Paul Sorensen: How best to acknowledge Tyler Hilinski this fall?
COUGFANCOM
WHEN WASHINGTON STATE takes the field this season, a decal of Tyler Hilinski’s number 3 will be on the back of every Cougar’s helmet. Many players also will no doubt have the number Sharpied on their arms, towels and wrist bands. And at home games, the goose-bump inducing “We Always Find Our Way Back Home” video will be augmented to include highlights of Tyler’s magical work against Boise State.
Should WSU do more to acknowledge that the guy who should be leading the offense in 2018 is, tragically, no longer with us?
I raise the question for two reasons. First, because I’ve actually been thinking about this for months and would love to hear what you, the people who fuel Cougar Nation, might think is appropriate (head to the premium forum or football board to share thoughts). And second, to float an idea by you that struck me in a powerful way the first time I ever saw it in a game and one that has gained recent currency, relative to Tyler, on Twitter: the missing man formation.
Here’s how it would work: On the first offensive series at the first home game (Sept. 8 against San Jose State), 10 of the Cougars’ offensive starters would line up as normal. But the quarterback position would be left vacant. The Cougars don’t snap the ball and take a delay of game penalty and San Jose State, on agreement ahead of time, would decline the penalty. And if my rulebook acumen is lacking, who cares, talk with the officiating crew ahead of time to figure out how to make it all work.
Regardless how you get there, the poignant and powerful message is clear: Tyler, we miss you, we love you, and we will preserve your incredible spirit and friendship by working to illuminate the stigma associated with mental illness.
In 2016, I remember Nebraska coming out with a missing man formation the first time they had to punt in their home opener. They lined up with 10 men in what effectively was a national moment of silence for Sam Foltz, their punter who had been killed in a car accident that summer along with Michigan State’s Mike Sadler. I found this to be one of the most touching and classy acts I’ve ever seen in college football.
