Saturdays in the fall are for college football. One of the most exciting games to watch this season was a tough SEC matchup between the juggernaut Alabama Crimson Tide and the talented South Carolina Gamecocks. It was your usual Saturday afternoon college football game—until it wasn’t. The third quarter was marked by a touching tribute to former Washington State quarterback Tyler Hilinksi,who died by suicide in January of 2018. There was a remarkable shift in the mood at Williams-Brice Stadium, as people from both sides came together in support of mental health awareness and the Hilinksi family, especially Tyler’s younger brother, Ryan, who was starting quarterback for South Carolina. The third quarter was carefully chosen to mark this moment: number three was Tyler’s jersey when he played for Washington State. It is now the number that Ryan also wears. 
This tribute occurred during National Suicide Awareness Month and five days after World Suicide Prevention Day. The idea was first suggested by South Carolina cheerleader Gabrielle Comeau, and was then endorsed (and reposted) by Hilinksi’s Hope, the mental health organization created in Tyler’s memory, that aims to help save lives by bringing conversations about suicide and mental health out of the shadows. Thousands of strangers came together in solidarity with the Hilinksi family, and it is moments like this that remind us of the compassionate impact sports can have on the world.
One of our flawless friends who was at the game shared:
“You could feel the emotion in the silence as everyone held up three fingers. It was very moving and just amazing to see Alabama and South Carolina fans come together to honor the Hilinski family and recognize mental health awareness.”
It didn’t matter what the scoreboard said—everyone left a winner.
If you or someone you know needs help, call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline 24 hours a day at 1-800-273-8255.
