If you’re following the Our Kijiji vlog, you heard me talk about how proud I am of the Mount Tabor High School football team, and that I wanted to highlight the seniors but was waiting on their info. Well, out of 17 seniors, I still only have 3 submissions. 🙄
My desire to highlight them heightened after I read an article in The Chronicle about two football players at West Forsyth who are considered to be “as close as brothers.” I was taken aback because the article was about two friends who were LIKE brothers, who play on a team that didn’t make it to the playoffs, but I’d yet to see anything about two players WHO ARE BROTHERS, who play on a team with an undefeated season. Instead of commenting on the post, I remembered I had an avenue to publish what I wanted to read. *Contrary to what some of y’all think, I can/do stay in my lane 💁🏾♀️.*
These brothers are 2 of the remaining 14 who have yet to send me anything, but I still wanted to write about them…
I asked Michai if John Dell was on campus yesterday to interview anyone from the team, and he said, “No, he was probably here because we have a baseball and softball game going on.” I thought that was odd since he does a lot of football writing, and he also took a picture of the sign that said the football game tickets were sold out…but y’all tell me to leave Michai alone, so… 😐🤔
I am a “people watcher”, and I watched B.J. perform on the football field during the 2019 season. I learned that one of guys we served pregame meals that season, but who didn’t play, was B.J.’s brother, Tyress. He looked athletic and ran track, so I finally asked him why he didn’t play football? He got quiet and never came out with an answer but said, “I’m going to get back out there.” I asked the coach, and he shook his head. I helped serve parents food when we had the awards banquet for the players, so I asked their Father why Tyress didn’t play? He didn’t say much, but did listen to me talk about Tyress being a great kid, an outstanding student (yes, I ask for other people’s kid’s report cards), how the team needed him and somebody’s HBCU would need him too. He smiled and shook his head, but I didn’t know what the outcome would be. *I will crossover to other lanes if I think there’s a need. Mind y’all’s business. 🙄*
I was elated to learn Tyress would be on the team this year and the brothers would get to spend their last year in high school on the team together. I held their Father’s jacket before the first home game so he could walk beside one of them for Senior Night, while their Mother walked next to the other. When he came back to get it, I thanked him for letting Tyress play. What I didn’t know was the history the brothers would help create; it’s been SportsCenter worthy every week.
I watch them walk to their car after practice. Thankfully, they don’t drive like they run. They walk like two old men. They talk to everyone. Tyress seemingly is more talkative than B.J. They are fashionable on and off the field and, important to most teens, the ladies love them. B.J. was slightly injured at the Smith game, but that didn’t stop him from hobbling over to talk to a young lady from Smith.
I check-in with Tyress and share a life lesson with him here and there. One, I won’t mention here, involved me asking him a sensitive question. He slid back out of my Mother’s view and turned to look at Michai for refuge. Michai said, “Don’t look at me and don’t bring me in it. I don’t have anything to do with what she says.” 😂🤣 Because I know he’s smart, and I see how close they are, I asked if was going to Fayetteville State with B.J.? He named a lengthy list of acceptances AND full scholarships. Of course I told him to choose a HBCU 🤷🏾♀️.
The picture is from their first game; one where only the home team’s fans were allowed. I went to congratulate their Grandmother when I saw her at our first home game and she already had the picture printed on a t-shirt. If you’ve seen me post about a Grandmother RUNNING up and down the sidelines…that’s her too!
A couple things about the brothers on the field in reference to their bond, speed and stamina:
•B.J. can run a lot of yards in one play to get a touchdown. Tyress will run full speed from the line of scrimmage to celebrate with him in the end zone.
•They’ve had lengthy yardage touchdowns to be called back…back-to-back…yet they’ve remained untouchable getting into the end zone and they run virtually the same speed play after play.
•I rewatch games over the weekend. Tyress threw an interception Friday. Tyress was also the one who ran across the field and down the sideline (past a few teammates) to make the tackle.
In a world where I’m sitting in my car at the school typing this while Michai is at practice, and a white lady who parked next to ME, has locked her car FIVE TIMES, and in a world where Black people still aren’t recognized as humans, I can’t miss an opportunity to shine light on a group of kids who make me, and so many others, proud. Proud as a people, proud as parents, proud as fans and proud to be a Spartan.
Fayetteville State, Shaw, Elizabeth City and Central have signed some outstanding young men. I will low-key cheer for them when they play WSSU, just as I low-key tear up every week as I watch the bond this team has.
🎵BLUE👏🏾AND👏🏾GOLD👏🏾MOUNT👏🏾TABOR👏🏾HIGH🎵
Oh, I asked the seniors to send me a picture, their post high school plans and a fun fact. Here is what 3 out of the 17 sent…
Jamari Slade (He’s #10 and is a remarkable defensive player. A Weddington player tried to decapitate him, IN FRONT OF THE REF, but a penalty was not called.)
I am attending Fayetteville State University to play football and major in computer science.
Justen Stafford, Jr. (#4 aka J-Roc. I knew him before he was born. Coaches have to keep him calm because he can absolutely back up what he says💁🏾♀️.)
Go to college, I’ve only given up 2 touchdowns since I’ve been on varsity.
Lance Simpson (The ONLY one to follow my instructions! Him saying he goes wild on the field is nothing but a FACT.)
#40
Will be attending Old Dominion University and majoring in marine biology
Fun fact: I’m very different off the field than on it. More quiet than when I’m on the field. On the field, I go wild.
