Mich. State honours Hicks with scholarship endowment

CALGARY Professional athletes are sometimes accused of studying basket-weaving at college. Not Mylan Hicks. The recently slain member of the Calgary Stampeders actually used his gridiron talents to do some actual studying at Michigan State.

Hicks, who was shot and killed early Sunday morning outside a Calgary bar, was honoured by his alma mater on Friday as Michigan State Athletics established the Mylan Hicks Memorial Football Scholarship Endowment.

“Mylan was the kind of guy who always had a gleam in his eye and he always brought something good out in you as a person,” said MSU head football coach Mark Dantonio. “One of the best things you can say about someone is that they’re a great teammate and if you listen this week to those who played with Mylan, you kept hearing that over and over.

“He approached everything he did going 100 miles per hour and this scholarship will ensure his legacy endures forever with Spartan football.”

Hicks, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, played for the Spartans (2012-14) and was just beginning his pro career when he was gunned down on Sunday. He will be honoured by a moment of silence before all four CFL games this weekend.

While his Edmonton Eskimos teammates took to the field for Friday’s warm-ups in their traditional road white jerseys, linebacker JC Sherritt donned a standout green uniform with the No. 31 and “Hicks” on the back.

MSU director of athletics Mark Hollis said the school was devastated to hear of the news of Hicks’ death. “The entire Spartan family is deeply saddened by the loss of Mylan Hicks,” Hollis said.

“The establishment of this endowed scholarship by his friends is an ongoing reminder of a special person, great teammate and true Spartan.”