Shannon Clark

If you ain't got anything nice to say, say it on Twitter?

[⚾RHS Baseball⚾ @ripleybaseball]

This is a link for the “KEEP SWINGING” tshirt in memory of Coach Joel Gafford! The store closes Monday May 26th and all proceeds go directly to the Gafford family.

https://t.co/yifPpDSYJJ

[Shannon Clark @OopsADaisy94]

@WMCActionNews5 After that video footage?! How?!!!😳

[Mississippi Sports @SocialSportsMs]

To a few generations of baseball loving boys in Ripley, Joel Gafford hung the moon. The next generation, kids just about to enter junior high or a little younger, they had “play for Gafford” on their bucket list.

Joel Gafford is the winningest baseball coach in Tippah County history. He was at Ripley for 15 years and there are students playing for the Tigers who have never known anything but the nicknames, quotes and program that Coach Gafford built.

There were more than a few times that Gafford and I talked about how the Tigers would graduate a big, successful class and everyone would write them off in the preseason the next year only for his Ripley squad to win a bunch of games, make the playoffs, win a district title. He would always credit that to the program that was in place more so than anything.

The sudden loss of someone who became synonymous with Ripley baseball gives the current Tigers returning next season a unique opportunity. You heartbreakingly won’t get to play for Coach Gafford next season but you will get to play FOR Coach Gafford. Meaning: you get to carry forward the program as a standard bearer for the next generation, a lofty expectation for high school students but one I know your coach prepared you for.

Excuses are for those who need them.

Eat breakfast. Go Tigers.

[Daily Journal Sports @DJournalSports]

If you've not heard by now, Ripley baseball coach Joel Gafford has passed away at the age of 40. He led the Tigers for 15 seasons and guided them to the Class 4A state finals last season. Rest easy, Coach. #djpreps

[Mississippi Sports @SocialSportsMs]

I’ve covered a lot of coaches over the years. It’s extremely rare that a coach stays in one place for more than a decade nowadays. It’s even more rare that those long time coaches have the universal respect and love from all of their former players.

Joel Gafford was one of those coaches.

He became synonymous with Ripley baseball.

He demanded the best from his guys but one thing was clear…those were HIS guys.

A prime example of that: the media swarmed Ty Long after his masterful pitching performances at the state championship final game, a tough loss for the Tigers. Gafford came up to Ty, put his arm around him, and was right there with him the whole time.

Me and Gafford would text and talk occasionally, about sports mostly. Over a decade+ of covering him, we became friendly. He thanked me for covering his Tigers, never wanted any credit for anything, and always said the program was bigger than him.

Thanks for all the baseball banquet invites and signing day heads up over the years Coach. I’ll miss the “eat breakfast. Go Tigers” Tweets and I’ll miss you.

[Ripley High School @RipleyHS]

In our grief over losing Coach Joel Gafford, our community has shown up with love and strength. To every counselor, minister, youth director, and friend who stood beside us this morning—thank you. Your compassion is carrying us forward. 💛
#RipleyStrong #CommunitySupport

[Mississippi Sports @SocialSportsMs]

Prayers for the Ripley community. They could definitely use them.

[Shannon Clark @OopsADaisy94]

@ReformedSlice @TMZ But how did the dog die?

[Shannon Clark @OopsADaisy94]

@OleMissNoProb Looks like David bet on the Chiefs 😁

[ᴄʜʀɪsᴛᴏᴘʜᴇʀ ᴀʀɴᴇʟʟ @MrChrisArnell]

Video by @IsaiahLCarter criticizes the Democrat Party for deceit, corruption, exploiting immigration for politics, labeling USAID as a money laundering operation, critiquing their use of identity politics, and expressing disillusionment while calling for electoral opposition. #politics #DemocraticParty #Corruption #Immigration #PoliticalFraud #IdentityPolitics #Disillusioned #FreeSpeech #Election #usaid

[Shannon Clark @OopsADaisy94]

@drizzyys I would say most people of a certain age, me included, wouldn’t even know about the beef between him & Drake. My son had to inform me. So just looking at it as a performance, I thought it was really good. He sounded great, I liked the red, white & blue theme, & the dancing was🙌🏼

[Shannon Clark @OopsADaisy94]

@JonCovering 🤣😂🤣💀

[Popmemes by Jon 🚀 @JonCovering]

Ice Ice Baby 🎶

[⚾RHS Baseball⚾ @ripleybaseball]

Finished product! Thank you for supporting our boys so we can keep our facilities top of the line.

[Ole Miss Football @OleMissFB]

REBS TAKE DOWN NO. 2 GEORGIA ‼️

[Alex Stein #99 @alexstein99]

30,000 People were mad as hell once Beyonce left the Kamala Rally without performing…total bait & switch operation

[Shannon Clark @OopsADaisy94]

🤡🤡🤡

[MAZE @mazemoore]

Kamala has now pulled the Beyoncé scam twice on her supporters. 😂

[Ole Miss Football @OleMissFB]

That's a Rebel DUB 💪

[Shannon Clark @OopsADaisy94]

@youngfollowill HOTTY TODDY!!! But also, who knows how this game is gonna go. 🤪🫣