The high school mascot was the yellowjacket
most aggressive of insects whose bite and sting can kill.

It was the 1972 Mississippi State championship game
and Tyrone Gibson was about to throw the winning touchdown pass.

The ball was snapped and he moved to avoid the tackle.
Like a slow-motion picture “He stood there in trace chains…

Then the whole beautiful blue black sky, fell on his back.”
His own team members let the other team pile on him.

There were rumors of fists being thrown, jaws being broken
ribs being cracked and noses bloodied.

When he revived, he was never the same, his injuries lost him
his college scholarship and he never played again.