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Emerging through the opening behind Dodge Arena's west end zone, Rio Grande Valley Dorados quarterback Nick Hill runs onto the field for pre-practice warm-ups as if it were player introductions at the Super Bowl.
The hurry and hustle that Hill shows to reach the field reflects his deep appreciation to be playing professional football, even if it's not the NFL.
"When I go out there I think of my friends back in high school that I played with that would love to still be playing," Hill said. "I'm just trying not to take any practice or any day for granted. Just go out there and have fun with your teammates and enjoy it while you can."
Since he first stepped onto the practice field last month at the Dorados' training camp at Edinburg's Cats Stadium, Hill, 24, has brought a youthful exuberance and eagerness to improve to a team looking to move past the loss of off-season QB addition Quincy Carter to af2 eligibility rules.
"(Hill) does bring excitement and I think that comes with being a first-timer in here," Dorados coach Marty Hammond said.
"Since this is his first go-around in arena football I think that he's very eager and it shows and I think that's contagious with the other guys as far as getting better and being excited with what they're doing."
Hill, who threw for 328 yards and six scores in the Dorados' season-opening win over Corpus Christi two weeks ago, has fun at every practice and cherishes every moment he's on the field.
"You never know when that's going to be your last practice or your last day playing football," he said.
The Du Quoin, Ill., native had no reservations about joining a team that had added Carter, a former Dallas Cowboys starter, to its roster. Hill came to the Rio Grande Valley to be a starting quarterback and he was ready to earn it.
"There's always going to be good players and there's always going to be competition," Hill said. "But at this point, you've got to feel confident in yourself to come in there and win a starting job. So as I as I had reassurance from the coaches that I was going to get an equal opportunity, I felt confident."
And it's not like Hill is short on football potential. After a stellar career at Southern Illinois, he signed with the Chicago Bears last year and went through the team's mini camps before getting cut in training camp. Hill went back home to finish his degree in special education and was set to join the AFL's Arizona Rattlers until the league suspended its 2009 season.
He credits Rattlers coach Kevin Guy, who is a former Dorados head coach and assisted the team in training camp, for pointing him to the Valley.
Off the field, Hill intends to put his degree to use. He has been working on becoming a substitute teacher in the Valley and he hopes to get involved with other activities where he can mentor kids.
"Just anything that there is in the community, I'd like to get involved with," he said. "In my time here, I'd like just do as much as I can."
Aside from football and working with kids, Hill enjoys hunting and fishing. After growing up on a 250-acre farm with a father who works in a state park, Hill became quite fond of the outdoors.
"I've always said I'd like to be on a hunting show one day," he said.
"If anybody who likes the Dorados wants to take me hunting or fishing, they should give me a call."
Stephen K. Lee covers the Rio Grande Valley Dorados for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him at (956) 683-4442.
