Thompson prepares for dad’s old squad
Father and son on opposite sides of rivalry between Sooners, Horns
AUSTIN — For years, bloodlines and history dictated where Casey Thompson sat when his family made the annual October pilgrimage from Oklahoma City to Dallas’ Cotton Bowl.
The middle son of Kori and Charles Thompson — the same Thompson who quarterbacked coach Barry Switzer’s Oklahoma Sooners in the late 1980s — always sat in the stadium’s crimson southern sea, in the section reserved for former players and their families. Until 2017.
Thompson had committed to Texas back in April of that year and he attended that season’s game not as his father’s guest, but as the Longhorns’. From the 50-yard line, where crimson crashes into burnt orange, the four-star recruit took in the quarterback duel between Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield and Texas’ Sam Ehlinger, thinking how one day he’d play a part in this century-old rivalry — just like his dad once did.
“I was born into a family full of OU football, so I really didn’t have a choice,” Thompson said Monday. “But the first game that I went to that felt weird was when I was committed in 2017. And I was on the Texas side, probably by like two seats. That game felt a little bit different.
“But just seeing that game up close, watching Baker Mayfield and those guys and watching Sam and coach (Tom) Herman, that era get started, was pretty cool to see as a recruit.”
Thompson considered traveling the path paved by his father and older brother Kendal, a Sooners player from 2014-15, to Norman, Okla., just a half-hour ride south from Southmoore High School. And the courting didn’t end even after Thompson, who spent his senior season at nearby Newcastle High School, fit a Longhorns hat onto his head during a commitment ceremony.
While the decision to enlist with a bitter rival rattled some Sooners who coveted the legacy quarterback, Thompson and his family never wavered once the decision had been made. He’d forge his own path down in Texas, regardless of whether OU coach Lincoln Riley or anyone else came knocking.
“Coach Riley and I had a great relationship in recruiting,” Thompson said. “Like I said, I know this team, this coaching staff and these players like the back of my hand. I grew up with a lot of them. My dad personally knows some of them. But once I committed to Texas, my recruiting process was over with.
Oklahoma reached out. Alabama, Oregon, Ole Miss came knocking at the door. Ohio State, Urban Meyer personally texted me. Lincoln Riley texted me, even Nick Saban. But I just wanted to stay loyal to my commitment.”
This Saturday will mark Thompson’s first appearance in the Red River Shootout. And No. 21 Texas (4-1, 2-0 Big 12) should feel mighty thankful Riley couldn’t persuade Thompson to join up with his Big 12 juggernaut.
The fourth-year Longhorns signal-caller has blossomed into one of the nation’s most effective quarterbacks this season, ranking fifth in ESPN’s rating metric (QBR) while completing 71.1 percent of his passes for 707 yards with nine touchdowns, three rushing scores and three interceptions. And Thompson’s sizzling start could make this looming showdown with redshirt sophomore quarterback Spencer Rattler even more enthralling than expected, especially as both try to preserve an unblemished conference record.
But Thompson also will be playing against the ghost of his father, and Charles loves to take playful shots at Casey, like saying he’s “way better” and would’ve had “100 touchdowns in the spread offense.” But the son also consumed all of his dad’s game tape, and he doesn’t shy away from throwing back verbal jabs.
“I’ll just turn on a full game and watch from start to finish,” Thompson said. “And I’ll literally write down stuff or take videos and send it to him like, ‘Hey, you missed this throw,’ or ‘Hey, you missed this read.’ But my dad was able to start in this Red River rivalry whenever he was playing quarterback. He got to play in (two games), and he obviously enjoyed it. It was a dream come true for him, and it’d be a dream come true for me.”
Realizing this particular dream required a deep patience.
Thompson spent his first three years in college as Ehlinger’s understudy, then had to cope with Texas coach Steve Sarkisian naming redshirt freshman Hudson Card the starter just ahead of Texas’ regular season opener. But he persisted, and when Card faltered, Thompson finally seized the job.
Now the son of a former Sooners player will get to lead Texas out through the Cotton Bowl’s frenzied tunnel. And while Thompson understands the shadow his own storyline will cast over this game, all he’s concerned with is beating No. 6 Oklahoma (5-0, 2-0) on Saturday afternoon.
“I’m trying not to focus on it,” Thompson said. “Everyone knows my story: I’m from Oklahoma, and I play for Texas. And so that alone is unique. And I don’t even know if it’s ever been done, but I’m just trying to focus on the matchup, focus on the game plan and focus on just keeping this offense and this team focused and being able to quiet out the noise.”