The coach that led Melrose to its only two state football titles in school history in 1996 and 1998 returns tonight as the head coach of a Fayette-Ware team that already this season has set a state record for total yards amassed in a game.

Thompson says he knows they’ll be a few unkind words for him, but he’s expecting most Melrose fans to “show lots of love” toward him in his return to his high school alma mater.

I’m very interested in what sort of reception Thompson will get tonight from Melrose’s homecoming crowd. After all, he was practically a hero in Orange Mound a decade ago, when he became the first Shelby-Metro football coach since 1985 to lead his team to a state title.

One thing’s for sure: If Fayette-Ware does come into Orange Mound and hands it to the Golden Wildcats, the always vocal Thompson is going to make sure they don’t forget about it anytime soon.