
Thompson, a Hendersonville native, has made it a mission to make the campus environment a better place for all students, no matter what their background, ethnicity or beliefs are, to make it all-inclusive and accessible to anyone who walks into the halls at Tech.
One of the founders of the University's Center of Diversity Education organization, Thompson's goal was to promote unity through diversity for all Tech students. Through this effort, he helped organize podcasts, with support from the Tech Athletics Department, bringing together civic leaders, students and student-athletes alike and civil rights advocates to address issues that were common across the current landscape. The productions stretched out to include nearby colleges and universities as well.
In October of 2020, he helped organize a peaceful CODE-sponsored march through Tech's campus to protest social inequality and racial injustice. After the Tennessee General Assembly sent a letter to state universities and colleges in response to East Tennessee State's peaceful kneeling protest, Thompson was a co-author of a response to the 27 lawmakers who signed the letter, defending students' – and student-athletes' – right to protest under the First Amendment.
This is the official statement of CODE in response to the letter released on February 22, 2021 by Tennessee legislators urging the presidents and chancellors to discourage the right to protest during the National Anthem at their respective universities. pic.twitter.com/hfB0VKNwAp
— Center of Diversity Education (@CODETNTech) March 1, 2021
In March 2020, Thompson worked with his Tech Football teammates to help local clean-up efforts and distribution of goods and supplies after a tornado hit Putnam County and parts of Cookeville. This spring, he helped with a service project to bring blankets to Cookeville's homeless population.
An excellent student in his own right, Thompson earned the team's Academic Award as well as an Ohio Valley Conference Academic Medal of Honor. He was also a nominee for Tennessee Tech's Derryberry Award, the University's highest honor to be bestowed on a student, named after former University president Everett Derryberry, a 1977 inductee into the OVC Hall of Fame.
He has made multiple appearances on both the Tech Athletic Director's Honor Roll and the OVC Commissioner's Honor Roll, and also was the recipient of the Tech Athletics' Unsung Leader Award for October 2020.
In addition to his work in the classroom, he also helps other student-athletes as an academic tutor.
A three-year member of the Golden Eagle football team – serving on the team's leadership committee this season – Thompson also joined the Tech men's basketball team in Fall 2020, becoming the first Golden Eagle student-athlete to be on the roster for both teams since Derrick Gray in 1991-1992.
He saw action in three games on the hardwood, but made a significant impact on the gridiron. Thompson collected 29 tackles, including 2.5 for-loss for 12 yards with half a sack for six yards, while also forcing and recovering two fumbles, standing as one of Tech's defensive leaders.
Sportsmanship takes a lot of forms – Thompson's efforts constantly showed that.
In the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic with several members of the Tech men's basketball team out from quarantine and contact tracing, Thompson joined the squad. The team needed players, especially early on in the season against Power 5 opponents in ever-crucial money games as budgets were tightened even more during the pandemic. If the team couldn't play, it would be a significant loss for the Golden Eagles.
"I had been practicing with a few of the guys unofficially just to stay in shape," he said. "I was cool with a lot of the guys on the team as well as the coaching staff through CODE, and they got hit really, really bad by the COVID bug in the beginning of the season. There were a number of big-money games that Tech needed to take. If they didn't have enough players to make the trip, they wouldn't get the money and the basketball team would take a pretty big hit."
Just to give them the opportunity to play was important.
"Back in November when it happened, COVID was in a different place than it is right now," Thompson said. "That's where my mind was – these guys are my athletic brothers here. They needed someone to step in and get the opportunity to play those big games like Indiana or Western Kentucky. It was zero about me and all about helping another team in the best way I could.
"Coach (John) Pelphrey and Coach Marcus King asked me if I would be OK joining the team. It was a complete no-brainer for me – to be around such a great group of guys and support them in the best way I could has probably been one of the most fun things I've taken part in because I've gotten to be a supporter and a teammate up close as I've been doing it from afar for so long."
Before the basketball campaign was over, Thompson was already shifting gears to the 2020-21 football season, which was postponed to the spring because of the pandemic.
"This spring was a challenging year for a lot of guys just because football in the spring is so unusual," Thompson said. "It's unorthodox in so many ways. With that, it required a lot of guys to step up, like Chris Tucker, Mike Rhoades and Seth Carlisle. Where I fit into that puzzle was just doing the best I could, supporting those guys and stepping into a different leadership role than my previous two or three years here. It was an interesting year being part of the team's Leadership Council, helping to formulate some huddles within the team. Being able to be a leader in this manner was an exciting opportunity because it was a place I didn't think I would be at two or three years ago. It was a blessing to step into those shoes."
The challenge, however, was learning to adapt to a different type of football season.
"It was extremely tough," Thompson said. "Our entire schedule changed. We went from practicing at 6:30, 7 in the morning to now we're practicing in the afternoons. We're right in the heart of a school year, so we're in class while working out on top of it. It was a complete change of pace and a total 180 from what I had grown accustomed to playing college football. On top of that, it was freezing cold when we got there in January. Playing football in the winter was nothing I had experienced before. It was a long acclimation period for a lot of guys. Once we got into the swing of things, the transition wasn't too bad."
It was the end of a whirlwind year that really had started on March 3, 2020. After tornadoes devastated portions of Cookeville and Putnam County, stretching all the way from Baxter to almost a mile from the Tech campus. Morning had barely broken before Thompson and his Golden Eagle teammates were taking part and doing what they could.
Just days after that, the COVID-19 pandemic made its way into the area, rapidly changing the daily walks of life and forcing change in ways many were unaccustomed.
"Cookeville's a very strong community," Thompson said. "Seeing the devastation after the tornadoes was heartbreaking. It could have been my home, it could have been a loved one's home. We go full circle and we see how Cookeville has bounced back and how strong it truly is. It has been truly a blessing to be a part of that.
"A lot happened in that time – the tornadoes, COVID, we lost a football coach in that time after Coach (Gerald) Howse passed away. All of that happened in succession and it was a very tough time, but I think that made everyone grow closer through those traumatic experiences and shared experiences. It built a bond that I don't think will be broken. It showed Cookeville's resiliency. It was a blessing to be able to assist in any way that I could."
In the midst of all that, tragedy was unfolding elsewhere. After the tragic events involving George Floyd and the Minneapolis police a year ago, Thompson knew something needed to be done.
"Following that, there was a lot of confusion," he said. "There was a vast array of emotions – confusion, anger, sadness, grief. I went through all of those emotions alongside a lot of student-athletes here. It just seemed like there was no outlet for us to talk. It formulated and the core concept was that we needed to come together and talk in this moment, regardless of backgrounds or how we may look. We are together for one another in this time. That was the beginning of CODE and it became something a lot larger than I would have initially imagined. It came quickly, but it just formulated in such a beautiful way.
"We saw a march happen in Cookeville, Tenn., where over 200 people showed up and exemplified diversity. They marched arm-in-arm, hand-in-hand, in unison for equality."
On an October morning on the Tennessee Tech campus, students, student-athletes, coaches, professors, administrators, all walks of life on the campus came together.
"That was the coolest thing I've ever been a part of," Thompson said. "If not that, it's a very close second – and I was quarantined during the march. I was able to drive and lead the group. I'm not even an emotional individual, but it brought tears to my eyes. The amount of support that we had that day and the amount of genuine love that was surrounding all of us in Cookeville, Tenn., was something that I've never experienced before. We go from a moment where so many felt isolated during the riots in June, then we get to October 15 and everyone's together and locked arms no matter what the background was and promoting equality, diversity and love.
"I don't want to keep saying it was the coolest thing, but it was so exciting and so special to see. The feeling I felt that day was unlike anything I've ever experienced."
— Center of Diversity Education (@CODETNTech) October 15, 2020
@TTUWBB was proud to take part in today's peaceful Unity March on campus. Together, we can all make a difference in the fight for social justice and racial equality for all. pic.twitter.com/DWHtHvSui8
— Tennessee Tech Women's Basketball (@TTUWBB) October 15, 2020
Much ✊ JT! Thank you for taking ACTION. Seeing your tears as you set in your car today as the march went by was very,very impactful. I am a better person and coach for being around you.��������☝️ https://t.co/uB0wjjpQ8i
— Dewayne Alexander Galatians 6:9 (@TTU_CoachA) October 15, 2020
The outreach from CODE has been tremendous, even sharing its message with community leaders and even student-athletes from other college campuses.
"We have a podcast, we have social media," he said, "but we built a family. We created a bond that will never, ever be broken. Long after all of us have left, hopefully, the Center of Diversity Education is still standing for the next J.T. coming to Tennessee Tech looking for a home and an extended family. CODE will be there. What was a tragedy, it really helped form something beautiful."
One of the biggest things stemming from CODE was a deepened sense of unity among the student-athletes, giving them a space to learn about one another and their backgrounds.
"It has created a family atmosphere that prior didn't exist, whether it was here or other schools," Thompson said. "If you were on the football team, you talked to the football players. You were on the basketball team, you talked primarily with the basketball players and so on and so forth. With CODE, it helped create a bond between so many student-athletes. That's important in trying to create a family atmosphere.
"Looking at the CODE class we created with the Cookeville Police Department -- that was a huge and monumental experience. Not only are we creating bonds here, but we're also creating bonds within the community. In a town like Cookeville, it's imperative to have such bonds within the community and each other. It made the campus better, but it also made the community better and will continue to do so."
The whirlwind nature that it all came together in is still just unbelievable. In a matter of weeks, the whole program grew from an idea to fruition.
"It is probably one of the most challenging and stressful times that I've had in 21 years," Thompson said. "Conversely, it was one of the most fulfilling and gratifying times that I've had in my life. Because things happened so fast, we had to take a step back at certain points and tell ourselves to take a deep breath and say everything's going to be OK.
"In hindsight, looking at these past two semesters and the work that we've done, you just think, 'Wow, we accomplished something great.' The fact that it happened so quickly heightens the motivation and expectations for what the Center of Diversity Education can do together moving forward."
So what drives Thompson to devote all these hours and resources?
"My parents," Thompson said, with a smile. "They'll probably cry when they see this, but definitely my parents. Seeing my pops and my mom work as hard as they did as I was growing up to ensure my siblings and I never desired anything, we never went without. It's something that's stuck with me for my 21 years going on 22. Everything that I am trying to do is centered around making them proud. Hopefully, it lets them know I was listening in times where it may seem I wasn't. Even in times I might have been a problem child, I was listening in all those times. They are a huge influence on my life. I'm just trying to make them proud and be a decent son in any way I can.
"I'd thank my parents, my siblings, my CODE family, all of my coaches, all of my friends, thank God. There's a special shout-out to Coach Marcus King – he's helped me grow tremendously. He's challenged me and pushed me in a direction I didn't think I be in would be at a year ago. He's been a huge part, as well as the CODE Advisory Board and Mr. Tom Savage of the NAACP, Dr. Leveda Birdwell, Dr. Julie Baker – she's done so much just being in my corner and helping me strive for greater things; and (Cookeville Police) Chief (Randy) Evans for forming that partnership to better the lives of young individuals, trusting the vision of CODE. Getting his support was huge. Hopefully, I'm not missing anybody, but anyone who's had an impact on me – and there are a lot of people who have – I'm grateful for. The trainers, the equipment guys, everyone gets a thank you."
Bringing it all back full circle, Thompson's efforts personify sportsmanship. With love for one's community, the love for one another, the call for unity is sportsmanship at its core. What is a better example of sportsmanship than trying to give everyone an equal opportunity to take part?
"Even broader than that, it's trying to get humanity to treat each other the way you want to be treated," Thompson said. "One of my close mentors told me, 'Don't be the alpha and omega of your life. You want to be somewhere in the middle. Don't make it revolve around you, but don't make your life be the be-all, end-all of everything.' It truly resonated with me. It's something I know for a fact I can carry along with me every day.
"What we are able to do on the field or on the court, that provides entertainment for a few hours and that's a cool thing. In the grand scheme of things, it's just a game. Life is so short, so you have to treat people in a good way. It's imperative to bring good energy and pure intentions and just be a positive spirit in any way that you can. I hate to talk about myself, but when people look at me, I hope they see a genuine soul just trying to do the best that he can and look out for anyone I can."
Thompson continued, "It's a blessing to receive this honor. It's a blessing to be around such good people who continue to push me, mold me and help me continue to grow in the way that I have."
Thompson recently earned his first degree from the University in communications, but his time at Tech is far from over.
"Athletically, I still have two more years," he said. "I'm working on my doctorate in exceptional learning for at-risk populations so I'll be in Cookeville academically for the next four years. What's next is just to continue to promote equality and love essentially, and doing everything in my power to make sure it's never about JT, but whoever's standing there beside me.
"Hopefully, I, along with my CODE family, leave Tennessee Tech a better place than when I got here. We'll continue to expand on the Center of Diversity Education as well as right some of the wrongs that we've seen in the world. Little bitty Cookeville, Tenn., is a huge step. It has the potential to impact many peoples' lives. You might not change the world, but you might spark the mind that will. That's instrumental in promoting change and growth and it's something I want to continue to do."
