Practice Does Make Better!
Joe Hilton's former PFL nickname used to be "Owen." That is because after 5 weeks in 1997 his record was 0 and 5, then 0 and 6 and then 0 and 7. Some one asked one day, why do you call Joe, Owen? Because each week he is "O" and something. That went on for 7 straight weeks until Hilton won his first game, against who else, Miami. Womack has a knack for letting teams off the schnide. But after starting 0-7 in 1997, Hilton won five of his last four to finish 5-11. At the time Hilton was coaching the Philadelphia lead by Ricky Watters, Rodney Peete and Irving Fryar. A lot has changed since then for the first time division champion. In 1998 Hilton looked to bounce back and make a run for the playoffs. That, he accomplished. Hilton finished 9-7 and qualified for the playoffs only to bounced out by his nemesis Dallas 42-17. The next season Hilton set his eyes on Detroit. With Watters departing for Seattle, and the quarterback position unstable Joe set his eyes on greener pastures. With Barry Sanders, Scott Mitchell, and Herman Moore, the Lions looked attractive. But Hiltons stay was short lived in the motor city. A 62-7 blowout loss to 6-10 Pittsburgh in the first round of the playoffs combined with the retirement of Barry Sanders sent Hilton packing once again. This time for the vacant Jacksonville job once held by Keith Franklin. Once Frankin announced he would not return to Jacksonville, Hilton took advantage and made the move. A move that has paid huge dividends. With Fred Taylor, Brunnel, Smith & McCardell, in addition to the emergence of Alfred Whitted and a rock solid defense, Hilton has just as much talent at the skill position as any other team in THE LEAGUE.