Saddleback Reaches Out and Touches Hinchen

Shad Hinchen didn’t do a great deal of research before deciding to come to Saddleback College in the fall of 1993.

He had no idea of the Gauchos’ tradition of success, including being named the J.C. Grid-Wire national champions in 1992.

Instead, he bases his entire decision on which college returned a phone call first.

Hinchen was a standout tailback and defensive back at Indio High School. He was the Desert Valleys League’s most valuable player as a senior. He also was a standout guard on the basketball team for three seasons.

Hinchen’s football skills got the attention of several four-year colleges, including Arizona State and Utah, but he didn’t have a good enough score on his college entrance test to be eligible.

So he had to consider community colleges. He and his parents decided he should go to college in a new area. His high school coach made calls to several area colleges, but Saddleback’s Don Butcher, the linebacker coach, was the first to call back.

“I said I was going to the first place that called me back,” Hinchen said. “I didn’t care where it was.”

Hinchen moved into an apartment in Mission Viejo last August and started practicing. He almost instantly became a key part of Saddleback’s defensive unit.

At cornerback, he had 40 tackles, three interceptions and a sack.

Saddleback also experimented with him at wide receiver at times but Hinchen prefers defense.

“At cornerback it’s all up to you,” Hinchen said. “On offense you have to depend on too many other people.”

Besides his success on the football field, Hinchen is doing well in the classroom.

He took three classes during the summer and if he passes the 18 units he’s enrolled in this semester, he will earn his two-year degree a semester early. This will allow him to transfer to a four-year college for the spring semester, which will improve his recruiting situation dramatically.

“I think it hurt me more to see my mom disappointed ,” Hinchen said about not being eligible for a scholarship out of high school. “For me it wasn’t that big a deal; I was young and didn’t really understand what it all meant.”

In tonight’s 7 o’clock Mission Conference games:

Long Beach (1-0) at Saddleback (0-0)--Saddleback is coming off a 5-5 season. Long Beach opened the season with a 35-14 victory over Golden West. Aron Garcia, a sophomore from Irvine High, will start at quarterback for Gauchos.

Pasadena (1-0) vs. Golden West (0-1), Orange Coast--Overall, Golden West played pretty well in the 35-14 loss to Long Beach last week, but the Rustlers were done in by five turnovers. Golden West outgained Long Beach, 346-313, and led in first downs, 23-15. Pasadena led Orange Coast, 24-0, but needed a last-second field goal to win, 27-25.

Orange Coast (0-1) at Cerritos (0-0)--Orange Coast will switch to quarterback Matt Sauk this week. Sauk came into game in the second half against Pasadena and completed five of six passes for 95 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for one score.