Hines Ward Football Article

By the end of his senior year, Hines was being wooed by a Who’s Who of college football coaches, including Tom Osborne, Phillip Fulmer, Bobby Bowden, Lou Holtz and Ray Goff. He was also drafted by the Florida Marlins, who dangled a $25,000 bonus in front of him. Hines chose to go with Goff and the Georgia Bulldogs, so he could stay close to home.

Hines began his freshman year at Georgia in 1994. Although recruited as a quarterback, he was willing to do anything to earn playing time. During an early season practice, Terrell Davis injured himself and Goff asked Hines to sub in against the first-string defense. He took his first handoff for a 50-yard touchdown. Goff started him in the next game and he rumbled for 117 yards against Northeast Louisiana. Two weeks later, Hines gained 137 yards against Alabama. He also caught five passes that game, further opening eyes on the coaching staff.

Goff used Hines at tailback and wideout, getting him about 10 touches a game. Soon the freshman stopped practicing with the quarterbacks altogether. In all, he caught 11 passes as a frosh and gained 423 yards on 77 carries, often playing in the same backfield with Davis.

ON THE RISE

In 1995, Hines jammed his shoulder in spring practice, and his ascension to a starting role was in immediate jeopardy. Robert Edwards, a cornerback, moved to the tailback position and did a great job, relegating Hines to do-it-all backup duty once again. Hines wanted to play, so he volunteered to join a weak receiving corps. He caught five passes in the opener against South Carolina, but was moved into the backfield after Edwards was injured.

Then, prior to the Alabama game, Goff informed Hines that he would be starting at quarterback in place of injured Mike Bobo. The Crimson Tide had an awesome pass rush, and Hines had not taken a snap since freshman year. He tried to cram the week before the game, studying the playbook and watching films, but when the first play came in from the sideline that Saturday, Hines had no idea what it was. His first pass was picked off and he never found his rhythm. When Goff mercifully pulled him after a couple more series, Hines heard 85,000 fans booing him.

The soph spent the next game on the bench, and was ready to strangle Goff. He believed the coach had hung him out to dry, and was now punishing him for it. But with three games to go, and another backup QB on the trainer’s table, Hines got the call again. This time, he was ready. Playing in a spread shotgun system similar to the one he had mastered in high school, he passed for over 600 yards in one win and a pair of losses. Hines got the starting nod in the Peach Bowl and threw for an amazing 413 yards against Virginia, but came up on the short end of an exciting 34-27 game.

As Hines\'s football career began to take shape, his father began appearing at games. He had followed his son’s progress in high school with a subscription to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He showed up for a 1995 game vs. Mississippi and road games at Auburn and Mississippi State a year later. Hines suspected his dad was looking for money, but Hines Sr. was simply looking to rebuild their relationship.

The \'96 season found Hines with a new full-time position: receiver. Goff’s successor, Jim Donnan, liked what the junior could do for his offense, which needed a versatile receiver who sometimes lined up out wide, in the slot, or in the backfield. He also liked the fact that Hines was the first player to come see him. He told Donnan he would do whatever it took to help the Bulldogs.

Hines delivered a great performance with 52 receptions for 900 yards, and also ran 26 times for 170 yards. His understanding of defenses helped him get separation on his routes, and the quick feet he developed as a running back made up for a lack of raw speed and size.

In 1997, Hines blossomed into Georgia’s go-to guy. He was the team’s leader on and off the field, the player opponents feared and teammates respected. Double-teamed on virtually every play, he nonetheless hauled in 55 passes and scored six TDs, copping All-SEC honors in the process. Hines finished his college career as Georgia’s second all-time receiver with 144 receptions, and 3,870 total yards, which ranked second in Bulldogs history to Herschel Walker.