Thomas back in backfield for Roos

Matt DeWalt
sports@weatherforddemocrat.com

August 31, 2007 10:43 am

— Fred Thomas was a multi-purpose player bursting with potential for the Weatherford Kangaroos in 2006, but his season was cut short after suffering a knee injury against the Aledo Bearcats in just the third game of the season.
“It was hard. It was boring,” Thomas said of watching the remaining seven games from the sideline. “To see my team out there playing and me sitting on the sideline doing nothing, it was hard for me. Sitting out was hard for me. It sucked going to physical therapy and all that, but it worked. I had to do it. Now, I’m 100 percent and I’m ready to go.”
During the offseason, Thomas reshaped his body and added 10 pounds to his frame, making him a solid 6-1, 200-pound bruiser.
“I wasn’t being lazy,” he said of his workout regimen after the injury. “My team worked, so I had to work. They practiced and I practiced. I would still be in the weight room. I would be out at practice supporting my team, cheering them on.”
This season, Thomas’ role has been reversed. He will be spending the majority of his time on the offensive side of the ball in the backfield, but expects he will still see some time on defense, moving from defensive back to linebacker.
However, if Thomas is able to accomplish his goal and take advantage of every carry, he may be too tired to join the Roos on defense.
“I’ve got to make sure every time I get the ball, I’ve got to make it worth it,” he said. “I can’t fumble or misread anything. Every time I get the ball, I’ve got to get at least get 5 yards.
“I just want everybody to trust me. I’m just here to help the team.”
Thomas admitted he is anxious to get on the field for the season opener against Abilene Cooper because he wants to makeup for the time he lost last season.
“I’m going to be nervous, but I am going to make it good,” he said of his first carry of the year. “I’m going to make it worth it. I’m going to try, you saw the first carry in the [inter-squad] scrimmage and it was successful. Against Cooper, I am going to try to do the same thing.”
A major reason for Thomas moving to offense on more of a full time basis is the opportunity to bring his Weatherford football career full circle.
Thomas will join quarterback and best friend, Ethan Kelly, in the Roos backfield with the intention of making their final season together a memorable one. That task will be made easier by the duo’s ability to communicate in the event a play or a series doesn’t go as planned.
“It’s good because back in middle school, growing up with him, we played offense together,” Thomas said. “That’s just what we did. At Shirley Hall he was the quarterback and I was the running back. It’s pretty cool for us to be seniors, this being our last year, now we’re in the backfield together. It’s fun.
“We do a lot of communicating with each other. If he misreads the handoff, we’ll talk about it. We don’t just be quiet about it and let it happen again. We communicate. It’s a pretty cool experience having my best friend as quarterback and being in the same backfield.”
Thomas admitted his expectations for this season are high, but he added he feels confident his goal of a District 4-5A championship can be achieved.
“I think we’ll put up some big numbers this year and help our team out a lot,” Thomas said of he and Kelly. “We are leaders on the team and we just have to encourage everybody.
“We’re district champs right now. That’s what I’m trying to tell you. We are going to make sure that we will get there and trust me, we will.”
Weatherford opens the 2007 season with the Abilene Cooper Cougars at Kangaroo Stadium at 7:30 p.m. Friday.