Gators struggle to raise ring money

Published 12:00 am Friday, May 16, 2003

[5/16/2003] It has been more than two months since Vicksburg High won the state basketball championship, and the team still doesn’t have its rings.

VHS has not raised the money needed to pay for its championship rings each costing $468.

George Carr donated a car from his dealership to raffle off as a way for the team to raise the near $10,000.

Email newsletter signup

Sign up for The Vicksburg Post's free newsletters

Check which newsletters you would like to receive
  • Vicksburg News: Sent daily at 5 am
  • Vicksburg Sports: Sent daily at 10 am
  • Vicksburg Living: Sent on 15th of each month

To help pay for the more than $2,000 remaining, the Vicksburg players will face members of the 1980 VHS championship team Saturday at 7 p.m. at Vicksburg Junior High.

“If other community members were to get involved like Mr. Carr, it wouldn’t be any problem to get these rings,” Vicksburg basketball coach Dellie Robinson said.

Robinson said many people don’t realize the players have had to make a down payment out of their pockets on the rings.

“Overall, I think people are happy, but when it comes to financing, a lot of people think the school board pays for these rings,” he said. “And they don’t really understand the whole situation.”

Vicksburg Warren School District Superintendent Donald Oases said the board is not able contribute money to the school for rings.

“We can’t do that,” he said. “The law does not allow us. In the past, the district has never given out rings when Warren Central won in ’88 and ’94, and the numerous soccer championships.”

Matthew Williams of Williams Funeral Services has taken it upon himself to hold a banquet for the VHS players tonight at 6 p.m. at Maxwell’s Restaurant.

Williams thinks the players have not received the attention they deserve.

“This is something good that happened for the city and nothing has been made of it,” he said. “How can you expect these kids to succeed in life when no acknowledgement has been made of what they did.”

Vicksburg Police Lt. Walter Beamon has spearheaded the campaign, helping to organize both the game and the banquet.

He said the players have earned a little pampering.

“I’ve watched them struggle all season, and they’re winners,” Beamon said. “They played as a team and really impressed me.”

The Gators went through the entire season unranked before making a dramatic run through the state tournament.

The run culminated in a victory over top-ranked and nationally ranked Starkville in overtime for the Class 5A title.