Countdown to 2019 IUFB Kickoff: 32 Days (Anthony Thompson)

Written by Nathan Comp

#32

The Hoosier Huddle countdown to kickoff is in its final leg. Just over a month remains until the Hoosiers kickoff the 2019 season in Indianapolis against the Ball State Cardinals. Today we will highlight arguably the best to ever wear the Indiana jersey, Anthony Thompson.

Anthony Thompson

Height: 5’11”

Weight: 207 Pounds

Hometown: Terre Haute, Indiana

Position: Running Back 

Legendary Indiana head coach Bill Mallory landed his best recruit before he had even led Indiana to a bowl game. That recruit came in 1986 by the name of Anthony Thompson, All-American running back from nearby Terre Haute North Vigo High School coached by Wayne Staley.

When Mallory was hired, he placed an emphasis on improving in-state recruiting. Thompson was a step in the right direction. He also placed an emphasis on redshirting freshman in favor of their long-term development. Thompson was too good to help Mallory in this matter. After missing his first four games to injury, Thompson made his first appearance as a Hoosier against Wisconsin. He proceeded to rush for 207 yards in his first ever game at the collegiate level. “From that point on, he never missed a game,” said Mallory.

Thompson would continue his dominance throughout the next four years, most impressively in his upperclassmen years. His junior year, Thompson compiled 1546 yards and 24 touchdowns. He earned Big Ten Player of the Year honors, was a consensus First Team All-American, and finished ninth in Heisman Trophy voting. He led the team to an 8-3-1 record and capped the season off with a bowl victory over South Carolina in the Liberty Bowl. The individual dominance did not stop in his senior season, as he tallied 1793 more yards and matched his 24 touchdowns of a year prior. The year was highlighted by his 377-yard performance at Camp Randall Stadium against Wisconsin, which was then a single game NCAA record. Despite his success, the Hoosiers failed to qualify for a bowl that season and Thompson finished runner-up in the Heisman Trophy race to Houston’s Andre Ware. He would have been just the second player ever to win the Heisman on a team with a losing record, a feat only accomplished by Notre Dame’s Paul Hornung.

Thompson finished his career at Indiana having won the 1989 Maxwell Award, 1989 Walter Camp Award, and breaking the record for most touchdowns in college with 65. The record stood until 1998 when it was broken by Ricky Williams. He amassed 5299 rushing yards and in 2007 was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. He went on to play four years in the NFL after being drafted in the 2nd round by the Phoenix Cardinals.

Today, Thompson serves as the Senior Associate Athletic Director for Engagement and Sports Performance at Indiana. This is his 6th year in the role. He remains Indiana’s career leader in rushing yards, carries, points and touchdowns. He is the only Indiana athlete in history to have his number retired.