Thompson Tough

Thompson Tough is a message we're working to spread throughout our community. It may have started with 1 man, but it has grown into a forest of Redwoods trees (more to come on this).

The 1 man is Erik Thompson, a local who has been changing the lives of many young people in our community. His inspiration and teachings isn't limited to just young football players he has direct contact with. He has affected me, Josh, the owner of Ogden Made. I appreciate the relationship, kindness and support he has shown me and Ogden Made! 

The purpose of this blog post is to share his story in his words and in the words of his family and loved ones. We are striving to bring awareness to Thompson Tough, what it means and how we stand as a F.A.M.I.L.Y. We have worked with Erik and his family to share some Ogden Made x Thompson Tough gear. We'd love it if you supported Erik and His Family by wearing some of this gear in our community!

Shop Ogden Made x Thompson Tough gear HERE.

A note from Erik:

Dear Family and Friends,

"Thank you for the love and support you have expressed to me since learning I have been diagnosed with ALS. I appreciate you, I love you, and I thank God for you. You have helped me know that I am not alone in this battle. The path forward is not going to be easy, but we are going to fight this disease with everything we have—and, we have a lot: we have the best doctors in the world, the most compassionate friends and family we could ever hope to have, and a loving and generous God who hears and answers our prayers." Continue reading...

F.A.M.I.L.Y.

For over 20 years, Erik has been transforming his football teams into football families.

"At the beginning of each season, Erik teaches his team about an acronym he learned about just as he began his coaching career: F.A.M.I.L.Y.™ which means Forget About Me. I love You™... Erik connects the F.A.M.I.L.Y. concept with a beautiful example found in nature. The Redwood tree is the tallest tree on Earth. It can grow to be over 300 feet tall and can live for thousands of years. With this massive growth and expansive lifespan, you might assume that such a tree would have a singular taproot that burrows deep into the ground. But, they don’t: their roots are typically only 6 to 12 feet deep. Redwood trees find their strength and stability, not by a singular root that grow downward, but by interconnected lateral roots that extend outward. The roots intertwine and connect with other redwood tree roots and support each other, sometimes extending 100 feet from the trunk. When a redwood tree is sick or in need of water, the other redwood trees around it send it what it needs through this vast connection of interwoven roots." Continue Reading...

We want to thank you for reading this and we hope that you'll share and support Thompson Tough. Erik is a trailblazer and we hope that his work and his love for Ogden continues! Here is to F.A.M.I.L.Y.!

More of Erik and His Family