South Carolina's Upset of Georgia Underscores a Poignant Day for the Hilinski Family
Sports Illustrated
The Hilinski family departed their hotel on Saturday for Sanford Stadium two hours before kickoff. They banked left on Broad Street, then hung a right into the perfectly manicured, sun-kissed, tree-lined campus at the University of Georgia. They strolled past ticket scalpers and barbecue pits and stands selling boiled peanuts and tents cooling kegs at 10 a.m. They shouted greetings to fellow South Carolina fans. They did everything they could to tamper their emotions, to not stress over the day, the game or the season. To not dwell on the son they lost and how he died.
That was impossible, of course. Not only would their youngest, Ryan Hilinski, make his fifth start for the Gamecocks, but he would do so as a true freshman—and against the mighty Georgia Bulldogs, the nation’s third-ranked team and some 25-point favorites. Beyond that, Ryan’s arm strength, his verve and his jersey number, 3, would forever remind the family of their middle son, Tyler, a Washington State quarterback who died by suicide in January 2018.
As the stadium came into view, Mark Hilinski, the family patriarch, waxed excitedly about his drum set. For months after Tyler passed, he could not bring himself to play. Then the family moved with Ryan to South Carolina, buying a house on Lake Murray, starting a massive renovation. They remained together for dual and related purposes: to remember Tyler by raising money and awareness for their foundation, Hilinski’s Hope; and to support Ryan in his dream, which was also Tyler’s dream, using the same plan they had designed but never implemented to assist Tyler at WSU. One afternoon after moving, Mark grabbed his sticks and started pounding. Sometimes, he’d break down halfway through his practice set. Other times, he says, “It’s fun to just beat s--- up.”
