NASHVILLE, TN, Sept. 15, 2008 —The Tennessee Titans announced today that Louis Thompson, head football coach of Lincoln County High School in Fayetteville, Tenn., has been named the Titans High School Football Coach of the Week for Week Three. The Lincoln County Falcons defeated the Tennessee powerhouse Riverdale Warriors (Murfreesboro, Tenn) 26-13 to earn their second consecutive win of 2008.
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"Coach Thompson is an outstanding leader on the football field, in the classroom and in the community," said Lincoln County principal Jim Stewart. "This is well-earned recognition to our football team and community because as Coach Thompson always stresses, every victory is a joint effort between the two."
Through the Titans Foundation, team owner K.S. "Bud" Adams, Jr. will make a $1,000 contribution to the Lincoln County High School football program in Coach Thompson's honor.
"High school football enjoys a great tradition in Tennessee," said Adams. "That tradition is based not only on the outstanding quality of play but on the devotion of their coaches who continue to develop high school football players into young men of strong character. I'm very pleased to underwrite this program that recognizes the efforts of so many talented high school coaches across the state!"
Coach Thompson will be the team's guest at the Titans vs. Pittsburgh Steelers game on December 21st when the team honors all 2008 Coach of the Week winners and announces the winner of the 2008 Coach of the Year! Coach Thompson is now eligible for the Tennessee Titans Coach of the Year award and Adams will make an additional $2,000 grant to the Titans Coach of the Year winner on that date.
Also receiving strong consideration in this week's poll was again Joe Gaddis of Henry County High School whose club defeated Westview High School 48-7 to continue their unbeaten streak in 2008, Tyner Academy's Wayne Turner who led his team to a 32-28 victory over Knoxville Fulton, giving Fulton it's first loss to a Chattanooga opponent since 1957 and Kevin Creasy of Trousdale County High School whose team shutout No.3 in class 2A Smith County 20-0.
Now in its 11th season, the Adams has awarded more than $112,000 from the Titans Foundation to football programs across the state in honor of the Coach of the Week winners.
"High school football coaches can play a role in the lives of their players that will have lasting results," said NFL director of football operations Gene Washington. "A competitive spirit, good sportsmanship and character development are some of the issues confronted on a daily basis by football coaches. We are thankful for the many coaches around the country who assume such a demanding role."
The criterion for selection includes the coach's impact on his team, school and community. A statewide media panel votes each week to determine the weekly winner. All high school football coaches in Tennessee, regardless of their school's size, league, or division, are eligible to be selected each week. The program is designed to recognize high school coaches who transform, through their hard work and dedication, student-athletes into the best possible football players and citizens in their community.
