Hutton’sjourney of alifetime

American Football

By TOM HAYES

GIPPSLANDER abroad, Tom Hutton, has recently shared his experiences fromhis time in the US, while playing college football for Oklahoma State Cowboys.

Originally from Yallourn North then Newborough, Hutton, along with his mate, Jordy Sandy, first tried punting at ProKick Australia.

Thetwo worked together at the Maryvalemill from 2016 to 2018, alot of the time they were on the same shift, working in alittle control room.

Aftersometime, it became evident that adream they didn’t know they had, would soon become a reality.

Hutton was offered ascholarship to Oklahoma StateUniversity -moving into atown called Stillwater, while his mate, Sandy, went alittle further south to Texas Christian University(TCU) in Fort Worth, just outside of Dallas.

In the 2022 season, Hutton played his final year of college football, as the punter for the Cowboys.

Throughout the four years in Oklahoma, Hutton has described it as amixture of “the most amazing time” and “the toughest time”.

“The first year was unrealplaying football in front of huge crowds and living acrazy dream, whilemy wife Kelsey, and Iwere immersing ourselves in the US culture,” he said.

“Then COVID hit after we were here for about a year,and we were effectively locked out of Australia for two years.

“Although it was atough time, Ithink we grew enormously as people over that period, and we really begantoput thingsinperspective and think about what is important in our lives.”

Hutton’s college football career has plenty of good memories, but he nails his favourite down in a moment, where he does whatapunter doesn’t normally do.

“It’sprettyhard for punters to have highlight worthy moments,just due to the nature of the gig, but against Baylorinmyfirst year (2019), we ran a fake punt, so Iactually got to throw apass, which surprisingly went perfectly to plan,” Hutton said.

“It wasour big homecoming gamesothe stadium was packed, andfakepunts don’thappenvery often so the crowd wentnuts, that was areally surreal experience.”

Outsideoffootball,Hutton was able to experience the American culture in many different ways.

“Just the whole experience of livinginthe states and the opportunities it opens up,” he said.

“Kelsey and Iwill randomlydecide to go watch an

NBA gameevery now and then, so we can just drive 45 minutes to the stadium and watch a(Oklahoma City) Thunder game, or drive down to Dallas for an NFLgame, or just duringthe weekatany time of the year we can go watch the other Oklahoma State teams playing basketball or soccer, softball, wrestling.

“It’s just avery lively lifestyle that I’m going to miss.”

As acollegestudent,Hutton had to studyacourse while in the US.

While there, he studied aBachelors degree in Construction Engineering Technologyand in around three months, Hutton will graduate with his degree.

As previouslymentioned, Hutton entered this experience with his good mate, Sandy, and the two were able to play against each other on some occasions.

“We only live about four hours away (from each other),with him (Sandy)being in Dallas, so we still catch up quite abit.

“(Lining up against Sandy) was unreal. To be working together in Australia and then allofa sudden we are playing against each other in a