Photos Courtesy of Charla Shults
Every Friday evening in the fall you will see a player wearing #32. This number is special in Pampa High School Football history as it is the jersey number worn by Pro Football Hall of Fame member, Zach Thomas. As a tribute to Zach, the Pampa High School football program will be retiring #32 from the jersey circulation. From this day forward, jersey #32 will be worn every Friday night by a different individual. That individual embodies that competitive spirit which Zach Thomas displayed every Friday night in the fall. The individual will be voted on by the coaching staff.
The tenth and final individual to be selected by his coaching staff for this 2025 season to have the honor of wearing #32 will be Andrew Waldrip, Senior Linebacker. He normally bears #4 but for the final game against Dumas on Friday he will be wearing the Zach Thomas #32.
How does it feel for Waldrip to be the next one selected?
“It feels great that the coaches trust in me to showcase that type of dedication and play towards the game,” Waldrip said. “I am honored to wear number 32 as it allows me to represent an all-time great.”
Andrew does not play any other sports at Pampa High School and does not plan to play any sports at the collegiate level. He plans to attend Texas Tech University.
“I am going to major in business or finance and am not sure what job I will be looking for after I achieve that degree,” Waldrip said.
Some of his favorite things to do outside of school are to hangout with friends and go to the lake
His favorite subject is business.
“My favorite subject is business because I think I learn the most valuable information in that class,” Waldrip said.
Here is what Pampa’s Head Coach Floyd White, had to say about Andrew:
“Andrew has been a huge surprise for us this year. He played a little for us as a junior and we did not know what to expect from him this year. He spent the offseason working his tail off and doing the smaller things that were going to allow him to play at a high level this year. As a result he has been a top notch starter all season. I wish that all kids had the tenacity and gave the effort that he does. He is one that I am truly going to miss as a player,” White said.
