Speaking of Sports | FALL 2023
EASY by Richard Paige
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here is no hesitation from Cooper Sullivan ’24. “Liam Thompson is a great quarterback,” says Sullivan of the QB who is the three-time North Coast Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year and led all NCAA Division III quarterbacks in passing yards per game and total offense in 2022. Thompson ’24 draws the focus of every
“We’re communicating all the time,” says wide receiver Derek Allen Jr. ’24. “He’s so good at knowing what everybody is supposed to do and where they are supposed to be, even if he sees something different before the snap, he’ll communicate that. Everybody is on the same page.” This isn’t a one-way street. The receivers hold Thompson accountable, whether it’s recognizing coverages or missing a check-
It all adds up to an impressive offensive package. Thompson, who has tallied more than seven miles of total offense, owns 20 school or NCAC records. His teammates will be the first to tell you that the numbers are secondary. “He never worries about stats, records, or himself, really,” says Snyder. “He’s always thinking about his teammates.” Sullivan adds, “He only wants to
opposing defense. Others are noticing, as down. Thompson listens and makes the well. The rhetoric major with a 3.86 grade necessary alterations. point average was the only DIII quarterback “That’s one of the things that makes him on the preseason watch list for the Manning great,” says Sullivan, a three-time allAward, which honors the nation’s top player conference receiver. “If you say he missed at that position. Thompson is also being something, he doesn’t drop his head. He’s mentioned as a candidate for the Gagliardi open to anything and everything when it Trophy, given to the most outstanding DIII comes to feedback. He finds ways to turn player in the country. those critiques into positives.” He was named a finalist for the National The constant communication goes handFootball Foundation’s William V. Campbell in-hand with the work. The repetition builds Trophy, presented annually to college through the offseason, spring ball, fall camp, football's premier scholar-athlete. As one of into game-week practices, and finally, to 16 finalists, and one of three from NCAA DIII, Saturday. There is an expectation created Thompson receives the Coach Lou Saban through all of that work that must be met Scholar-Athlete Award and an $18,000 when the play call comes in. postgraduate scholarship. “Liam expects us to do our jobs at a high “He’s a great person to be around,” says level,” says wide receiver Jacob Riddle ’24, Penn Stoller ’24, a second-team All“and he has his responsibilities, too. But American tight end in 2022. “He’s always there is an ease when you look in the pushing us to be better, whether it’s in the backfield and see No. 2 back there.” film room, weight room, or in practice. He’s a That ease eventually becomes cohesion. commander on the field.” “We get so many reps together in practice, Ask the guys Thompson is closest to— that come game time, I know where this ball the receivers and running backs—and they’ll is going to be on this play,” says Sullivan, explain it about as succinctly as Sullivan. who is now the Wabash record holder for He’s a strong communicator, obsessive in career receiving yards. “You already know film study, open to critique, can extend plays, what’s coming.” and runs like a running back. The additive The guys all agree that Thompson throws effect is tough to beat. a ball that is easy to catch. “Every time he There is constant chatter back and forth throws it, he hits me right in the chest,” says between the quarterback and his offense, running back Donovan Snyder ’24. making adjustments on the fly based on the “His ball zips,” explains Riddle. “Sometimes, flow of the game. The point is to keep the when the ball is damp, you can hear the laces chains moving. spinning. That’s cool because we know every pass is going to be on time.”
win games.” That focus was apparent in the team’s final drive in the season opener at HampdenSydney. Trailing 28-21 with just over three minutes to play, Little Giant linebacker Jake Pasch forced a fumble and recovered it on the Hampden-Sydney 33-yard line. From there, Thompson and the Wabash offense took over. The quarterback ran for seven yards on first down, completed a 10yard pass to Snyder before connecting with Allen on a 16-yard scoring pass to cut the deficit to 28-27. On the ensuing two-point conversion, Wabash ran a play it had practiced all week: a reverse to Riddle where he pulled up in the backfield and lofted a pass to Thompson in the end zone for the game-winning score. “I saw that Liam was open and knew I was going to have to take a hit to get it to him,” Riddle says. “Their safety was flying out to make a play on Liam, so when it left my hand, I was hoping it got there before the safety did. Luckily, it was enough. I knew Liam would make the grab.” Thompson on the receiving end of the play is a result of how he approaches the leadership baked into the position. “As a quarterback, you have to be a leader,” he says. “You have to elevate the play of others or bring your level of play up to the guys around you. At a place like Wabash, it’s easy. We have really talented people at every position. It makes my job a whole lot easier.” .
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