MICHAEL THOMPSON: Football season dedicated to lost ones

MICHAEL+THOMPSON%3A+Football+season+dedicated+to+lost+ones

Araceli Valencia, News Editor

It’s more than just a game and he doesn’t play for himself.

Senior Michael Thompson steps on the football field during the beginning of his varsity game, focused and trying to remember what he is doing it for.

Thompson grew up, as he describes it, without parental guidance. He recalls his brother, Andre Howard, teaching everything he knows. He saw him as his idol. His brother once told him “stay out of trouble, so you can do what you enjoy.” From there every time Thompson would try to duplicate the bad things his brother did he would always steer him away and keep him on the right track.

“He was always in trouble,” Thompson said. “He showed me not to be.”

He dedicates his whole season to his brother and Malik Foster, a student killed in by a drunk driver earlier this year while walking across Hammer Lane. Thompson recalls that Foster was always nice and respectful towards him. “I make sure every time I step on the field I honor and play for them,” he said.

Thompson stands 6’4’’, in game, wearing  #3 brown and gold, playing wide receiver and defensive back. Thompson knows when the kickoff happens, he plays for Howard and Foster.

“I’m wild, focused and quiet on the field,” Thompson said. “I don’t have to think, worry, (I just) have fun.”