Learning Life Lessons on the Field

As a senior at Rim of the World High School, Alec Hutton was part of the fairy tale team that went all the way to the CIF playoffs with a 10-1 record. The 2006-07 season came to a crushing halt when Rim lost to Kaiser Fontana 16-12 in the quarterfinals.

With any luck, Hutton won't be facing the fog that came into play in that game on the gridiron at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff.

Now an NAU senior, the 6-4, 250-pound defensive lineman has started in the first two games of this season.

The Lumberjacks faced the Wildcats of the University of Arizona on Sept. 3. Hutton and his teammates held their opponents to a score of 14-10 at the half. But that was it for the Lumberjacks' offense; the Wildcats went on to win that contest 41-10.

"Alec played well," his father, Troy, said. "Arizona double-teamed him. His opponents were 6-8, 318 pounds and 6-4, 280. They were concerned about him or they wouldn't have done that."

NAU's second game-against Fort Lewis-had a much happier outcome, with the Lumberjacks topping the scoreboard at 58-13. Because Fort Lewis is a smaller school, the coach put the second-string players in for much of the game. But Hutton still made a difference, making several tackles.

"He knocked the quarterback so hard on one play," Troy said, "he had to take a moment to figure out where he was."

NAU has its first conference game, at Portland State, this week, followed by a string of other conference games against Idaho State, Eastern Washington, Montana State, Montana, Sacramento State, Northern Colorado and Weber State.

THE BEGINNING OF HIS COLLEGE CAREER

After graduating from Rim in 2007, Hutton played for Chaffey College for the two years he was there. In addition to being recruited by NAU, Hutton also considered Nevada, Colorado State and Boise State. He was offered a full three-year ride at NAU, where he was red-shirted the first year.

As a red-shirted player, Hutton was able to practice with the team but couldn't play in the NAU games. Schools do this, Troy Hutton explained, so the players can get bigger, more mature, and develop as a player.

In making his decision on a school, Hutton called a friend at NAU to see how he liked it. He also took into consideration the fact that other NAU players have gone pro. Currently NAU graduate Matt Estrada plays for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Hutton said he enjoys football because it is a way for him to get to know people, to work with others as a team. "I learn a lot of lessons on the football field," he said, adding he thinks those lessons will serve him well in the future.

"You have to be dedicated and have a lot of drive, which makes you a better person," Hutton said. "With all the education in the world, if you're not driven, you won't use it."

The obstacles he faces on the field make him a stronger person, he feels.

In a perfect world, Hutton will be drafted by the San Diego Chargers. He definitely hopes pro football is in his future. But if that doesn't work out, he would like to be a firefighter like his father, who is a fire engineer with San Bernardino City Fire.

Football, Hutton thinks, will help him put his education into action.