<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0tRGqc_0vNBfC5100" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0tRGqc_0vNBfC5100" width="1775" height="1167" ><figcaption>Linebacker Donnel Thompson, a Madison native, celebrates a Badgers win over Iowa in November 1999. JOSEPH W. JACKSON III</figcaption></figure>Growing up in Madison, Donnel Thompson would start his football Saturdays by holding a “Park Here’’ sign in front of his home on Rowley Avenue, a short walk to Camp Randall Stadium.“We’d park cars on our lot,’’ he recalled. “I’d have a sign, and my brother Bryson would have a sign. Right before kickoff, I’d drop the sign and run down the hill to the stadium to sell Cokes.’’As a vendor in the stands, he would hawk soda beyond his assigned sections. Since he earned a commission on what was sold, it fueled his competitive instincts to sell the most.“I was the biggest and strongest one selling so I just moved around (the stadium),’’ said Thompson, who also sold concessions for Badgers basketball games at the UW Field House.“Every other kid carried one rack (of soda); I carried two. I probably made $75 to $100 every football game. At 12 years old, I thought I was rich.’’Climbing up and down the steps, pitching the pop, he also took in the action on the field. “As people were passing down their Cokes or you were waiting on change, I got to watch,’’ he said.If nothing else, he could hear the cheers for big plays and the names of Badgers defensive players announced over the loudspeaker after making a tackle. All of which energized him.“It gave me such a unique view of every home game,’’ he said.Those days are still rich in memories for Thompson, one of 12 inductees to the 2024 UW Athletic Hall of Fame Class who will be honored at Saturday’s home game against South Dakota.“I was so excited, so surprised, it means so much to me,’’ said Thompson, a sturdy, reliable, hard-playing, team-oriented linebacker with 347 career tackles, the 13th most in school history.“When I got the call for the Hall of Fame, you just think of some of the guys who are in the Hall of Fame. Or should be in the Hall of Fame. It was a really humbling moment.’’As to what a former captain of back-to-back Rose Bowl teams might be feeling when he steps on the Camp Randall turf again, he said, “Euphoria. Nostalgia. I’ll feel like I’m at home.’’The stadium neighborhood was home. Everything was within walking distance on Regent Street from the Randall Elementary playground to the Madison West High School practice field.“Right across from Randall School was a church — St. Andrews — and we grew up right behind that church (on Rowley),’’ he said, remembering the influx of red-clad fans on game days.“We’d get there (the Randall playground) as early as we could because we wanted to play football before school, at lunch and then after school. We played as much as we could.’’His West High coach was his dad, Curtis Thompson, a star running back as a prep in Washington, D.C. Upon learning of his induction to the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame, the first person that Donnel Thompson called was his wife, Summer. The second person was his father.“Being my high school coach and Pop Warner coach, he was absolutely so happy for me,’’ Donnel said. “But he felt like it was an accomplishment for the family, which it really is.“Everyone is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin. My mother (Barb), my father, my brother, myself. So, it means much more for the family. That’s what he expressed to me.’’Much was made of Thompson’s unselfishness during his playing days. Whenever he came out when the Badgers added a defensive back in a nickel package, he never complained or pouted.Instead, he did what he could to help his teammates from the sidelines. As a walk-on, Thompson was driven to be successful. Some saw it as a chip on his shoulder. Was that fair?“Oh, for sure,’’ he said Tuesday. “I had the unfortunate injury my senior year (at West) where I broke my arm. Everyone who was writing me a letter or calling (about a tender) … it stopped.’’The college recruiters dropped off because of the injury. “I was already a short linebacker and nobody wanted a short linebacker with a broken arm,’’ he cracked.UW head coach Barry Alvarez and assistant John Palermo didn’t give up on Thompson. From his hiring in 1990, Alvarez recognized the value of walk-on players to his program.Recounted Thompson: “Coach Palermo came up to West High and he said, ‘We’d like you to come to Wisconsin as a preferred walk-on.’ I said, ‘Will you give me a real chance to compete?’“He looked me square in the eye and said, ‘We will absolutely give you a fair chance to compete.’ That’s all I needed to hear.’’ (Palermo was gruff but a man of his word.)“If they were going to give me a chance, no one is going to work harder than I will to be a part of the team and contribute at a high level and earn a scholarship. That’s exactly what I did.“I never thought in my wildest dreams, though, I’d be in the Hall of Fame.“I was hoping just to be on the kickoff team, frankly.’’<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2AEr3r_0vNBfC5100" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2AEr3r_0vNBfC5100" width="800" height="793" ><figcaption>Donnel Thompson, left, Chris MacIntosh and Barry Alvarez enjoy the Rose Bowl trophy on Jan. 1, 2000. CRAIG SCHREINER</figcaption></figure>Asked if a chip still exists on his shoulder, he said, “Hopefully it’s not a chip. But I always want to stay hungry and never satisfied. I’m always trying to get to the top of the hill type of thing.’’Thompson feels that it has helped him keep his edge — just another lesson from football that can be applied to all aspects of his life, including his workplace.For 16 years, Thompson has been at Direct Supply in Milwaukee, a private company that provides equipment and services to senior living facilities and health care organizations.As a vice president of national account sales, he has focused on developing leadership.“I’m developing unique leaders,’’ he said. “That’s what I do. I don’t try to develop salespeople. Or corporate employees. It’s about building really unique leaders and unique teams.’’Thompson cited some of his football mentors and leaders. His dad. Alvarez. Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy. Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Bill Cowher.“I learned these unique leadership lessons,’’ said Thompson, who was an undrafted free agent out of Wisconsin in 2000 and played three seasons in the National Football League.“There are so many qualities that relate to football. As it relates to toughness. Being strategic. Being able to take feedback. Responding to adversity. All those things apply to business.“I’ve been able to apply a lion’s share of them in my personal and professional life.’’Donnel and Summer Thompson have three daughters at home, ages 13, 11, and 8. He also has a son working in Sun Prairie. His brother is a sales leader for Boston Scientific in Milwaukee.“Life is good for Bryson,’’ Donnel said proudly.Bryson Thompson, a tendered linebacker from Madison West, started his first collegiate game for the Badgers in 1999. It was alongside of Donnel in a disappointing road loss at Cincinnati.But it was historic. It was the first time that brothers had appeared in the same Wisconsin starting lineup since 1975, when Dennis and Steve Lick started on the UW offensive line.Bryson would have loved to have played more with his older bro in college.But he said at the time, “It was a great experience to even practice with Donnel, to be on the same field with him, to have the opportunity to look over and see your brother there.’’The feeling was mutual. The brothers still get together and attend at least one home game every year. Usually, it’s against the toughest opponent. They’ll be here for Alabama on Sept. 14.“We want to lock in and watch football,’’ said Donnel Thompson in what is another example of his fixation with the sport — as a player and now even as a spectator.When he reflects on his UW career, he thinks about his three years starting on a defense that he called “unyielding.’’ He also thinks about his walk-on journey, an inspiring chapter.“Me being a walk-on, a kid from Madison, just made it so special,’’ he said, listing other walk-on teammates: Bobby Adamov, Jason Doering, Eric Grams, Eric Mahlik, Matt Unertl.“These were really talented Wisconsin born and bred walk-ons,’’ Thompson emphasized, “that I think gave us a competitive advantage.’’It may run through his mind Friday night during the Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Or maybe on Saturday afternoon when he strides on to the Camp Randall Stadium turf again.It will bring him peace of mind, too, knowing that he’s back home.</div></body>

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He sold Cokes at Camp Randall as a kid. Now he joins UW Hall of Fame.

Growing up in Madison, Donnel Thompson would start his football Saturdays by holding a “Park Here’’ sign in front of his home on Rowley Avenue, a short walk to Camp Randall Stadium. “We’d park cars on our lot,’’ he recalled. “I’d have a sign, and my brother...

He sold Cokes at Camp Randall as a kid. Now he joins UW Hall of Fame.

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