Thank You, Thurman Thomas
by Brian Galliford on Aug 4, 2007 7:46 AM EDT
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Today is a day more special to the history of the Buffalo Bills than any other day in recent years. Thurman Thomas, the engine of a historic NFL offense and one of the greatest football teams of the early 1990s, will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this evening in Canton, Ohio.
We, as Bills fans, all know that Thurman's accomplishments are impressive, varied and make him one of the greatest football players of all-time. In 12 years, he ran for over 1,000 yards in eight straight seasons, established himself as the most explosive offensive weapon in the AFC and earned five trips to the Pro Bowl. His versatility as a rusher and a receiver were the key to making the famous "K-Gun" offense tick. His best runs were explosively poetic, and often left defenders tripping gracefully over their own two feet.
The best part: Thurman accomplished all of this after dropping all the way to the second round of the 1988 draft. Take that, doubters. Want a do-over?
But Thurman's enshrinement is about more than his on-field accomplishments. It's about honoring a team that was, simply put, by far the greatest team in the AFC in the 1990s. It's about the fans of Thurman and the Buffalo Bills - the greatest fans in football. It's about Thurman's teammates and coaches - the guys who let him be the master that he was.
It's about the stirring memories that Thurman created in a young boy living in Pennsylvania during his glory years. A young boy who shared his father's crazed passion for football and latched onto Thurman Thomas as his first favorite player. Sure, the team had Bruce Smith, Andre Reed and Jim Kelly (who I even dressed up as for Halloween once), but it was Thurman that captured my attention. It's hard for someone that young to understand just how great a player is when you're watching him; the best part about Thurman is that even to this day, I cannot fully fathom just how great he was. But I do know this: Thurman's runs are a sort of bond between a father and a son - a bond that continues to this day. I am positive that this is not the only instance of that miracle.
So thank you, Thurman. Thank you for being my first favorite player; thank you for being the catalyst of the best Bills teams of all-time; thank you for all of your incredible accomplishments; thank you for the memories. You deserve this. We'll be there tonight with you, Thurman, for the final, greatest honor to your incredible career.
What did Thurman Thomas mean to you as a Bills fan? Let's honor Thurman properly by leaving some comments on his incredible career and what it means to you as a Bills fan.
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by Bills fan in PA on Aug 4, 2007 10:20 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I loved Thurmal too
The guy did it all for us and looking back on it, it never seemed he got the due he deserved from Bills fans or around the league. I mean, Jim Kelly was the face of the franchise and Bruce Smith was the best in the league, so it was hard to believe a guy like TT could be relegated to third or fourth banana, but he was. No disrespect there obviously, but I wish TT had gotten more acknowledgment during his career, as it was definitely deserved. Having guys like Barry Sanders and Emmitt Smith, as well as the occasional flashes in the pan (Barry Foster anyone?) really limited TT's exposure. Leading the league in total yards all those times was amazing. The fact that the offense ran through him instead of our Hall of Fame QB, IMO, was a nice testament to how good he was.
Seeing highlights of Thurman recently and over the years, I can't help but thinking this guy had no business being an elite RB in the NFL. He wasn't that big, nor was he very fast. He just had all those intangibles that front offices hope they can uncover before the Draft. He was a leader, hardworker, and most importantly to our offense he could do things besides run the ball. Other than Marshall Faulk and Reggie Bush now, I can't think of too many RB's who can even approach his receiving skills. He was also adept at picking up the blitz and always seemed to make a play when it was needed...
My favorite Thurman moments were his TD in SBXXV where he bounced off the Giants tackler and ran 31 yards for a TD (haha, I'll never forget how long that TD was, even though I was like 9 years old at the time). I remember the first time I was allowed to stay up and watch an entire MNF game. Thurman ran for a career high 200-something yards against the lame-o Jets and the Bills crushed them early in the first SB season. I don't think I slept that night I was so excited, haha. Another favorite moment of mine was either the following year or the year after. We started the season at home against Miami and my Dad and I were forced to watch the game on a 5 inch TV, as for some reason he had made plans for us to go away for that weekend (Labor Day I believe) and we were staying on our boat. I remember Thurman being absolutely unstoppable running all over the Dullphins. I think he had over 150 yards rushing and another 100+ receiving. It was a totally awesome performance and I think we set the Bills record for yardage that day. And finally, one of my favorite TT moments was more a team effort, but he was a big part of it. It was against the Falcons in one of those early SB seasons and I was at the game in the upper deck. Both Thurman and Kenny Davis went over 100 yards rushing in the first half and we crushed those pansy birds. Maybe most memorable about that game was when Jimbo broke a Falcons' DB's leg after an INT. That game was awesome.
Unfortunately, I also have lingering memories of some of Thurman's worst moments...forgetting his helmet in the SB, his lack of success in the SB's other than the first one, his battles with alcoholism and his ill-fated decision to sign with Miami. The great memories far outweigh those and I just wish we could have won that first SB as Thurman was easily the MVP. He'd have been in the HOF last year if that would have happened and as fans we would not be searching for nirvana still. Oh well, soon though!
Way to go Thurman, much deserved honor and you personified the great Bills teams of the 90's. I loved watching you play and will never forget some of your amazing moments as they are some of my favorite early memories of my favorite team. Nobody deserves this as much as you. Go Bills!
by Kurupt on Aug 4, 2007 1:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
thermo
My lasting memory of him, though, isn't from the superbowl years, but from 2 years later. We were matched up with Dan Marino in the divisional round. I don't which is greater, my love for the Bills or my hatred of the Dolphins, but they're close. Anyways, I know TT only ran for 158 yards (only??) of our 341, but he was the face of the offense that day. We ran the Dolphins over. I knew then that we weren't the team from a few years later, but watching that group, again led by TT, crush the dolphins in the playoffs one last time, that was awesome. That group never won a superbowl, but they always spanked Marino. Maybe that's enough...
Anyways, Kelly was always my favorite, but without TT, we never would have gone to a superbowl. Thanks Thurman, enjoy your day.
by Krukow on Aug 4, 2007 3:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
In SB XXV...
Even in a losing effort, TT deserved the MVP award for that game.
by rexob on Aug 4, 2007 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Great speech Thurman
Great representation of yourself, your family, your teammates and Bills fans everywhere!
GO BILLS
by Kurupt on Aug 4, 2007 9:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Indeed!
by Brian Galliford on Aug 4, 2007 10:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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