A couple good ways to honor Tyler Hilinski

After the tragic loss of Cougar quarterback Tyler Hilinski, people from all over the Cougar community have reached with support and love for the Hilinski family. A couple of folks put out some good suggestions to honor Tyler that I would like to share.

First, Jon Wilner of the San Jose Mercury News has a creative way for the Pac-12 to honor Hilinski by naming an award after him to celebrate his greatest athletic accomplishment at WSU.

His most memorable performance at WSU came against Boise State early last season, when he replaced Falk and led the Cougars back from a 21-point deficit midway through the fourth quarter. They won in triple overtime, on Hilinski’s third touchdown pass of the remarkable game.

Which got the Hotline thinking …

When the situation settles — and if the Cougars, the conference and the Hilinski family deemed it appropriate — the Pac-12 could create an award in his honor:

The Tyler Hilinski Comeback Performance of the Year, given to the quarterback that orchestrates the greatest comeback each season.

Secondly I saw a some nice suggestions from recent WSU graduate Ian Korzeniecki on twitter. A couple of great ways to pay tribute to the life of the young quarterback:

First offensive snap in game one against Wyoming I hope we line up without a QB. Like Nebraska with their punter who passed away. 3s on all of our helmets. And senior day 2019 Tyler’s family walks out on to the field.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Hilinski family. I have some idea what they’re going through having lost my brother at age 16 and wouldn’t wish it on anyone. I can tell you the sadness never quite goes away, but things get better with time and healing. The best thing we can do now is honor his memory and support the family in any way we can.

Football

Larry Stone: Bob Robertson’s interview of Keith Jackson was filled with emotion, mutual respect | The Spokesman-Review
Bob Robertson, the immortal (and eternal) Bob-Rob, voice of WSU for decades, was interviewing Jackson, who honed and nurtured his own legendary announcing career as an undergraduate in Pullman. They were a mere four months apart in age – 86 at that time – and to Robertson, it felt in some ways like a valedictory.

Take it from me, WSU athlete’s death is a reminder that help is available | The Seattle Times
Washington State quarterback Tyler Hilinski shocked the state and saddened the country Tuesday when he apparently took his own life. I don’t know what Hilinski was experiencing before his death. What I’m positive about, however, is that it was preventable.

As Pullman mourns, police work to determine motive of Tyler Hilinski’s death | The Seattle Times
A makeshift memorial for Hilinski has sprouted near Martin Stadium, and police have begun interviewing friends and people who knew him to try to determine why the 21-year-old quarterback took his own life.