THOMSON, Ga. – The trophy case at Thomson High School for Hall of Fame punter Ray Guy continues to fill up. On Tuesday the NFL recognized Guy, and Thomson High School as part of the Super Bowl High School Honor Roll initiative.
The league is recognizing schools and communities that contributed to Super Bowl history as part of its Super Bowl 50 celebration. A special Wilson Golden Football will be awarded to every player or head coach who graduated from their school and was on an active Super Bowl roster.
Guy’s son, Ryan, was on hand Tuesday to present the ball to current Thomson head coach Rob Ridings. “It’s really an honor. I know I’m real proud of my dad and all the accomplishments he had and the hard work that he put in,” said Guy. “To be able to present this ball to Thomson High School is a real honor,” he continued.
The gold leather ball has the Super Bowl 50 logo on one side, and “Thomson High School, Thomson, Ga. – Ray Guy – Part of Super Bowl History XI – XV – XVIII” embossed on the other. Ryan Guy appreciates the league’s effort to recognize not only the players, but their hometown’s as well. “I like how they do that, a lot of the players get their starts in these small towns and they may not otherwise get any recognition. So I think the NFL does a great job recognizing not only the colleges they played at, but the high schools as well,” said Guy.
Thomson coach Rob Ridings was excited to put the ball in the football trophy case among the school’s four state championship trophies. “You know a lot of kids, they don’t recognize the guys that were the trailblazers of the NFL. They only kind of know the guys who are playing now,” said Ridings. “But to look and see that Thomson High School has one in the Hall of Fame, and has a gold football to recognize his Super Bowl accomplishments is awesome,” he continued.
Ray Guy is the only punter elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame to date.
The NFL will recognize more than 3,000 players from more than 2,000 high schools with the initiative.
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