By: Kipp Branch

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

In sports, usually the leader is the coach, but sometimes certain players are appointed team leaders and must possess some of the same leadership characteristics as an effective coach.

Coaches and team leaders are typically respected by other team members not only for their sports skills and abilities but also for other qualities, such as responsibility, work ethic and attitude.

For the 2017 Brunswick High football team that team leader was Ty Hinson. Hinson started 31 games at center for the Pirates during his career, and some things I noticed during his career:

Led by example: Ty Hinson was a picture of this during his time at BHS. I noticed Hinson at all off-season workouts even when BHS was in a coaching transition. First in line at football drills, and always carried himself in a positive manner off the field.

Passion: You cannot fake passion in sports or life. I don’t know another kid off the top of my head that loves Brunswick High School more than Ty Hinson. That passion always showed up on Friday nights during football season.

Ability:  As I said earlier, Hinson made his first start in a playoff game in 2014 as a freshman and never left the starting line-up after that. That football ability was rewarded in February as Hinson signed a football scholarship to Valdosta State University.

Communication: Hinson played center and has great communication skills and his fellow offensive lineman depended on those communication skills every Friday. Hinson was a key piece in a record setting offense in 2017. The non-verbal communication skills are important as well. Hinson always seemed confident and poised when adversity hit, and his teammates took notice.

Will to Win: No person in the program wanted to win more than Ty Hinson. Hinson led a group of seniors to a 7-3 record in 2017, and got Brunswick High Football back on track after two tough seasons.

At 6’2 and now 275 pounds Hinson worked his tail off in the weight room to get bigger and stronger, and the younger kids in the program took notice and followed.

Hinson’s leadership skills were noticed early in his recreation football league days. His youth league coach State Court Judge Bart Altman said the following about Hinson, “Hinson is a natural born leader and he laid the foundation as an 11 year old for kids who followed him on the Red Death offensive line. I still talk about his leadership qualities to my current team and will do the same to future Red Death players. Hinson is a kid that will be a future leader in this country, and I’m proud to have coached him at an early age”.

Hinson’s principal Dr. Scott Spence added “Ty is a campus leader and anything he chooses to do in life will reflect positively on Brunswick High School”.

His football coach Sean Pender added “Ty was a leader in this program from day one when I arrived a year ago, and his leadership helped get our football program back on track last season. I’m going to miss him, but he’ll do well at VSU”.

Hinson comes from a family line of educators. His dad is a middle school principal and his mother an elementary school teacher. Ty is the role model of what a student athlete should be. Ty will graduate in May and head to Valdosta State and will have a solid career there. He will graduate from college and be a productive leader in society as an adult.

One lucky mom and dad will get the blessing of their life one day when their daughter brings Ty Hinson home to introduce him to the family.

Ty Hinson thank you for your commitment to Brunswick High School. You leave BHS football in a better place for others to follow.