Tommy graduated from Sheffield High School and the University of Alabama. As a high school athlete Tommy was outstanding in both football and baseball. He earned All-Area honors in both sports and excelled in the classroom as well as being named the Bryant-Jordan Scholar Athlete District Winner in 1986. Following high school he walked on and became a member of the Crimson Tide Baseball team. He earned a scholarship in 1986 and went on to become a four year Varsity Letterman. As a member of the Tide pitching staff he was SEC pitcher of the week twice, team captain in 1991, and was on the All SEC Academic Honor Roll. In his career at Alabama he started 41 games, had 25 wins, with 231 strikeouts in 262 innings pitched. At the end of his career, his 25 wins was third all-time among Alabama's pitchers.