Kansas State University Athletics
SE: Hickson Bringing Toughness, Love in Return to K-State Backfield
Oct 12, 2018 | Football, Sports Extra
By Corbin McGuire
Eric Hickson can always see it, either in his head or with his eyes.
The memory of breaking both major bones in his lower left leg on the 42-yard line in a collision with Nyle Wiren at a scrimmage before K-State's 1996 Fan Appreciation Day — details he's quick to bring up — still lingers vividly. The sizable scar the surgery left, along with the metal rods it placed inside, also serve as a reminder of what he overcame as a player.
Now, in his first season as K-State's running backs coach, Hickson said he's trying to use the lessons the injury and the program as a whole taught him to help his players.
"They can use me as an example as far as toughness," he said before the season, "and don't accept losing, never giving up, and don't look to take the shortcuts."
K-State junior running back Alex Barnes, who picked up a career-high 250 yards last weekend against Baylor, said Hickson has certainly brought a no-shortcut mindset to the Wildcat backfield.
"He's a dude that won't let you take anything for granted, so we're finishing 20 yards on every run," Barnes said of Hickson, who played for the Wildcats from 1993-98. "Even if the defense pushes us or knocks us down, we have to get up and finish to the cone."
"Our mentality as a running back group has changed a ton since he's came in," added senior Dalvin Warmack. "Everyone's been running the ball a lot more violent, aggressive and downhill."
During his recovery more than 20 years ago, Hickson ached to run the football again. He returned to full strength in nine months, faster than expected given the severity of the injury. But it felt more like nine years to Hickson.
Still, in hindsight, Hickson said it was probably the "best thing to happen to me." Not only because he led K-State in rushing yards in 1997 and 1998, both 11-win seasons. His setback also put football in a different perspective.
"I was able to sit out and think about what I wanted out of life and what I wanted to do with my life. I was able to come back stronger," said Hickson, who left as K-State's all-time leading rusher with 2,537 yards, a mark that ranks fifth now. "It made me realize that football has an expiration date and it made me realize that there's more to life than football. I was able to use some of those characteristics that I learned from here in the program."
Hickson said he always knew he wanted to get into coaching after he finished playing. His time at K-State, however, gave him the blueprint for how he wanted to coach.
"I think my biggest thing is to show them love, the same love I got from here, and try to instill the 16 (Goals) in those guys. I know it works. I'm a proven asset to the 16 Goals. I'm excited about it, to just show them love and demand a lot from them. What I went through, it transformed me in Manhattan. It transformed me from a young man to a man, this program," he said. "The kids that come through this program are going to be set, not only as far in athletics, but they're going to be set for life. They learn things as far responsibility, accountability, toughness, hard work — all the things that can make you successful not only on the field but also off the field later on in life."
After K-State, Hickson signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1999. He also played in the XFL in 2001 and the Arena Football League in 2002, before starting his coaching career in 2003 at the high school ranks.
In 2014, he became the running backs coach at Garden City Community College. He also served as the interim head coach and recruiting coordinator for the Broncbusters, before accepting a position at Akron in 2015 as its running backs coach. He experienced two bowl games in three seasons with the Zips, including the program's first bowl victory in 2015.
As Hickson's career progressed, he said the end goal was always to return to K-State. It was a no-brainer when the offer came in January.
"Who wouldn't want to coach for their alma mater? This is home. This is a place where I transformed from a young man to a man," he said. "I learned time management. I learned structure. I learned responsibilities. I learned that all here, in Manhattan, and just to come back, it's family. It's love here. I'm excited to be back."
Eric Hickson can always see it, either in his head or with his eyes.
The memory of breaking both major bones in his lower left leg on the 42-yard line in a collision with Nyle Wiren at a scrimmage before K-State's 1996 Fan Appreciation Day — details he's quick to bring up — still lingers vividly. The sizable scar the surgery left, along with the metal rods it placed inside, also serve as a reminder of what he overcame as a player.
"After that first initial contact, it was on from there." #tbt#KStateFB | #EMAW pic.twitter.com/mWtghO8Fdo
— K-State Football (@KStateFB) September 14, 2018
Now, in his first season as K-State's running backs coach, Hickson said he's trying to use the lessons the injury and the program as a whole taught him to help his players.
"They can use me as an example as far as toughness," he said before the season, "and don't accept losing, never giving up, and don't look to take the shortcuts."
K-State junior running back Alex Barnes, who picked up a career-high 250 yards last weekend against Baylor, said Hickson has certainly brought a no-shortcut mindset to the Wildcat backfield.
"He's a dude that won't let you take anything for granted, so we're finishing 20 yards on every run," Barnes said of Hickson, who played for the Wildcats from 1993-98. "Even if the defense pushes us or knocks us down, we have to get up and finish to the cone."
"Our mentality as a running back group has changed a ton since he's came in," added senior Dalvin Warmack. "Everyone's been running the ball a lot more violent, aggressive and downhill."
During his recovery more than 20 years ago, Hickson ached to run the football again. He returned to full strength in nine months, faster than expected given the severity of the injury. But it felt more like nine years to Hickson.
Still, in hindsight, Hickson said it was probably the "best thing to happen to me." Not only because he led K-State in rushing yards in 1997 and 1998, both 11-win seasons. His setback also put football in a different perspective.
"I was able to sit out and think about what I wanted out of life and what I wanted to do with my life. I was able to come back stronger," said Hickson, who left as K-State's all-time leading rusher with 2,537 yards, a mark that ranks fifth now. "It made me realize that football has an expiration date and it made me realize that there's more to life than football. I was able to use some of those characteristics that I learned from here in the program."
Hickson said he always knew he wanted to get into coaching after he finished playing. His time at K-State, however, gave him the blueprint for how he wanted to coach.
"I think my biggest thing is to show them love, the same love I got from here, and try to instill the 16 (Goals) in those guys. I know it works. I'm a proven asset to the 16 Goals. I'm excited about it, to just show them love and demand a lot from them. What I went through, it transformed me in Manhattan. It transformed me from a young man to a man, this program," he said. "The kids that come through this program are going to be set, not only as far in athletics, but they're going to be set for life. They learn things as far responsibility, accountability, toughness, hard work — all the things that can make you successful not only on the field but also off the field later on in life."
After K-State, Hickson signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1999. He also played in the XFL in 2001 and the Arena Football League in 2002, before starting his coaching career in 2003 at the high school ranks.
In 2014, he became the running backs coach at Garden City Community College. He also served as the interim head coach and recruiting coordinator for the Broncbusters, before accepting a position at Akron in 2015 as its running backs coach. He experienced two bowl games in three seasons with the Zips, including the program's first bowl victory in 2015.
As Hickson's career progressed, he said the end goal was always to return to K-State. It was a no-brainer when the offer came in January.
"Who wouldn't want to coach for their alma mater? This is home. This is a place where I transformed from a young man to a man," he said. "I learned time management. I learned structure. I learned responsibilities. I learned that all here, in Manhattan, and just to come back, it's family. It's love here. I'm excited to be back."
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