It's been over three years since I've graduated from high school and through my college years have brought me more fun and independence, I think I speak for most Yellow Jacket Alum when I say that one thing we miss going to the largest high school in Shreveport is Byrd football. There are many reasons we loved to be out there supporting our winners, but these five memories are some reasons that we will never forget Byrd football:

1. The Hive

I could have saved the best for last, but I think The Hive deserves the highest honorable mention. The Hive was the greatest place that you wanted to be, covered in your purple and gold. Screaming so loud until you lose your voice at the end of the night. The white-outs. The blackouts. The purple outs. The roller coaster. It was probably the only place where the variety of students could come together every Friday night as a whole. You could not only hear the spirit that the students held, but you could feel it once you saw them. We were legendary. The energy that The Hive held was really powerful.

2. Gator Hunting

The only time in my life I ever wore camo willingly. Byrd-Shreve Night was an extremely anticipated and loved tradition for years to come. The entire community knew of the famous rivalry game that we all looked forward to every fall. We all endured lots of blood, sweat, and tears. Winning was real. The competition was real. Going "gator hunting" was one of the top functions that we all looked forward to. The pep rally in the gym was louder than any other. The bright orange vests and hats were a necessity. If you weren't at the game before five, you didn't have a seat in The Hive.

3. Pep Rallies

The pep rallies were the best ways to end the school days on game days! Each class, uncomfortably squeezed together on those little bleachers, got to scream their heads off trying to win the spirit war (no competition because the seniors always won) and ratchet music played as we all danced terribly. The football players busted through their sign and the excited banter began. Badgley's speeches were much more appreciated in person... (Uh, Jackets... uh...) or were they? This was just something that we all enjoyed, coming together to pray and send all of our good vibes to the players before their big game. It was always a good time.

4. Carencro

My junior year, our football team played so well and was completely undefeated that we made it to state. I can't tell you how many times at a game, at a pep rally, or even in the halls that we would cheer, "State, state, state, state" (we literally had a T-shirt made because it was too real). This was such a huge milestone. We were finally going to state. We were finally going to represent Shreveport as one of the best football teams they had. We were head to head with Carencro. I listened to this game on the radio since I was not able to attend, and we were so close to bringing home that win. The devastation hit when they came back with a win of 34-21. We wanted so badly, more than anything, to finally win what we have been wanting and waiting for for so long. We deserved to win that game. Returning to school that following Monday, it was like someone had died. One of the hardest things for me to watch is men cry. And let me tell you, they cried. This memory isn't the happiest of memories. But no matter how hard it was, it made us stronger in the end. We did not fall apart.

5. The Alma Mater

Something besides the Hive and Byrd-Shreve Night that always brought us together was at the end of every pep rally and every game, all of the students and faculty gathered wherever we were standing to hold each other and sing our Alma Mater. It made us who we are. Byrd was a family and this was something that we did to show our love and support of our community and our school.

Win or lose, Byrd football was one of the greatest, if not the greatest reason to be a part of C.E. Byrd High School. There are so many memories that go above and beyond the ones I've remembered today. It's so important to never forget the stepping stones that shape you into the person you become. High school is just one of the steps to the beginning of your journey in life. Every Byrd Alumni has the honor and the privilege of being a part of the greatest family Shreveport ever had.

Always deep within our hearts, the purple and the gold.