Personalized Cleats for Super Bowl-Bound Former Wildcat, Mike Edwards
In the small town of Garrard County, Kentucky, the excitement is palpable as Super Bowl LVIII approaches. Among the notable connections to the game are not just the players Mike Edwards and Darian Kinnard but also the artistic flair of Jeremy Thompson, a local teacher at Paint Lick Elementary School.
Thompson, a self-proclaimed sneakerhead and full-time educator, has a passion for customizing sneakers that has gained attention on a grand stage. He reflects on the influence of growing up in an era where Michael Jordan's sneakers were a must-have for enthusiasts. ""The general sneakerhead proverb states that you should always make shoe contact before eye contact," says Thompson.
His journey into the spotlight began when former Wildcat linebacker Bud Dupree discovered Thompson's talent for creating custom kicks. "Through a strange series of events, Bud Dupree found out that I customized shoes. So, the whole time he was at Kentucky, I was doing sneakers for him," Thompson explains. The collaboration expanded beyond college, reaching the NFL, and Thompson found himself customizing cleats for Dupree.
The ripple effect continued as Wildcats like Boogie Watson, JJ Weaver, and Maxwell Hairston joined forces with Thompson for personalized designs. Fast forward to Super Bowl LVIII, and Thompson is once again in the spotlight, creating special cleats for Mike Edwards.
Thompson says of his most recent invention, "That was all white, he painted them all red, and then they have about 10,000." Some of them might fall to the ground, in my opinion. So like they're in the carpet somewhere. But 10,000 rhinestones hand glued on there. So they will be sparkling; you should be able to see him under the lights."
As the town rallies behind its local artist, the anticipation for Super Bowl LVIII grows, with Jeremy Thompson's custom cleats promising to add a touch of sparkle to one of the biggest nights in sports.