TEAMMATES
Continued from Page 4B
Kaufman ran for 5.151 yards
and scored 8f> touchdowns in
his high school career with an
average of 34 yards on each
touchdown He was named
Player of the Year in California
and first team All-American by
USA Today.
"He is just a phenomenal ath
lete." said Lompoc head foot
ball coach Dick Barrett. "He
started as a sophomore, and the
rest is history. He came into his
own during his sophomore year
and scored about 3‘1 touch
downs his junior year.
"He missed three games his
senior year or else he would have
broken Russell White's Califor
nia record for touchdowns He
bench pressed 3fi5 pounds this
summer and ran a 4 22 in the 40
yard dash. He is strong, fast and
talented, and he has great
instincts on the football field "
u was arridziuK waiuiimg mm
play.” Thompson said. "Ha is a
tremendous athlete. My senior
year. 1 set the California record
for extra points, most of them
after Napoleon’s touchdowns.”
Thompson spent his high
school career preparing for col
lege football, even going as far as
to use a small kicking tee and
kicking barefoot in practice,
although it was illegal in games.
"Tommy is really dedicated.”
Barrett said. "He is a real kicker's
kicker. His dad bought him a net
during high school and he had
the kicker's face bar He is a real
coachable kid,but he did it on his
own with a strong work ethic.”
Thompson was an all-state per
former his senior year when he
set a state record for scoring, aver
aged 38.6 yards per punt and
booted 53 kickoffs into the oppo
nent's end zone He kicked a 51
yard field goal and two
48-yarders during his high schixil
career.
The road Thompson took to
Oregon was roundabout to say
the least H«“ wanted to attend
USC for their pharmacy pro
gram but was not offered a
scholarship by the Trojans |ust
when it looked like he would
sign with UNLV or Pacific. Ore
gon assistant coach Steve Great
wood paid a visit to Lompoc
"It !ooki*d like Tommy would
attend either UNLV or Pacific but
then coach Greatwood came to
look at him. and Oregon offered
him a scholarship." Barrett said.
"Rich Brooks is very observant
when it comes to special teams,
and he wanted Tommy as a
punter. I thought Tommy would
he more attractive on the college
level as a kicker, hut Oregon liked
his punting."
Thompson came to Oregon in
the fall of 1990 and punted
immediately, but he did not add
placekicking to his duties until
this season.
t li^urtTti i wuimm i i»*
placekicker right away because
Gregg McCallum was there,"
Thompson said "I figured I
could win the punting job right
away and try for both of them
later. I definitely wanted to be
the kicker someday."
Thompson struggled with his
kicking early this season but has
found his touch recently In Ore
gon's last four games. Thompson
has kicked 10 Held goals, includ
ing five against Arizona State two
weeks ago. tying a Duck record
Thompson kicks barefoot and
said he feels he gets belter dis
tance and accuracy because of it.
"I get a better feel for the ball
barefoot; I can tell when I hit it
solid,” Thompson said. "Most
people think I am crazy because
it looks painful; it is painful but
to see the ball go through the
uprights makes up for the pain
I feel like the kicks are more
solid, and 1 get better distance
and accuracy."
Thompson and Kaufman will
have a chance to be on the field
together this weekend because
Kaufman is Washington's lead
ing punt and kickoff returner
Kaufman is averaging 15 it yards
'f get 9 better feel
for the ball bare
foot; I can tell
when I hit It solid.
Most people think
I am crazy
because It looks
painful
Tommy Thompson.
Oregon k ckc and punter
per pun! return and 16 H yards
per kickoff return, but Thomp
son says he is not intimidated
bv his former teammate
"i'll definitely kick it to him."
Thompson said
"It's |usl fun for me," Kauf
man said of his special teams
duties "It is something I have
always done and I think i can
help the team doing it."
As for Ins |oh on offense. Kauf
man says he expects a tough time
against the Oregon defense
“They look great." Kaufman
said. "They have a real tough
defense They really hit people
and play the ball well "
Thompson has one season of
college football left and Kauf
man two years, but Barrett does
not expect their football careers
to find Inal soon
"I think they both can play in
the NKL." Barrett said “Tommy
is a great punter, ho can kick the
hall so high anil far As fur
Napoleon, the sky is the limit for
him Barring an injury, he c an be
as good as anyone in the coun
*
■
i
;
try."
Barrett plans to las in the stands
on Saturday watching his two
prize pupils fsitlle it out. but he
says there is no doubt who he
will lie rooting for
"I am going to root for
Napoleon and Tommy,” Barrett
said "I will fie happy for one and
sad for the other when it is over,
but most of all, I am just really
excited and proud of these two
kills."
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