OSU coach makes plea to all-stars

Hinton stresses ability to make good decisions

Ohio State assistant football coach Tim Hinton addressed a group of recently graduated high school football players at Steinecker Stadium in Perrysburg.

Ohio State University assistant football coach Tim Hinton presented a passionate speech to a group of young players that was equal parts lecture and pep talk on Tuesday.

Hinton addressed a group of recently graduated high school football players at Steinecker Stadium in Perrysburg.

Hinton, the Buckeyes’ tight ends and fullbacks coach, told the young players to manage life experiences with a competitive spirit.

Hinton referenced quotes from Ohio State coach Woody Hayes and radio legend Paul Harvey to a group of former prep standouts who will play in the annual Northwest Ohio Regional All-Star Football Game on Friday.

“You’re leaving high school and you’re moving … you have a lot of journeys you will take on,” Hinton said. “Life is going to have challenges. It’s OK to experience some things. It’s OK to fall off a bike and get a bloody knee. You have to get back on the bike and go again.”

Hinton stressed to the players to have no “what ifs” in life.

“Don’t look back at something you did and say, ‘What if? What if I had worked really hard?,’ ” Hinton said. “Don’t be the ‘what if’ guy. Don’t put yourself in that situation.”

Lake graduate Jacob Hankish, an offensive lineman who will play at Heidelberg University, said Hinton “had a lot of purpose behind what he said.”

“What really stood out is just making good choices in life,” Hankish said. “There are a lot of things you could do and a lot of what ifs, but it’s better to not have any doubt and do the right thing.”

David Matolyak, the president of the Perrysburg athletic boosters that organize the all-star event, said Hinton offered the players one last pep talk.

Hinton spent 14 seasons as a high school coach in Ohio. He coached at Marion Harding for 11 seasons and led the program to five state playoff berths from 1993-2003. He was named the 1995 Division I co-Coach of the Year. He also coached at Zane Trace (1987-88) and Van Wert (1989).

Hinton spent three seasons as running backs coach at Cincinnati under current Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio. This will be his second season at Ohio State.

Hinton told the players to avoid the dangers of social media.

“Pause before you hit send,” he said. “Once you’ve said it, you’ve said it for a lifetime. Employers pull up your Facebook and Twitter.”

Hinton said the Ohio State coaching staff recently dropped interest in a potential major recruit because of his offensive use of social media.

“The things on his Twitter were awful,” Hinton said. “He is disrespectful to women, and his language is awful. We decided not to recruit this kid and he is a big timer. So be smart men.”

Hinton also told the players to avoid being an “energy vampire.”

“It’s the guy who doesn’t have anything positive to say and [complains] about everything. Don’t suck good energy out of the room,” he said.

Hinton said he was lucky and blessed to help lead the Buckeyes to a 12-0 record last season.

“We work harder than everyone else in America. It is really hard to play ball at Ohio State,” he said.

Hinton also stressed an alcohol and drug-free lifestyle. “Drugs will not enhance your life,” he said.

Hinton also referenced the recent arrest of one his players, freshman tight end Marcus Baugh, who pleaded not guilty to charges of underage drinking on Monday.

“We work really hard at Ohio State, but we make mistakes. We had one recently ... ,” Hinton said. “But we work really hard to educate.”

Contact Mark Monroe at: mmonroe@theblade.com, 419-724-6354 or on Twitter @MonroeBlade.