"Oh, that's become a real joke now," Hinz says. "People are always asking me about it. It's really been blown out of proportion. We do a lot of big-game hunting in Montana, nothing special though."
As a sophomore, he made the varsity as the backup fullback. He started twice, gaining 150 yards during the 3-7 season.
It was not until last year, though, when he replaced injured starter Rufus Jones at tailback, that he realized his potential. The wait was over.
"Tony Hinz came on for us and filled a void when we lost Rufus Jones [to a foot injury]," Harvard Coach Joe Restic says. "And he had just an outstanding year. I look at what he did for us and the team in the last ballgame against Yale. He's just an outstanding performer."
Opposing coaches were impressed with Hinz's stats and his clutch performances a year ago. They rave even more about his combination of size and speed. At 6-ft., 1-in., 205-lbs., he is bigger than most Ivy League fullbacks. Yet his 4.4 speed in the 40-yard dash makes him almost as fast as some of the big-game deer he hunted in Montana.
What Hinz's teammates notice about him is his tirelessness on the gridiron. He is always one of first on the field and one of the last to leave the locker room.
"People look at how big and fast he is," senior wideout Neil Phillips says, "but his work ethic matches his physical attributes, and that is what makes him such a great back. When I see him run the ball, I just say I'm glad he's on my team."
Consigli, one of the four offensive linemen returning to block for Hinz, also offers high-praise.
"He's a hard worker, he has a great attitude," Consigli says. "Everyone knows he has great speed, how big and tough he is, but a lot of running backs have that and yet they aren't able to do the things he can do."
If Harvard does repeat this year, Hinz probably will be a major factor. And if he's not, it will be because opponents have decided to key on him, a move Hinz says will backfire.
"I don't think that any team can key on one particular person because our offense is so diverse," Hinz says. "I don't think any team can say `O.K., just key on Hinz,' because the next guy will step in and do the same job."
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Hinz hopes to pick up where he left off last season. He gained 161 yards and scored both touchdowns (including a 57-yard run) in Harvard's 14-10 victory in The Game. Yet, Hinz says the last play of The Game--in which Yohe fell on the ball to run out the clock--is the play he will always remember.
"Just to sit on the ball and watch the seconds tick away was the one play I'll never forget," Hinz says. "I'll probably never forget falling on Tom so we could protect the ball and run out the clock. We had all come so far. We all felt so deserving because of how hard we had all worked."
When the Crimson opens its season tomorrow at home against Columbia, Hinz says there will not be a let-down, even though the Lions have dropped 41 consecutive contests.
"We're taking Columbia very seriously," Hinz says. "We want to show the league we're very serious about defending our crown. A goal we have this year is to go undefeated. If we lose, we'll try to pick up the pieces. We'll be disappointed if we don't win the Championship."
The waiting is over. It's time to dig in.