No rest for walk-on Thomas
Brian Churney
On the Hot Corner
Don't tell Charles Thomas that you're busy, unappreciated or tired.
Next time you feel busy at 2 a.m., look into the third-floor window closest to South Dining Hall on the east side of O'Neill Hall.
Chances are you'll see the light. Look again at 7 in the morning.
The light will probably remain.
Next time you feel tired, try balancing the demands of a grueling academic schedule and attempts at simulating the defense of Big East superstars Shaheen Holloway, Khalid El-Amin and Jason Hart.
Next time you feel unappreciated, try working harder than many of your teammates, running the same drills, sacrificing the same social activities in hopes of seeing a mere minute of playing time in an already decided game.
This is the life of Charles Thomas, a second-year walk-on to the Irish men's basketball team. It's a life that he's lived for more than just the two years he's poured his sweat onto the Joyce Center floor.
It's a life that's stretched back to his younger days, growing up in Flint, Mich. Having famous friends around tends to deflect some of the limelight.
He played his summer ball with the famous "Flintstones" Mateen Cleaves, Morris Peterson, Charlie Bell and Jason Richardson, always finding himself somewhat under-appreciated.
"In high school, I didn't get much recognition," he said. "People didn't really know my name. They just knew me as `that kid from Powers Catholic.'"
Being a walk-on on a team with stars Troy Murphy and David Graves hasn't helped him emerge from the shadows either.
Living a nameless basketball existence doesn't bother Thomas though. He plays not for fame nor recognition but for the love of the game. Ask him why he decided to play and he'll respond with a line typical of a collegiate athlete.
"I love playing even though I'm not playing in games. There are a lot of people that aren't going to get this opportunity. I feel lucky."
Unlike many athletes, the look on his face tells you that he means it.
At 6 feet and 160 pounds, Thomas finds himself often overmatched practicing with a team that features just one other player under 6-foot-3.
Whatever size he gives up, though, is made up in an unparalleled effort at every practice.
A walk-on's stage is the practice court, playing without the roar of the crowd, playing where the only reward is one that comes from within.
"I probably work harder than most of the guys in practice," he said. "It's my job to help them out and show them what to expect from the other team. Without working as hard as I can, I'm not doing my job."
Thus is the life of a walk-on. Work harder so that others can receive the acclaim.
What distinguishes Charles Thomas though, is not his ability or work ethic on the court, but his work ethic off of the court. Carrying a 3.3 GPA in the science-business major is difficult for the average person, let alone someone that has to miss class for games and spend a significant amount of time normal students use for studying chasing the Irish point guards around the court.
Thomas doesn't have the luxury of a Troy Murphy, who can look toward the riches in the NBA and consider his practice time as a way to increase his marketability. Basketball is merely a hobby, something that he loves to do.
"I've always considered myself an athlete, but more so as a student. That's how I got in here [academics] and that's what I intend to do afterward."
Maybe that's why the amount of time he spends in the gym is paltry compared to the combination of five hours of class time and almost eight hours he spends sitting as his desk studying. Thomas is a living example of a student-athlete that truly puts the student before the athlete.
"He's a perfectionist when he studies. He has to know every little aspect fully," says Thomas's roommate Phil Irvine, himself a former student-athlete. "There's no kind-of-knowing stuff to Charles. He's remarkable."
Of course, there's only so much you can squeeze into 24 hours, a fact that Thomas knows all too well.
"If I'm out of practice, I should be doing homework. My social life suffers, but it's worth it."
Why would someone choose to put both his body and mind through such rigorous days? Why would someone choose to forego many of the simple pleasures that accompany college life? For Thomas, there are two answers.
The first involves the nature of his personality. He's a person that needs to be active, needs to be overwhelmed with obligations.
"If I didn't have this much to do, I'd be bored out of my mind. I'd feel like I had nothing to do."
The other resembles that of a past Notre Dame legend.
"It's the Rudy thing. I know I can do it. I want that opportunity to play. I've had a few opportunities to play a few minutes this year. I know my role, but it's sure a great feeling to play."
As for the future, Thomas has lofty goals.
"Ultimately, I want to start. I know it's not totally realistic, but hey, God can do anything. I'll just keep working hard and put the rest in his hands."
For now, though, Thomas will just continue to be both student and athlete, striving for perfection in both. Don't tell him that it's not possible.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
All Sports Stories for Thursday, February 24, 2000
