I was at App from 78 til 82. We didn't have soccer where I came from. Apps soccer team was world class and it centered around Usiyan. I learned to love this sport and our team. Thompson was super nice, and very approachable. The things I saw him do on the pitch were legendary....

This is sad. Thompson was a great guy, friendly and very approachable. His talent on the pitch was remarkable. We always had very large home crowds to watch those teams play. RIP Thompson

eggers76 wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 17, 2021 7:00 am

This is sad. Thompson was a great guy, friendly and very approachable. His talent on the pitch was remarkable. We always had very large home crowds to watch those teams play. RIP Thompson

I was there 73-78 and remember those teams well: Frank Kemo, Tony Suarez, Emmanuel Udogu, Tommy, Dave Ralston, John Ward, to name a few.

Perhaps the greatest athlete in App State history.I knew him and his team mates.What a loss .What a loss.

How sad. I met him once in the BI. Kind man.

Sorry to hear this. Tommy was probably the best pure athlete I ever met. We both lived in Bowie freshman year. First time I walked into his room he had a life sized Adidas poster on the wall and it was him. I was pretty much in awe.
He taught us how to play soccer and we taught him how to play basketball. He was very awkward for a while but then his natural ability kicked in. He was running circles around us on the court by the end of the year.
Hearing this reminds me of so many stories....but I'll spare you.
Sad day.

Incredibly sad to read about this. Thompson Usiyan used to come down to my room in East my freshman year, not to see me but because my roommate was a GA with the soccer team (from Trinidad). I was just talking about him last Saturday at a youth soccer game. I didn't know he had passed. Just truly sad about this.

How did we not know about his passing sooner? This is really sad news. I played with Kemo and Ralston on a NCNB (bank) side in an adult league and they talked about TU all the time. I saw him play about 4 or five times in college and a lot as a pro. He was amazing. He put us on the soccer map. RIP

https://journalnow.com/sports/college/a ... e7901.html
Thompson Usiyan.
I had the privilege of getting to see him play at App! Most on here are probably not old enough to remember him but you should read this article to familiarize yourself with him. He was the greatest NCAA soccer player ever and he was an ASU alum.

Just saw the other thread.
Mods please merge or delete.

AppGrad1 wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 17, 2021 1:01 pm

Just saw the other thread.
Mods please merge or delete.

Merged.

Soccer story although it doesn't not involve Tommy; it was before his time.

uncheat came to Boone for an evening match. The west side was packed (5K at that time) and raucous. The match was scoreless until very late (probably the 87th minute) and two things happened: we scored and simultaneously uncheat committed a foul in the box. Now most of us in the stands were not soccer experts but we were smart enough to know that the goal or a penalty kick was forthcoming. Instead the officials gave us neither. After the OTs it ended in a 0-0 tie. Literally, the officials had to get security to escort them to their cars because there were 5000 fans ready to lynch. Vaughn Christian was livid to say the least.

So sad about Tommy. Gone way too young. Lots of great memories there. I was in grad school working on my Ed.S. on Thursday evenings, Saturday mornings and during summer school in those days. Never, ever missed a home soccer match. Fab memories, sad occasion.

RIP, Tommy!

scatman77 wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 17, 2021 4:00 pm

Soccer story although it doesn't not involve Tommy; it was before his time.

uncheat came to Boone for an evening match. The west side was packed (5K at that time) and raucous. The match was scoreless until very late (probably the 87th minute) and two things happened: we scored and simultaneously uncheat committed a foul in the box. Now most of us in the stands were not soccer experts but we were smart enough to know that the goal or a penalty kick was forthcoming. Instead the officials gave us neither. After the OTs it ended in a 0-0 tie. Literally, the officials had to get security to escort them to their cars because there were 5000 fans ready to lynch. Vaughn Christian was livid to say the least.

If I'm not mistaken I was at that game. Christian was a pioneer in our program. I made most of the games during his era and knew absolutely nothing about soccer and still don't except it is played with a round ball and the Europeans call it fut ball. lol

asu66 wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 17, 2021 4:28 pm

So sad about Tommy. Gone way too young. Lots of great memories there. I was in grad school working on my Ed.S. on Thursday evenings, Saturday mornings and during summer school in those days. Never, ever missed a home soccer match. Fab memories, sad occasion.

RIP, Tommy!

asu66 did you appreciate Emanuel Udogu)sp) as much as Usayin? Were they equivalent talent wise? Thompson spent several years on the coaching staff and faculty at U South Carolina.

NewApp wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 18, 2021 10:40 am

asu66 wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 17, 2021 4:28 pm

So sad about Tommy. Gone way too young. Lots of great memories there. I was in grad school working on my Ed.S. on Thursday evenings, Saturday mornings and during summer school in those days. Never, ever missed a home soccer match. Fab memories, sad occasion.

RIP, Tommy!

asu66 did you appreciate Emanuel Udogu)sp) as much as Usayin? Were they equivalent talent wise? Thompson spent several years on the coaching staff and faculty at U South Carolina.

I remember all those great players from 1973-1978 and they were not only great athletes but their kicking and leg strength was phenomenal. I remember that around mid-season they had to break out new practice balls. The others were literally kicked into some oblong shape and were pretty much useless.

scatman77 wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 17, 2021 4:00 pm

Soccer story although it doesn't not involve Tommy; it was before his time.

uncheat came to Boone for an evening match. The west side was packed (5K at that time) and raucous. The match was scoreless until very late (probably the 87th minute) and two things happened: we scored and simultaneously uncheat committed a foul in the box. Now most of us in the stands were not soccer experts but we were smart enough to know that the goal or a penalty kick was forthcoming. Instead the officials gave us neither. After the OTs it ended in a 0-0 tie. Literally, the officials had to get security to escort them to their cars because there were 5000 fans ready to lynch. Vaughn Christian was livid to say the least.

I was at that game, it was 1977 and Tommy was there. I don't remember him playing though, think he was hurt or sick. They couldn't keep up with our speed so they decided to get physical with us. It got ugly. And yes the refs screwed up so bad they needed an escort to get out. They called up the football team out of Justice to work with security to do the job. Not enough security personnel.
Emmanuel Igbeka had enough of it. Late in the game he back kicked, used his heel backwards (Think running motion) and hit one of their players in the leg. Not sure if his leg was broken but he was out of the game and Emman got carded. Those guys were strong and very flexible. I talked with him after the game, he said the guy deserved it but he shouldn't have done it because it could have cost the team.
What a night that was.

BTW - we tied them 0-0 the next year at their place

Wife and I were at the Duke/ASU NCAA soccer playoff game at ASU in about 1979. It was pouring rain and the fans were allowed to sit in the press boxes because of so much rain.
I believe Duke was ranked in the top 5 at the time too.