The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Transforming experience: Chris Hall
12.03.2009 | Football
Dec. 3, 2009
Grant Abston, Texas Media Relations
For Texas center Chris Hall, recognizing defenses and making calls at the line have become comfortable skills.
After starting at least one game at all five offensive line positions in 2007, Hall settled into center in 2008 and has started all but two games the past two seasons. However, the senior has contemplated throwing a changeup at his teammates.
Hall, who graduated in May, decided to take a class in Hebrew his final semester to get a jump-start on a master's degree and has considered bringing his knowledge to the field.
"No, I have thought about making calls in Hebrew during a game," laughed Hall.
Hall's interest in Hebrew dates back to last spring when he accepted an opportunity to travel to Israel. Along with another couple, he decided to go to Israel on a six-day tour with a group of 50, traveling to different cities, attending a Christian conference and experiencing a unique culture.
"We went as far north as Mount Hermon and went as far south as the Dead Sea," Hall said. "We did Jerusalem for a couple of days, got to swim in the Dead Sea which is really cool because you float right away. You'd have to try to drown."
For Hall, whose faith plays an important role in every aspect of his life, each stop was memorable, but his visit to Mount Hermon was the most unforgettable.
"We were actually in the clouds, you could only see so far ahead of yourself and it was so refreshing," Hall said. "It was cool to kind of see the Bible in color."
Hall, who began studying Hebrew prior to the trip, also attended the campus of Tel-Aviv University to further his knowledge, researching their master's program in Middle Eastern history. After looking at the program, which focuses on Hebrew, Arabic and Middle Eastern history, Hall knew what class he would take in his final semester.
The trip to Israel allowed Hall to expand his knowledge about a growing passion, but also return to Austin with a new perspective that allowed him to better relate with teammates.
"I think it was a help to me to get to go over there and maybe it broadened me to get to be there with those people in another culture I've never been in," Hall said. "On a football team, you get guys from all different kinds of backgrounds. I think it's profitable to be able to relate and be with all of them."
One of the oldest players on the team, Hall has transformed into one of the most vocal leaders for the Longhorns. He was recruited out of Irving High School and redshirted his freshman season in 2005, giving him the opportunity to learn from a talented group of senior offensive lineman that included Lyle Sendlein, Justin Blalock and Kasey Studdard, all current NFL players.
After playing sparingly in 2006, Hall knew he would have an opportunity to expand his role entering the 2007 season after Texas graduated three starting linemen.
"It hit me, 'You know what? I have to [step up], I have to play for the sake of the team and the program,'" Hall recalled. "Things kind of stepped up in the weight room and the practice field."
Due to injuries along the line, Hall started 12 games in 2007, playing all five positions on the offensive line and helping the Longhorns to a 10-3 record. At the end of 2007, he settled into the center position and entered 2008 as the starter, playing in every game but two due to injury.
"I think he definitely found his spot on the football field as center and he does a great job and he's really smart and he knows what he's doing all the time," said QB Colt McCoy.
While Hall has developed into a role model for Texas, he credits a lot of his transformation to two former players who helped guide him throughout his freshman season.
"When I got here, I had a dynamic transaction with the Lord that changed my life forever," Hall said. "I've been taken care of, [and] the first two guys I can say for sure were Stevie Stigall and Richmond McGee. They really took me under their wing and took care of me."
Hall's transformation has not gone unnoticed, as McCoy, who was part of the same recruiting class as Hall, has watched Hall transform on and off the field the past five years.
"Off the field, he has made a huge transformation in his life," McCoy said. "Now he's one of our strongest Christians on the team and a great leader and really stands up for what he believes in and he's a pretty special guy."
In a family full of Longhorn fans, Hall's journey at Texas has been a dream come true. In high school, Hall remembered stories his dad would tell about meeting former coach Darrell Royal and running back Earl Campbell. However, Hall's recruitment to Texas was just the beginning of a journey that has been marked by hard work and strong leadership.
"As far as my experience here, it's been awesome and I can say these have been the most fun years I've ever had playing football, these past three for sure," Hall said. "These past five years have been so, so good and if I were to describe my experience here, I could just definitely say - graced."
With the season's end approaching, Hall will turn his attention back to the possibility of returning to Israel and completing a master's degree. But whether or not he returns to Israel, his journey could end on a college campus.
"Somewhere down the line, I'd love to just be on a college campus and to be meeting with students, getting into the word and allowing the Lord to take care of them through me," Hall said.
Hall's faith will continue to guide him, a faith that has turned him into a player worth remembering.
"I remember telling Stevie Stigall my freshman year, I remember telling him, 'Man, I want coach Brown to be pleased, to be happy he brought me here,'" Hall said. "'I don't want to just be here and that's it.'"
Hall's presence has done more than make his coach proud. It has given the Longhorns a leader whose career will be marked by winning - on and off the field. In fact, just two days before the 2009 Big 12 Championship game, the American Football Coaches Association named him First-Team All-America.
"It was really good, and now to be here and coming up on our last few games as a senior, man, I feel like it's gone by very quickly, but it's been a great ride."
