TAMPA, Fla. -  Something Jesuit hasn’t done in decades?

Preparing for a state championship game is new to these Tigers.

And it’s new to Matt Thompson, at least as a head coach. In his previous role as the Armwood Hawks defensive coordinator, Thompson’s prepared for five title games. But this is a first as the main man.

As the Tigers head coach since 2013, Thompson’s made himself at home as the longest tenured football coach at Jesuit since Dominick Ciao.

“There’s no other place that I’d rather be,” Thompson said.

It took Thompson numerous attempts to get to this point. His Jesuit Tigers advanced to the semifinals five times before finally punching their ticket to state on the sixth attempt. That’s what makes this more meaningful, because of all the losses that preceded it.

“He doesn’t like losing,” senior athlete Junior Vandeross said. “He’s determined to win. So, he knows whatever team it is, he wants to win.”

There was a sense of uncertainty after Jesuit’s semifinal win over Miami Northwestern. Having never been this far before, the team wasn’t too sure what to do. A lot of the unknown, but there was one constant - Thompson.

“Sometimes you can see him walking with that military look, all stern,” Vandeross said. “It’s like, we better have a good practice, Thompson’s not having it.

That’s the thing about Marines - don’t mess with them. 

Especially a Marine like Thompson who was a sharp shooter. He’s got the bling to prove it. His military service started soon after he graduated from Armwood High School. It took him on journeys to Panama and the Persian Gulf. And it instilled a sense of service, pride in his country and discipline in him.

“I learned I can do a lot more than I thought I could,” Thompson said. “I believe there’s really nothing I can’t handle and I think that’s part of that is being able to adapt and improvise and overcome things. That’s the Marine Corps way.”

He learned the importance of team work. How you can take people from all walks of life, bring them together and have them fight for a common goal. Just like a football team.

“There’s things that we learned about teamwork and putting away your individual aspirations for the betterment of the team,” he said. “It’s something that I try to instill not only in myself, but in my kids.”

Now you know why Jesuit is such a disciplined team. They take their cue from their Marine.

“He’s just a hard working coach.,” Vandeross said. “He’s real passionate. We feed off of him, he feed off of our energy.”

Jesuit’s energy is at an all-time high this week. Preparing for the state championship game has brought out the best in everyone. 

Thompson knows these are special times. And he knows what happens when you win a state title. He wants the season to end with one, not for himself, but for his players.

“It’s something that they’re going to remember forever and nobody can ever take it away from them,” he said. “It’s just an incredible feeling.”