AUBURN, Ala. - Butch Thompson cared more about the person than the pitcher.
In 2014, Thompson was the pitching coach at Mississippi State. Tanner Burns was an up-and-coming baseball star at Decatur High School in north Alabama, receiving interest from several SEC schools.
When Burns called Thompson to say he would not be joining Butch’s program, Thompson’s response differed from other coaches Tanner contacted.
“That was unbelievable,” says Mike Burns, Tanner’s dad. “Some were good about it. Some were terrible about it. And then you’ve got Coach Thompson, who actually took the time and sat down that day and wrote a letter to tell Tanner, ‘Good luck.