It was the kind of day Virgil Starks loved. The air was crisp and the autumn sun was shining at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
It was November 8, 2008. Senior Day.
In keeping with tradition, the plan for the pre-game recognition was for senior football players to emerge from the tunnel as their names were called. They would jog onto the field, receive a keepsake football from the head coach and then hug family members there waiting for them on the field.
Only this time, two seniors had nobody to hug.
Their parents couldn't make it for one reason or another.