by By Rich Winter
As the college football season gets underway this week, you can bet the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma will be watching as their favorite son, Kendal Thompson laces them up as the back-up QB when the University of Utah gets ready to host the Idaho State Bengals on Thursday, Aug. 28.
A little history in the Kiowa Tribe – The Kiowa /ˈkaɪ.ɵwə/ are a nation of American Indians of the Great Plains. They migrated from western Montana southward into the Rocky Mountains in Colorado in the 17th and 18th centuries,[2] and finally into the Southern Plains by the early 19th century.[3] In 1867, the Kiowa moved to a reservation in southwestern Oklahoma.
Today they are federally recognized as Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma with headquarters in Carnegie, Oklahoma.[1] The Kiowa language is still spoken today and is part of the Tanoan language family.[4] As of 2011, there are 12,000 members.[1]
Now some history on Kendal Thompson who prepped at Southmoore high school in Oklahoma.
High School
Under Armour All-American … four-star recruit by Tom Lemming’s MaxPreps … three-star recruit by ESPN.com, Rivals.com and Scout.com … played in just three games as a senior due to an injury in the season’s second game … completed 25-of-34 passes for 295 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions in those three games while logging 42 rushing attempts for 237 yards and one TD … completed 166 of 259 passes in 2009 for 2,793 yards and 29 touchdowns while rushing for 466 yards and 10 TDs … as a sophomore in 2008, threw for 1,025 yards and 13 TDs with 76 completions on 148 attempts while rushing for 136 yards and one TD.
Personal
Son of Charles and Kori Thompson … father played quarterback at OU in 1987 and 1988 … cousin of former OU defensive back Antonio Perkins and current West Virginia wide receiver Jordan Thompson … majoring in communication.
Now, here is where things get really interesting!
Thompson transferred to the University of Utah in Salt Lake City this summer after graduating from college. He enters Utah as a junior according to his status, even though he graduated already.
Thompson came to Utah and promptly found himself in a battle for the No. 1 QB spot with last year’s starter, junior, Travis Wilson. Wilson had some injury problems last season and was only medically cleared to play this summer.
And what a camp battle it was.
Utah Coach Kyle Whittingham finally made his decision to start Wilson, but said the competition was extremely close.
From the Salt Lake Tribune:
“It was about as tight as it could be,” he said.
Quarterbacks coach Aaron Roderick sat down with the two quarterbacks Saturday night, after a scrimmage in which both performed well, and broke down the coaches’ evaluations: Wilson would be the starter, they were told. Thompson, however, had earned the right to play.
Whittingham elaborated Monday:
“It’s not a two-quarterback system,” he said. “It’s not first quarter, second quarter. It’s when we get the opportunity to put Kendal in and get him some work, he’s earned that right, and you will see him play, as well. But Travis is our starter.”
So, Travis Wilson gets the start but Thompson should see some playing time as the Utes are heavily favored against the Bengals of Idaho State.
Yours truly, Rich Winter, will be at the game, and I will have comments from Thompson following that contest.
