I just wished Ryan Hilinski could have stuck it out here.

[world famous 3rd base hecklers]

I think he made up his mind along before the season ended and before Beamer showed up to have a good long talk. Somehow, I think Mike Bobo got ahold of Ryan's ear and got him to transfer while he was left to take care of the team.

5 things to know about the Northwestern transfer quarterback Ryan Hilinski, including his time in the high school choir and tenure at South Carolina

For the third time in four years, Northwestern football coach Pat Fitzgerald has snagged a transfer quarterback. Former South Carolina quarterback Ryan Hilinski announced Tuesday he is taking his t…

www.chicagotribune.com

 

[GarnetBeamer]

Mike Bobo is one of the worst things to ever happen to Gamecock football.

 

[gamecocks94]

I think the majority of us feel that way. I don't remember the order the way things played out after the season, but he left before Bobo did right? I know if he was still here, I would feel much better about our QB situation than I currently do.

 

[GoCocksFight2021]

Why would he listen to Bobo, the guy that benched him?

 

[GarnetBeamer]

Why would he listen to Bobo, the guy that benched him?

Bobo essentially benched him before he ever met him. I don't know how Hilinski will fare up at NW or how he would have panned out here, but Bobo was publicly criticizing Hilinski's play without ever even having met the kid. It's just poor taste.

Bobo just didn't like Hilinksi. That much became obvious. Water under the bridge now.

 

[Horseshoe 04]

A lot of concerns with our "coaching" situation while he was here. Doubt that there are even a few who could have flourished. He will always have more career wins here than Colin Hill. I hope he plays well.

 

[Horseshoe 04]

Why would he listen to Bobo, the guy that benched him?

Why did USC, listen to Bobo............ very glad he is not here

 

[GarnetBeamer]

Why did USC, listen to Bobo............ very glad he is not here

ha...some thought he deserved a serious look to be hired as HC.

 

[coolcock2001]

Hire Bobo, lose Ryan. It was that simple unfortunately

 

[GarnetBeamer]

RH would have stood a good chance here because we got rid of the QB destroyer. Ever since WM walked into USC he destroyed one QB's confidence after another. This is really odd considering he was a defensive coach. But the numbers don't lie. He had two guys at UF, Brissett & Driskel that couldn't get it done there who are currently in the NFL.

I was hopeful he might come back from the portal after Bobo quit in disgrace.

 

[TheReelEss]

Hire Bobo, lose Ryan. It was that simple unfortunately

Not that I disagree, but I think Beamer said some things about the style of offense he wanted here that didn't sound like RH's style.

 

[GarnetBeamer]

Not that I disagree, but I think Beamer said some things about the style of offense he wanted here that didn't sound like RH's style.

That played a role, I'm sure. If Hilinski had been an entrenched starter, I'm certain he would have stayed. But as he'd wasted a year of his life "playing" for Bobo and with the free transfer and new style of offense coming in, he probably just took the chance to start over somewhere else.

 

[chief2791]

Wish the kid well. He had some highs and lows here. When Bentley went down, he was next man up and probably over his head a bit, but performed well enough.

I just don't know if he would have been the long term answer to our QB room. We normally don't have an elite line, so our QB is going to have to be a bit mobile, which Hilinski isn't. I think long term a Doty-type is what we need. Was RH a better option than Hill? I'm sure any sane fan would say yes, and he should have gotten more of a shot last year, but for some reason (Muschamp/Bobo) that didn't happen.

There were also rumors (never substantiated) that there were locker room issues with him, showing up late for practices, etc., which can't happen if you're going to be the QB. That may have been part of the reason he didn't get more of a shot.

At the end of the day, I thank him for his time here, and hope that he has a successful career at Northwestern.

 

[uscwatson21]

Bobo essentially benched him before he ever met him. I don't know how Hilinski will fare up at NW or how he would have panned out here, but Bobo was publicly criticizing Hilinski's play without ever even having met the kid. It's just poor taste.

Bobo just didn't like Hilinksi. That much became obvious. Water under the bridge now.

It’s amazing how people can convince themselves of things.

Why would Bobo have any reason to just not like someone?

 

[GarnetBeamer]

It’s amazing how people can convince themselves of things.

Why would Bobo have any reason to just not like someone?

I don't purport to know the inner workings of the man's mind. All I can speak to is what was publicly known.

 

[gr8spur]

What if...? As Gamecock fans we are well acquainted with traveling that road. I share some of the same wonderings as expressed above. I do wish he had stayed. We would certainly be in better shape so far as depth and experience are concerned. Having said that, I do like Doty. I know a lot of you are worried about his ability to be the guy, but I'm really hoping he turns into a scrappy, truly dual-threat QB. I'd love to see him get us back on track this year with a 6-7 win campaign. I suppose we'll know soon enough. Only two months!

 

[coolcock2001]

Why would Bobo have any reason to just not like someone?

Cause he wasn't Colin Hill, who was always gonna start once he came here with Bobo.

People cried about Bentley starting unfairly because his "deddy" was on the staff -- the real nepotism was Bobo and Hill. But I'm sure he made that clear to Muschamp when he left Colo St, if I leave here I'm bringing my guy and using him.

 

[goldengamecock]

Not sure Bobo was the only problem. Don't think he has SEC skills.

 

[andersoncountycock]

Mike Bobo is one of the worst things to ever happen to Gamecock football.

Muschamp then Bobo

 

[GarnetBeamer]

Muschamp then Bobo

What could go wrong with a twice-failed head coach hiring another failed head coach as OC?

 

[lexgamecock]

Mike Bobo is one of the worst things to ever happen to Gamecock football.

I think I'd put King Dixson, Brad Scott, Will Muschamp and Ray Tanner ahead of him.

 

[GarnetBeamer]

I think I'd put King Dixson, Brad Scott, Will Muschamp and Ray Tanner ahead of him.

As bad as Champ and Scott were, we at least have a couple faint bright spots for each guy. Brad got us our first ever bowl win. We overachieved in Champ's first 2 seasons and actually won bowl. There's no bright spot with Bobo.

 

[F-86F]

Wish Hilinski all the best and hope he has a great career in football. I think had he stayed he would have liked Beamer.

 

[Dizzy01]

It’s amazing how people can convince themselves of things.

Why would Bobo have any reason to just not like someone?

Don’t know if it was dislike but it certainly fit his pattern of failure at Colorado State where he kept benching the guy who was the first team mountain west QB for Faton Bautu and Hill and then kept trying to force Hill in over KJ Carta-Samuels.

It’s part of what led to being fired at Colorado State and much like his buddy Muschamp he didn’t learn from it.

 

[cadcock]

Not starting a mobile QB with an O line that can’t pass protect was Bono’s biggest failure.

 

[gamecockblack]

I was hopeful he might come back from the portal after Bobo quit in disgrace.

I did too.

 

[TheReelEss]

Don’t know if it was dislike but it certainly fit his pattern of failure at Colorado State where he kept benching the guy who was the first team mountain west QB for Faton Bautu and Hill and then kept trying to force Hill in over KJ Carta-Samuels.

It’s part of what led to being fired at Colorado State and much like his buddy Muschamp he didn’t learn from it.

Some people's egos are too big to admit they're wrong about something.

 

[uscwatson21]

Cause he wasn't Colin Hill, who was always gonna start once he came here with Bobo.

People cried about Bentley starting unfairly because his "deddy" was on the staff -- the real nepotism was Bobo and Hill. But I'm sure he made that clear to Muschamp when he left Colo St, if I leave here I'm bringing my guy and using him.

Luke Doty wasn’t named Colin Hill.

these conspiracy theories fall apart when you add facts to the situation.

 

[uscwatson21]

Don’t know if it was dislike but it certainly fit his pattern of failure at Colorado State where he kept benching the guy who was the first team mountain west QB for Faton Bautu and Hill and then kept trying to force Hill in over KJ Carta-Samuels.

It’s part of what led to being fired at Colorado State and much like his buddy Muschamp he didn’t learn from it.

Yet coach Beamer wanted to keep Bobo as his OC?

 

[GarnetBeamer]

Luke Doty wasn’t named Colin Hill.

these conspiracy theories fall apart when you add facts to the situation.

Yet coach Beamer wanted to keep Bobo as his OC?

Bobo only started Doty after the season was down the crapper and Hill's play had deteriorated to such an abysmal state that it was among the worst QB play we've ever seen here.

Beamer was "encouraged" to retain staff for continuity and recruiting. He's since admitted it was a rookie mistake.

 

[Dizzy01]

Yet coach Beamer wanted to keep Bobo as his OC?

Do we know if he really wanted to or was the fact that Bobo was given a guaranteed 2 year deal the year before a requirement that he be kept.

 

[PaleoCock]

Hilinski got hung out to dry by Muschamp & Co. He was overplayed and served as target practice in his 2nd collegiate game against BAMA. Came in hobbling to the UGA game and got smashed again there while our backup QB was only equip with 6 plays to run. And on and on....

The irony is that the Hilinski's choice to come to SC likely bought Muschamp time and money in his contract.

 

[uscwatson21]

Hilinski got hung out to dry by Muschamp & Co. He was overplayed and served as target practice in his 2nd collegiate game against BAMA. Came in hobbling to the UGA game and got smashed again there while our backup QB was only equip with 6 plays to run. And on and on....

The irony is that the Hilinski's choice to come to SC likely bought Muschamp time and money in his contract.

Bama was arguably his only good game against quality opposition.

 

[gamecox4982]

Ryan had issues and quite frankly he wasn’t that good. He’s gone move on.

 

[GarnetBeamer]

Ryan had issues and quite frankly he wasn’t that good. He’s gone move on.

to the untrained eye it would seem that way. He was forced into action 2 games into his true freshman season with absolutely no run support, no receiving help and no pass protection. I thought he did a lot of things well considering he was a one man show. Hill at least had strong run support.

 

[CockySC01]

The Muschamp staff wasn’t up to pare. But Hiliniski wasn’t like QB greatness or anything. He was a good guy. But I don’t get the on going obsession over him.

 

[Gradstudent]

Well good news, thanks to NIL, we can now connect with Ryan for $50

He was also back in Columbia at a Fireflies game in June for a Hilinski Hope Foundation tie-in!

As far as football, as a person who also wanted to see him play last year given the meaningless games down the stretch, I will add he had a very quirk release. I hope he does very well at NW and think he will.

I don't think Mike Bobo had our program's best interests in mind last year and confirmed his true colors which were obvious to me and a bunch on here, after the season.

 

[Gamecock Lifer]

Mike Bobo is one of the worst things to ever happen to Gamecock football.

That is a bit dramatic and a huge exaggeration. Bobo was only here one season and I am glad he is gone but Muschamp was the architect of our failure!

 

[GoCocksFight2021]

Luke Doty wasn’t named Colin Hill.

these conspiracy theories fall apart when you add facts to the situation.

No way he would bring Hill here if he wasn't going to play him. Hilinski never had a chance with Bobo. And he couldn't fall back to Hiliniski because he would have looked dumb for benching him in the first place.

Feel bad for Hiliniski. Got shafted.

 

[Gamecock Lifer]

No way he would bring Hill here if he wasn't going to play him. Hilinski never had a chance with Bobo. And he couldn't fall back to Hiliniski because he would have looked dumb for benching him in the first place.

Feel bad for Hiliniski. Got shafted.

I have refuted this before- my opinion is the coaches knew the stakes, wanted to keep their jobs and played the guys they thought gave them the best chance to win and keep those jobs. It just does not make sense to think they would have played a guy just out of loyalty if they did not think he was the best option when they had to know a bad season meant unemployment.
Sure, Bobo had a relationship with Hill but if RH was substantially better they would have played him.