Georgia fans planning to honor Hilinski’s Hope when South Carolina comes to Athens
By Keith Farner
Published:
Georgia fans will join in on a movement that appears to be moving across the SEC.
When South Carolina and its quarterback, Ryan Hilinski, play in Sanford Stadium on Saturday, the Bulldog faithful plan to raise three fingers at the start of the third quarter to honor Hilinski’s late brother, Tyler, who committed suicide in early 2018. The gesture has been done at Williams-Brice Stadium this season as Hilinski himself often raises three fingers, especially after touchdowns, to honor Tyler’s number when he played at Washington State.
The Hilinski family has started an organization, “Hilinski’s Hope,” to raise awareness and end the stigma about mental illness, especially as it relates to student athletes.
“Forever to Three” is a slogan often heard and seen around the South Carolina program.
Georgia fans, of course, made national headlines earlier this season for honoring another opponent as Arkansas State coach Blake Anderson’s wife’s memory was remembered on the field and in the stands. She died this past summer after a battle with breast cancer.
Wow! This is amazing @UGAAthletics! We’ll be there Saturday raising our 3 fingers to the sky alongside you. Together we will raise awareness, end the stigma attached to mental illness and help support our student athletes and their mental wellness❤️❤️❤️ https://t.co/amTWLC1HXe
— Hilinski’s Hope (@HilinskisHope) October 9, 2019
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
