Although Wayne Madkin had not seen C.J. Sirmones in several years, the news he heard Wednesday was hard for him to handle.
Sirmones, a former Mississippi State football tight end, was killed Tuesday in Five Points, Tennessee. Madkin was Sirmones’ teammate at MSU from 1997-99.
“He was a great person, nice and thoughtful,” Madkin said. “Everybody on the team really wanted C.J. to succeed in life. He was a great teammate. Everybody on the team got along with him and he had a lot of friends. He played at a young age and he fit right in. It’s very unfortunate.”
According to a Lawrence County (Tenn.) Sheriff’s Department press release, deputies were dispatched to the area after a call about a shooting. When they arrived, Yancey Williams said he shot Simrones during an argument. Sirmones was found on the porch and had suffered a fatal gunshot wound. Sirmones was 36.
Williams, 30, was arrested and charged with second degree murder. He is being held at the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department under a $400,000 secure bond.
Former Bulldog quarterback and radio color analyst Matt Wyatt was also a teammate of Sirmones’.
“C.J. was a good teammate,” Wyatt said. “He made several important game-changing catches for us in 1999 and MSU fans will always remember him being wide open for the tying touchdown in the Egg Bowl that year. I wish I could’ve seen him and spoken with him again.”
Sirmones catch in the 1999 Egg Bowl against in-state rival Ole Miss is his most memorable moment. The Bulldogs trailed 20-13 with 38 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Standing at the Ole Miss 38 yard line, quarterback Madkin took the snap and initially went to his left. He eventually rolled right, the side Sirmones was on.
Madkin heaved it down field and found Sirmones wide open on the 15 yard line. He cruised into the end zone and the Bulldogs tied it at 20 with 27 seconds remaining, MSU went on to win 23-20 on a 44-yard Scott Westerfield field goal at the end of regulation.
“C.J. was creative enough to stay with the play,” Madkin said. “He didn’t give up on the play. Most players, when they see the ball not going their direction, they kind of slack off and don’t finish the play. C.J. was creative enough to stay with me during my progression.”
Sirmones is the second former Bulldog to be killed in the last two weeks. Former wide receiver Chris Smith was shot and killed in his hometown of Meridian July 15.
Sirmones finished the 1999 season with 10 receptions for 137 yards and two touchdowns. He transferred before the 2000 season.
“Once a Bulldog, always a Bulldog. He’s part of the family. He’s part of Bulldog history,” Madkin said.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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