Texas A&M fans planning tribute to late brother of South Carolina QB Ryan Hilinski
South Carolina quarterback Ryan Hilinski has a powerful story of strength and perseverance in the midst of personal tragedy. Hilinski’s older brother, Tyler, a quarterback at Washington State, took his own life in January 2018.
Out of that tragedy came Hilinski’s Hope, an organization started by the Hilinski family to raise awareness of mental illness among student-athletes. And to honor the life of Tyler Hilinski, South Carolina fans have held up 3 fingers in the 3rd quarter of each home game this year, with “3” being his uniform number.
The practice has spread among many of South Carolina’s opponents this year, and now a movement among Texas A&M fans to do the same during the Aggies’ game against the Gamecocks has risen on social media and been backed by Texas A&M athletic director Ross Bjork.
https://twitter.com/RossBjorkAD/status/1195112828958642176
While the Aggies and Gamecocks will be facing off against each other on the gridiron, some things are much bigger than football. Watching opposing fanbases come alongside Ryan Hilinski and his family in the wake of his brother’s death has made for one of the great stories in college football this year.
Man I dont want to be that guy but good grief. I think the kid has gotten enough attention, because he played football and killed himself we have to constantly recognize him. How about you recognize the men and women who’ve fought for your country and taking their own life… Sorry to be so blunt I just dont see why every SC game this has to come up.
This is just one of many foundations/ causes we can all support as a community. A team, family, school, and sport as a whole are coming together despite a tragedy. Proud to see movements such as these.
You are misunderstanding the foundation. They are doing EXACTLY what you have asked for. The foundation isn’t about one player, it’s for mental health awareness and is designed to help ALL people struggling with depression, including Veterans.
Why can’t we honor both? Why must it be one or the other. That sure is a very narrow view and very small minded. Having one of my degrees from U of SC, I am proud that one of my schools is shining a bright light on mental health issues and that other schools are following along. That’s not just college athletes that it shines the light on, but ALL people who need mental health support. You must not see because you are so short sighted.
If SC is ahead at the start of the 3rd qtr, will they cancel it like Georgia did?
Georgia: yeah, we will do it, we are classy.
3rd qtr: losing
Georgia: screw that, we aren’t doing it