Just another fun night of SEC football on Saturday, September 15, 2018?
Well, not exactly.
Although #14 ranked Mississippi State won easily 56-10 over Louisiana Lafayette at home to run its record to 3-0, there was much more to the evening than just another Bulldogs’ win.
Beloved softball player Alex Wilcox, who passed away in June from ovarian cancer, was honored at the football game in multiple ways including the retiring of her #8 which will never be worn again as an MSU softball jersey number.
Here, through twitter posts, is the telling of the events leading up to the game and halftime tribute courtesy of the HailStateSB twitter feed. Kudos also to Hail State Productions for the beautiful videos produced in Alex’s honor… #NoOneFightsAlone
And, heads up, you may well want to have a tissue or two handy…
*****
In preparation for the MSU football game, Alex’s logo and number were placed on the Bulldog helmets (video):
On Saturday, we fight for more than just Mississippi State.
In memory of one of our own, and in support of those whose battles with ovarian cancer continue. Today and every day, we fight for Alex Wilcox, because #NoOneFightsAlone. pic.twitter.com/5YsHHNgffB
— Mississippi State Football (@HailStateFB) September 14, 2018
The football team ran onto the field with the Alex-inspired banner “No One Fights Alone:”
Today, tomorrow, forever, we fight for you Alex Wilcox, because #NoOneFightsAlone. pic.twitter.com/T4PGX5yDeO
— Mississippi State Football (@HailStateFB) September 16, 2018
And then the halftime tribute that said it all (video):
A night we will never forget, for a special angel we will always remember.
Forever 8️⃣#HailState🐶 | #NoOneFightsAlone💙 pic.twitter.com/R43vuiH5Oq
— Mississippi State Softball (@HailStateSB) September 16, 2018
You must be loved so much when 17 of your former coaches and teammates gets a tatto0 to honor and remember you (video):
"When it felt like we couldn't move on or that maybe she's gone, but we get these tattoos. We can carry through with all of this. She's still here. She's going to be here. She's always here. She's our guardian angel."#NoOneFightsAlone💙 | #HailState🐶 pic.twitter.com/nYe2aRWpFF
— Mississippi State Softball (@HailStateSB) September 17, 2018
Finally, a beautiful tribute from Team USA member Gwen Svekis:
To me, butterflies are symbols of fighters and angels in my life. Today, I came out to the field to get a pic celebrating @HailStateSB & Alex and this angel landed about 5 feet from me🦋Hi Alex, nice to meet you #GeauxTeal pic.twitter.com/I2FSLEEOkc
— Gwen Svekis (@g_svekis) September 14, 2018