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HOME OF THE TALLAHASSEE COMMUNITY COLLEGE EAGLES

Eagle Athletics Hall of Fame, Class of 2007

Tinsley Floyd 
Contributor, 1990-present

Tinsley Floyd, professor of Economics, came to Tallahassee Community College in 1979. A strong advocate of academics, Mr. Floyd is also an avid sports fan. When intercollegiate athletics was reintroduced at TCC in 1990, he quickly became one of the Eagles’ most dedicated supporters.

Mr. Floyd believes the foundation that was established in 1990 by each of the athletic program’s original coaches is continued today by the current staff – a solid emphasis on both competition and scholarship. As a result, the student-athletes at TCC excel in their chosen sports, as well as in the classroom. He also believes the performances of these young men and women are truly something which the Tallahassee Community College family can be proud of.

Ryan Freel 
Baseball, 1995

Ryan Freel, a native of Jacksonville, Fla., signed with Tallahassee Community College in January 1994, as a senior at Englewood High School. Though he only played one season in an Eagle uniform, he made an immediate impact, helping TCC win its first-ever Panhandle Conference Championship in 1995 en route to a 35-14 record.

During his only season at TCC, Freel, who played second base, established a single-season record for stolen bases with 38, a mark that still stands 12 years later. His total also ranks sixth on the school’s all-time stolen base list. Following the 1995 season, Freel signed a professional contract with the Toronto Blue Jays.

After spending parts of six seasons in the Blue Jays’ farm system, Freel made his major league debut with Toronto, as a defensive replacement, on April 4, 2001, against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. One day later, he singled in his first big league plate appearance. Though his first stint in “The Show” lasted only nine games, it served as the foundation for what has become a solid career.

Freel didn’t return to the majors until 2003, this time as a member of the Cincinnati Reds. When he was recalled on August 20, he wasted no time making a splash, becoming just the fifth player to hit his first big league home run off future Hall of Fame pitcher Randy Johnson. Appearing in 43 games during four separate stints with the big league club, Freel had found a home in Cincinnati.

Freel’s breakout season came in 2004 when he started 128 games for the Reds. In doing so, he became the first major league player in twelve years to start at least ten games at five different positions (2B, 3B, RF, CF, LF). Though he led the Reds in seven categories, including triples (8) and stolen bases (37), it was his defensive tenacity that won him a place in the hearts of Reds’ fans.

The fleet-footed Freel also led the Reds in stolen bases in 2005 and 2006, becoming the first player in 18 years to lead the club three consecutive seasons. He has also become a fixture on the “Web Gems” segment of ESPN’s popular Baseball Tonight program.

To date, Freel has a .270 batting average and 136 stolen bases in 505 career games.

Kerry Thompson 
Men's Basketball, 1994-96

Kerry Thompson’s college basketball career began in 1994 when he journeyed from New York City to Tallahassee Community College. A player full of potential when he arrived, Thompson, through a combination of hard work and determination, emerged as one of the best players to ever don an Eagle uniform.

After posting modest numbers as a freshman, Thompson dominated the Panhandle Conference as a sophomore in 1996. He averaged 19.3 points, 7.3 assists and 4.0 steals per game to earn PC Player of the Year honors while guiding the Eagles to a perfect 12-0 record in league play, the first undefeated season in the history of the Panhandle Conference. He was also selected First-Team All-PC and All-FCCAA. Following the season, he became the first player in TCC Basketball history to receive All-American status from the NJCAA when he was an Honorable Mention selection.

In two seasons, he led TCC to back-to-back appearances in the FCCAA Tournament and a total of 54 victories, including a 30-2 mark in 1995-96, the program’s first 30-win season. His name can be found throughout the Eagles’ record books. In addition to being the school’s career leader in assists (363), he ranks in the top ten all-time in points, scoring average, field goals made, free throws made and steals. In addition, he is one of only seven players to reach the 1,000-point plateau.

Following his career at TCC, Thompson signed with Florida State University, where he was a two-year starter for the Seminoles. As a senior, he led FSU to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.