Rusty Hilger
Encyclopedia
Rusty Hilger is a former professional National Football League American football
player who played quarterback
eight seasons for the Los Angeles Raiders (1985–1987), Detroit Lions
(1988–1989), Indianapolis Colts
(1990–1991) and Seattle Seahawks
(1990 and 1992).
He attended Southeast High School
(1977–1980) where he was a standout football and baseball player, and Oklahoma State University (1980–1985), where he was again a standout football player.
. As a freshman, Hilger was a scout team
player for the OSU defense which consisted of future NFL standouts Dexter Manley
, Gregory Johnson
, Mike Green, Ricky Young, Chris Rockins
, and others. In 1981, the quarterback picture at OSU changed. Senior QB Houston Nutt
graduated and began his coaching career and Jim Traber
opted for a professional baseball career. In the 1981 game against University of Nebraska, Hilger got a chance to play and went on to lead the Cowboys to the Independence Bowl
game against Texas A&M (the Cowboys first bowl game since 1976). In 1982, Hilger was red-shirted when a pre-season separated shoulder sidelined him for the season. The Cowboys finished 4-5-2. In 1983, Hilger was named Most Valuable Player
in the Bluebonnet Bowl
. In 1984, Hilger and the Cowboys opened the season with a 45-3 victory over Arizona State University
, earning Hilger Big-8 "Player of the Week" honors which he would earn 3 more times that season. The 1984 Cowboys finished the season with a 10-2 record, were ranked #7 in the AP Polls and ranked #5 in the UPI National polls after their final drive victory in the Gator Bowl
against University of South Carolina
.
in the East vs. West Shrine Game. The West squad was coached by the 1984 National Championship winning coach LaVell Edwards
of Brigham Young University
.
, Hilger was awaded the Most Valuable Player trophy. In 1990, Hilger was signed by Seattle Seahawks
general manager and former Raider coach Tom Flores
. In 1991, Hilger played for the Indianapolis Colts
, pairing with former Raider quarterback coach Larry Kennan
. In 1992, Hilger and Kennan would join Flores back in Seattle, after which season Hilger retired from professional football.
, and Lawton
, Oklahoma. After retiring from football, Hilger helped found Acme Construction, LLC, a leading "Green" Design/Build company that markets off the grid
energy saving solutions for residential and commercial clients. The company emphasises spray foam insulation, spray foam roofing, rubber coatings, Polyurea
coatings, and specialty coatings, as well as solar energy and geothermal energy installations.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player who played quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
eight seasons for the Los Angeles Raiders (1985–1987), Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
(1988–1989), Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
(1990–1991) and Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
(1990 and 1992).
He attended Southeast High School
Southeast High School
Southeast High School, South East High School, or Southeastern High School can refer to:*Springfield Southeast High School in Springfield, Illinois*Southeast High School in Bradenton, Florida...
(1977–1980) where he was a standout football and baseball player, and Oklahoma State University (1980–1985), where he was again a standout football player.
Oklahoma State University
In 1980, Hilger was awarded the 29th and final scholarship by Oklahoma State University's (OSU) head coach Jimmy JohnsonJimmy Johnson
Jimmy Johnson or Jim Johnson or Jimmie Johnson may refer to:In sports:* Jim Johnson , NFL assistant coach most notably with the Philadelphia Eagles...
. As a freshman, Hilger was a scout team
Scout team
In sports, the scout team, also referred to as a practice team, taxi squad, practice squad or practice roster, is a group of players on a team whose task is to emulate future opponents for the featured players. Frequently used in American or Canadian Football, these teams consist of less...
player for the OSU defense which consisted of future NFL standouts Dexter Manley
Dexter Manley
Dexter Keith Manley, nicknamed the "Secretary of Defense" is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins, Phoenix Cardinals, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in an eleven-year career from 1981 to 1991. He also played in the Canadian Football...
, Gregory Johnson
Gregory Johnson
Gregory Johnson or Greg Johnson may refer to:*Gregory B. Johnson , musician, pianist, composer, band member of Cameo* Admiral Gregory G. Johnson, U.S. Navy, former Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe, and Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces, Europe, 2001–2004*Gregory C. Johnson ,...
, Mike Green, Ricky Young, Chris Rockins
Chris Rockins
Christopher Alexander Rockins is a former American football safety in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the second round of the 1984 NFL Draft. He played college football at Oklahoma State....
, and others. In 1981, the quarterback picture at OSU changed. Senior QB Houston Nutt
Houston Nutt
Houston Dale Nutt, Jr. is an American football coach and former player. Most recently he was the head football coach at the University of Mississippi from 2008 to 2011. Previously, he served as the head coach at Murray State University , Boise State University , and the University of Arkansas...
graduated and began his coaching career and Jim Traber
Jim Traber
James Joseph "Jim" Traber is a former Major League Baseball player who currently works as a sports talk show host in Oklahoma City....
opted for a professional baseball career. In the 1981 game against University of Nebraska, Hilger got a chance to play and went on to lead the Cowboys to the Independence Bowl
Independence Bowl
The Independence Bowl is a post-season NCAA-sanctioned Division I college football bowl game that is played annually at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana, so named because it was inaugurated in the United States bicentennial year, 1976....
game against Texas A&M (the Cowboys first bowl game since 1976). In 1982, Hilger was red-shirted when a pre-season separated shoulder sidelined him for the season. The Cowboys finished 4-5-2. In 1983, Hilger was named Most Valuable Player
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
in the Bluebonnet Bowl
Bluebonnet Bowl
The Bluebonnet Bowl was an annual college football bowl game played in Houston, Texas. A civic group was appointed by the Houston Chamber of Commerce Athletics Committee in 1959 to organize the bowl game. It was held at Rice Stadium from 1959 through 1967, and again in 1985 and 1986. The game was...
. In 1984, Hilger and the Cowboys opened the season with a 45-3 victory over Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
, earning Hilger Big-8 "Player of the Week" honors which he would earn 3 more times that season. The 1984 Cowboys finished the season with a 10-2 record, were ranked #7 in the AP Polls and ranked #5 in the UPI National polls after their final drive victory in the Gator Bowl
Gator Bowl
The Gator Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Florida. Held continuously since 1946, it is the sixth oldest college bowl, as well as the first one ever televised nationally...
against University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
.
East-West Shrine Game
The morning after the Gator Bowl, Hilger teamed with Randall CunninghamRandall Cunningham
Randall W. Cunningham is a former American football quarterback.After playing college football at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, he was selected in the second round of the 1985 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, with whom he remained through the 1995 season...
in the East vs. West Shrine Game. The West squad was coached by the 1984 National Championship winning coach LaVell Edwards
LaVell Edwards
R. LaVell Edwards is a former American football coach of Brigham Young University . With 257 career victories, he ranks as one of the most successful college football coaches of all time...
of Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
.
NFL career
In the 1985 NFL draft, the Los Angeles Raiders selected Hilger in the 6th round. Hilger was named starter for the 1987 season, however after two victories, the NFL Players Union went on strike against the NFL's Collective Bargaining Agreement, halting the season. In 1988, playing for the Detroit LionsDetroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
, Hilger was awaded the Most Valuable Player trophy. In 1990, Hilger was signed by Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
general manager and former Raider coach Tom Flores
Tom Flores
Thomas R. "Tom" Flores is a retired American football quarterback and coach. Flores and Mike Ditka are the only two people in the National Football League history to win a Super Bowl as a player, as an assistant coach, and as a head coach...
. In 1991, Hilger played for the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
, pairing with former Raider quarterback coach Larry Kennan
Larry Kennan
Larry Kennan is a former American football coach. He is currently the staff director of the NFL Coaches Association.-Coaching career:Kennan's coaching career began at his alma mater La Verne in 1966...
. In 1992, Hilger and Kennan would join Flores back in Seattle, after which season Hilger retired from professional football.
Post NFL Career
While in high school, Hilger worked summer jobs in the roofing and construction industry. In college, he also worked summer construction jobs in Tulsa, StillwaterStillwater
-Places:Canada*Stillwater, Nova Scotia New Zealand*Stillwater, Auckland*Stillwater, West CoastUnited States*Stillwater, Minnesota*Stillwater, Nevada*Stillwater, New Jersey*Stillwater , New York*Stillwater , New York...
, and Lawton
Lawton
-Places:United States:* Lawton, Iowa* Lawton, Michigan* Lawton, North Dakota* Lawton, Oklahoma* Lawton, West Virginia, an unincorporated community in Fayette County* Lawton, Wisconsin...
, Oklahoma. After retiring from football, Hilger helped found Acme Construction, LLC, a leading "Green" Design/Build company that markets off the grid
Off the grid
Off the grid may refer to:*Off-the-grid, housing not connected to public utilities*Off the Grid , the first single from the Beastie Boys album The Mix-Up...
energy saving solutions for residential and commercial clients. The company emphasises spray foam insulation, spray foam roofing, rubber coatings, Polyurea
Polyurea
Polyurea is a type of elastomer that is derived from the reaction product of an isocyanate component and a synthetic resin blend component through step-growth polymerization. The isocyanate can be aromatic or aliphatic in nature. It can be monomer, polymer, or any variant reaction of isocyanates,...
coatings, and specialty coatings, as well as solar energy and geothermal energy installations.