'Just wholesome love': More than football for Preston brothers in Mississippi State vs Alabama

STARKVILLE — Shawn Preston was sitting in the stands at Bryant-Denny Stadium last year, watching as his youngest son Shazz roamed the Alabama football sideline. With his older son Shawn Preston Jr. already on the field for Mississippi State, he hoped the freshman would get a chance to play.

Finally − as Alabama’s 30-6 win against Mississippi State was winding down − Shazz checked in. Shawn Preston watched while recording on his phone as a play concluded and Shazz stepped in front of his older brother.

Immediately, Shawn Preston Jr. screamed and jumped onto his brother’s shoulders.

“The moment was very, very wholesome,” Shawn Preston said. “All the family and friends back home that know Shawn (Preston Jr.) know that it wasn’t something that was made up. That was his true, genuine reaction.”

A viewer caught a glimpse of the interaction between the brothers from St. James, Louisiana, on ESPN’s broadcast and shared it on social media. The clip quickly went viral, providing a reminder of a special bond set to be on display again Saturday (8 p.m., ESPN) as Mississippi State (2-2, 0-2 SEC) welcomes Alabama (3-1, 1-0) to Davis Wade Stadium.

“That’s one of the things people that people can still appreciate. Just wholesome love,” Shawn Preston said. “I think it was more of that with the video going viral than anything – people just looking for something feel-good to see and watch.”

Preston brothers embracing patience of football

Maybe the lone interactions between the brothers on Saturday will be before or after the game. Shazz is a redshirt freshman on a team with national title aspirations, and he’s competing for playing time. If anyone understands the importance of patience, it’s his older brother.

Shawn Preston Jr. is in his sixth season at MSU and made just one start across his first two years. He’s since become the leader of a secondary that lost four starters in the offseason.

“Shazz has got something that maybe some others don’t have,” Shawn Preston said. “He’s been able to watch his brother’s journey. He knows what perseverance does. He knows about ups and downs. He knows about climbing from the bottom of the depth chart to the top of the depth chart. He knows about not being talked about to all of a sudden becoming a household name because he’s been able to witness that with his brother rather than somebody just telling him a story.”

If Shazz doesn’t see the field Saturday, it won’t take away from the magnitude of the moment for Shawn Preston and his wife Lori. Having their sons in SEC uniforms is plenty to be proud of.

“There’s some anxiety in it because you want both kids to do well and you want both teams to do well,” Shawn Preston said. “But when it’s all said and done, only one person can win. The calming mechanism is going back to looking at the big picture. That’s the celebration of having two boys that have accomplished such a thing as playing Division I football at the same time.”

Shawn Preston Jr. expresses gratitude for parents

The Preston parents try to make it to as many games as possible. If there’s an early game in Starkville and a late kickoff in Tuscaloosa, or vice versa, they’ll make both trips. If there’s a situation such as last week where MSU is at South Carolina and Alabama is at home, they’ll split up.

It can be exhausting, but it doesn’t take much for it to be worthwhile. After Mississippi State’s loss at South Carolina, Shawn Preston Jr. – who didn’t play in the first half due to a targeting suspension − told his mom he was glad she came. That was enough for her.

“I’m eternally grateful for them,” Shawn Preston Jr. said. “I’m not going to lie, I play so hard mostly for them because of all the sacrifices that they’ve made. I really show my gratitude through my game for them.”

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The Prestons are expecting about 25-30 relatives and friends to be in the stands Saturday. Before the game, they’ll host a Louisiana-style tailgate. Having two sons on opposing SEC sidelines is more than a viral clip for the Preston family, and they plan on celebrating accordingly.

“We realize that we’re part of a select group of families that ever get a chance to do something like this,” Shawn Preston said. “We don’t take it for granted.”

Stefan Krajisnik is the Mississippi State beat writer for the Clarion Ledger. Contact him at skrajisnik@gannett.com or follow him on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter, @skrajisnik3. 

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Mississippi State vs Alabama football: Preston brothers face off