Chris Hinton Remembers the 1983 National Football League Draft Like

hris Hinton remembers the 1983 National ~ver worked and I think that's when the light stride. Going to Baltimore, I was happy to be CFootball League draft like it was yesterday. really came on," reminisced H inwn . "[My there, and I busted my butt my rookie year It was April 26 and rhe Northwestern senior year,] Green called me inra the office and was fortunate to make the Pro Bowl; offensive lineman had just come off a stellar and said, 'I'm moving you from tight end first rookie offensive lineman to do it ... I senior season. A two-rime AJI-America to tackle and if you really bust your butt was very humbled and appreciative of the selection and one of the team's co-captains, oppOrtUnity. " Hinton was chosen fourth overall by the Hinton became be the first player to make Denver Broncos and found himself thrust the Pro Bowl while playing three different into the limelight overnight. positions. In his first trip, the rookie- who Across the coun try in Baltimore, however, grew LIp a huge Bears fan-boarded his plane a trade was brewing as the Baltimore Colts' from Chicago to Hawaii and hoped that number one draft pick was holding out for Walter Payton might just be on the same a trade. The standstill would ultimately be Bight. silenced by the Broncos: quarterback Mark ''I'll never forget being on that plane and Herrmann and first-round draft pick Hinton waiting fat everybody and I was thinking to for John Elway. myself how cool it would be ifWalret Payton The trade was made and Hinton headed was on the same flight. Shortly after that, he to Baltimore to start the first of his 13 and his wife walk on the plane and sit across seasons in the N FL. He ultimately would the aisle from me. I thought, "OK, I got become a seven-time Pro Bowler and the him for seven or eight hours, he can't move," first player after the Colrs' 1984 move from remembered Hinton. Balcimore to Indianapolis co be inducted Hinton played seven years with the into the franchise's Ring of Honor. In 2000, Indianapol is Colts, during which time his Hinton was nominated into the Blue-Gray old college coach Rick Venturi setved as C lass ic's Hall of Fame and in 2008, into the you could be a first round draft pick.' ] was defensive coordinatot. He was traded to the 25th class of the Northwestern Athletics Hall thinking this was the final nail in the coffin." Atlanta Fa lcons in 1990, with whom he of Fame. Entering his senior year, Hinton put played four years, and he finished out his H inran stepped on Norrhwestern's on 20 pounds and shifted positions once career playing for the Minnesota Vikings and campus in 1979, a bright-eyed freshman again. Early in the season, the team beat their head coach Dennis Green. optimistic about Big Ten football. He was Illinois, 31-6, showcasing H inton's talent "Ie's a shorr ride. Even I was forrunate to recruited by Head Coach Rick Venturi, and garnering national attention, and the play]3 years-in football life rhar was a long who, according ra the Big Ten's official Wildcats followed it up with upsets over time- but in the scope of th ings it's not a lot website, saw "speed, athleticism and the Minnesota and Michigan State. of time," sa id Hinton. inherent making of an impact player who "My sen ior year, being on the same page Since ending his playing careet in 1996, was born to lead." Hinton played linebacker with a lot of players for the first time in my the former 'Cat has opened and operated as a freshman and moved to tight end as a four years ... Guys were starting to buy into Hinton's Wine Store and Bin 75-the store's sophomore, winning only one game in his Coach Green ... and started getting what it tasting room- in Johns Creek, Ga. He's first twO years. was going to take not only on the field but married to fotmer Norrhwesrern women's "Those were rough years. That's the first off rhe field with working our and lifring," baskerball player Mya Whitmore and the thing that comes to mind. Looking back on said Hi nton. "We broke the [los ing] streak. couple has two boys, whom Hinton coaches rhose four years, .[] rhink of] dealing wirh And in our li ttle world, it was a pretty big in peewee football. adversity and dealing with some rough times deal ... It was somewhat the beginning of a Much more than the answer to a trivia in regards to not being very competitive. In resurrecnon. " question li nked to John Elway, Hinron is my four years, we were 4-40," Hinton said. At the end of his senior year, Hinton was regarded by rhe Northwesrern foorba ll family "I grew more as a person in that one four named first-team All-America and first- as one who laid the foundation for future year period than any other four-year period team A.Jl-Big Ten, graduating with honors successes. At No.4 overall, Hinton remains in my life. As a kid from the So uth Side of in sociology. He was chosen as the team's the most highly drafted player ever to come Chicago ending up in Evansran and meeting MVP, rhe Thomas Airrh Spitit Award winner out of Notthwestern. He's one ofNU's people from all walks of li fe, it wasn't just and received the "N" Club Performance all-time greats, a Hall-of-Famer, and one the educational aspect of it, but off the field Award. Northwestern's ability to compete who knows rhar what took place off the field groWll1g as a person." had propelled H inton onto [he national in Evanston is far more timeless than what Before the start of Hinton's junior year, stage. When he was drafted by rhe Colts, it occurred on Saturday afternoons. Venturi was replaced by Dennis Green, the was just as Coach Green had predicted. Just "The friendships that live today that I first African-American head coach in the 12 months prior to the draft, Hinton hadn't still have with guys I met over 30 years ago, Big Ten. W ith Green came a new mentality even been on the professional football radar. corning in as fr es hmen together, I still have and a new standard; when Hinton arrived "It was so unexpected. I mean, you those fri endships," Hinton said. "Kids who at summer camp (hat year and failed to could've traded me to the Saskatchewan go to Northwestern, it's a different kind of complete a mile run, Green suspended him Rough Riders and] would've been like, 'OK, kid (han those who go to Ohio Scate. When indefinitely. Though the Wildcats lost every let's go.' So me guys, the day rhey step on you take away the common denominator of game that season, Hinton began to buy into campus, it's all about the ultimate goal of playing foorball, if you still have the same Green's program. going to [he NFL and that wasn't the case values it (ends to keep the friendship going "Junior year I worked harder than I had fat me," Hinton said. "I took everything in and I think that's what it is today." 41 NUSP01HS,COM .

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