Mayfield rallies around senior captain

Tiggs’ father drowned over weekend in Florida; players, coaches express support

The Mayfield football team took part in its first scrimmage Aug. 7, but their minds were somewhere else.

Missing from the scrimmage with Kirtland and Notre Dame Cathedral Latin was senior captain Tyler Tiggs, who remains in Florida with his family after his father, Tyrone, drowned over the weekend while the family was on vacation.

Tiggs, a 6-foot, 210-pound linebacker, posted about the tragedy on social media.

“Today had to be one of the toughest days of my life,” he wrote on his Twitter handle @ tyty_tiggs. “I lost my father right in front of me while me and my family were on vacation. I will do my best to continue to keep his legacy alive and everythin I do wll be in his honor. Love You Dad I’ll make you proud. #RIPDAD”

Mayfield senior running back Jamir Nunley said he and his teammates are dedicating the season to Tiggs’ father and will welcome Tiggs back with open arms when he returns to the field.

“I’ve texted with him, and I told him that I love him and I’m here for him,” Nunley said. “We’ll all be here for him. We’re definitely playing this season for him.”

Mayfield coach Ross Bandiera has raved all summer about the dedication, leadership and work ethic of Tiggs, who has a number of Division II college football offers.

Bandiera said, “with his leadership, ability and total package off the field, someone is going to get a good one and someone is going to be losing out on him, that’s for sure.”

But Bandiera said the happenings of this weekend are much more important than the game of football.

“I don’t think it’s anything you could ever prepare for or imagine,” he said of a player losing his father. “We talked to the kids about it already, and many have reached out to

him. Whenever he is ready to come back, we’ll be here for him and knowing him, I’m sure he’ll use it as fuel for the season.”

Tiggs confirmed that with a follow-up post on Twitter, saying, “I promised you I was gone be on TV playing on Saturdays and I’m gone fulfill that dream.”

Mayfield junior defensive

lineman Marco Tramontano got tears in his eyes thinking about what his friend and teammate was going through.

He said football will be part of the healing process for Tiggs.

“The first time I heard, I was stunned,” Tramontano said. “When I think about it, I think of what would

happen if it was my dad. I can’t imagine what he’s going through right now.

“I think the healing will start here,” he continued, pointing to the Mayfield football field. “This is where he lives. We’ll be here for him through this healing process step-by-step. He’s our brother. I can’t go on without him.”