BURG Sports Network

Zach Thompson & Patrick Thompson Interview 

 

1. When did you guys first develop a passion for and know you wanted to play football?

 

P- Zach and I began playing football at 11 years old. We took on basketball and baseball at a much earlier age. It wasn’t until high school when we chose to focus on football.

 

  2. What was it like to have your father as your football coach?

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Z- He was our coach throughout our childhood so we were used to it by high school. We definitely benefited from his coaching and knowledge of the game.

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  3 .How do you feel Stone Bridge Football has improved since you graduated?

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P- Stone Bridge is consistently competing for regional and state championships year after year. The program is also consistently producing college athletes. Stone Bridge not only gets players to the next level, but prepares them for what’s to come.

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  4. What was your favorite game that you each played in during your high school careers?

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Z- The 2007 State Championship, hands down. We beat Potomac 38-0 in that game. The State-Semi game that year is a close second. We beat nationally ranked Phoebus to advance to the State Championship.

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  5. What was it like to help Stone Bridge win their first ever state title for football?

 

P- It was a great accomplishment and a proud moment for the program.

 

  6. With both of you going to Wake Forest together how did you know that’s the school you wanted to attend to play college football?

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P- It was a school that expressed interest in us both. We wanted to continue to play together and it felt like a great fit.

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  7. What was the first college game you played in like?

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Z- It was just exciting to play football again after redshirting my first year.

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   8.  How was your last game (Senior Day) running out of the Tunnel for one last time at Wake Forest?

 

P- It was a special day, getting to run out onto BB&T field one last time. I was announced along with the guys that I spent the last 4 and ½ years with at Wake Forest.

 

9. Out of all the away games in the ACC, which campus such as Clemson, Notre Dame, was your favorite to visit? 

 

Z- You named my two favorite stadiums in the question. Notre Dame stadium and Death Valley were my two favorites.

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 10. Zach, what was it like being part of the NFL with the Jets, Broncos, and Ravens?

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Z- It was a great experience. I was fortunate enough to play with/learn from some of the best to ever play the DE/OLB position. Demarcus and Von when I was in Denver. Sizz and Elvis Dumervil when I was in Baltimore. I definitely enjoyed competing at the highest level.

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 11. With you both coming back to coach at Stone Bridge how did playing at the college level and in the NFL help you the most in working with high school kids? How is it teaching them the same position you played in your whole life?

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P- We know what things to emphasize and to spend time on. The next level gave me a better understanding of the game and most importantly the quarterback position. I love being able to share my knowledge with the kids.

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 12. What was it like seeing your younger Joe be the starting quarterback at Stone Bridge and seeing him help to lead Stone Bridge to the State Championship? 

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Z- Patrick and I were able to see Joe’s growth as a quarterback/athlete over his four year high school career. We’re glad that he had the experience of playing in a State Championship game and it was a great way to end a great career.

 

 13. Having Joe play Quarterback at Charlotte University and having your younger sister commit to play soccer at the University of Tennessee is awesome.  Being that you are older than they are did you have any advice to give them about playing at the collegiate level? 

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P- We just tell them to embrace the grind of college athletics. Enjoy the process and work hard. It’s not like we really have to tell them that though. They are two of the hardest working people that I know. 

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 14. What was it like playing against Phoebus and Tajh Boyd? 

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Z- It was fun to play against each other. Tajh is a great competitor. We’ve known each other for a while, and played with or against each other at all 3 levels. We played against each other twice in high school and four times in college. In 2014, we were teammates in NY.

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  15. My final question for you is this. We always ask who your biggest Role Model is? We know your dad coached you both, how much did he help you throughout your career and your mom being a teacher, how much did she help your with academics and in learning how to balance school and sports? Was there anyone else who helped you? 

 

P- Both of my parents are responsible for molding us into who we are today. Zach and I are both competitive and wanted to be the best at whatever we did, whether it was at sports or in school. Because of this mentality, balancing school work and sports came easy to us. We both were straight A students throughout high school and earned full scholarships because that’s what we felt we were supposed to do. If you ask Joe and Amy, they’d say the same thing.