WATCH: Fans at Williams-Brice Stadium deliver touching tribute in honor of Tyler Hilinski
By Keith Farner
Published:
South Carolina fans organized a touching tribute in support of the Hilinski family immediately after halftime of the Alabama-South Carolina game. The organic movement gathered steam earlier this week following the gesture by QB Ryan Hilinski to motion three fingers toward the sky after a touchdown last week.
The crowd at Williams-Brice Stadium, both Crimson Tide and Gamecock fans, raised three fingers in support of mental wellness awareness and Hilinski’s Hope, a non-profit organization started by the Hilinski family following the suicide death last year of Ryan’s brother Tyler, a Washington State quarterback.
It was a striking scene as the packed stadium was quiet during the tribute, which came at the start of the third quarter.
ESPN’s “College GameDay” aired an emotional feature about the family, who have all moved to Columbia in order to support Ryan, who by all indications is mature beyond his years. Football appears to be an emotional outlet for him, as he feels closer to Tyler when he’s on the gridiron.
South Carolina and Alabama fans raise 3 fingers in support of mental wellness awareness and @HilinskisHope. pic.twitter.com/VmShJYTisw
— Josh Hyber (@JoshHyberUSC) September 14, 2019
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
