Growing up T.Y. Hilton


Many thanks to Pete Pelegrin for sharing this story. If you aren’t familiar with Pelegrin’s blog, The Prowl, check it out today. You’ll be glad you did.

Sometime this spring when the Hilton family redecorates their living room they will really need to find some trophy space.

"The Motor City Miracle;" Courtesy of Matt Shaw

FIU star receiver T.Y. Hilton won the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl MVP trophy and the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year plaque this past season as the Panthers won their first conference championship and first bowl game. Those two awards already have plenty of company at Hilton’s parents’ home in Miami.

As a visitor enters the home, he is greeted by FIU banners and photos in the dining room. Walk into the living room and it’s homage to the family’s athletic prowess and more FIU football memorabilia.

Hanging on the walls are photos of a life growing up in and around sports. There’s a photo of T.Y. returning a punt in optimist football, another photo of T.Y. and his God brother, former FIU defensive back Anthony Gaitor on the Gwen Cherry Bulls team. Then there are photos of T.Y.’s parents in action playing college basketball and travel softball in states all over the Southeast.

One wall of the living room is not visible because four shelves overflowing with trophies and medals line the width of the room. The awards do not all belong to T.Y. Many of them were won by his parents Tyrone and Cora and younger sister Corteona.

As T.Y. prepares for his senior season at FIU this coming fall many of the traits he exhibits on the field and off it were inherited and learned from the family.

To read more, visit FIUSports.com

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