The QATSPY® GOLFER’S Inside-the-Leather Sports Page
By: Charles W. Boatright Author of The ESPY Golf Swing Coach, Delta Technique Geared for Distance and Control. And the Developer of Operation DOG-TAG using golf to help Veterans.
An Interview with Coach Bobby Hall From the QATSPY Press Box by Charles W. Boatright
THE PRESS BOX Special Edition
Coach Bobby Hall’s Background Information:
Coach Bobby Hall was raised in Guntown, Mississippi, 13 miles north of Tupelo; he graduated from Baldwin High School in 1974, and attended Itawamba Community College, Northeast CC, and graduated College from Ole Miss in 1978.
Coach Booby Hall played two sports: Football and basketball. He had a basketball goal in his backyard, even before he picked up a football. Even today, he stated that he probably could compete with High School athletes from the Free Throw Line hitting baskets.
His first coaching/teaching job was Itawamba Agriculture High School, where we was Head Baseball Coach, Assistant Football Coach, and taught four Social Studies classes, and he made $12,000 per year. He graduated from Ole Miss on Sunday and went to work on the following Monday.
He coached and taught in the smaller high schools for 15 years before moving to the larger schools. He started Coaching at Madison Central in 2006 until 2015, and went to five consecutive North finals in Football.
Coach Bobby Hall also coached at the college level at Murray State for 2 years and was Head Coach at Northeast Community College for 2 years.
Coach Hall was the Head Football Coach and Athletic Director at Madison Central High School.
A Conversation with Coach Bobby Hall:
Question No. 1
Boatright– When did you know that you wanted to be a Coach?
Coach Hall– At age 12 in 1967, I knew that I wanted to be a football coach. He explained that he started preparing to be a football coach when he was a teenager. He read everything he could get his hands on about Vince Lombardi. Coach Lombardi was my Football Hero, and I studied everything Vince Lombardi.
Boatright’s Observation– While Coach Hall was going over his bio, I couldn’t help but to think about a quote about success by Hindu Monk–
Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life– think of it, dream of it, live that idea. Let the brain, muscle, nerves, every part of your body, be filled of that idea, and leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success. Swami Vivekananda
Boatright’s Observation– This quote emphasizes a key component of one’s success. I couldn’t help but to take my pin and underline the word Preparing in my notes from our conversation with Coach Bobby Hall. There are certain keys to any successful endeavor, and preparing is a key part of that process.
Coaches, of all people, know the importance of preparations and statistical analysis that Coach Bobby Hall brought out later in our conversation with a familiar term, Analytics. Pay close attention on how Coach Bobby Hall uses this term, Analytics. This is a key component to anyone’s success, If one doesn’t pay attention to details, failure is the result. The small things done right are essential.
Question No. 2
Boatright– I was interested in what pressure at the high school level does the head coach feel?
Coach Hall– I felt very little pressure, and the pressure that we as coaches do feel is the pressure we put on ourselves. But that is another key to success of people that I have discovered. Successful people never worry about what others are doing and saying; they are focused on their job.
Coach Hall continued– Being the Athletic Director is more important and had more pressure than being the Head Football Coach. But being the Head Football Coach, if you’re not successful, would get you fired. Madison Central has 22 athletic programs and 45- coaches, and as Athletic Director, we tried to win all sports trophies every year.
Boatright’s Observation– Another part of success that Coach Hall highlighted with his statement is that establishing high expectations and goals are just as important, not just to win, but to maintain top performance.
Question No. 3
Boatright– What are some of the major sports outside the Football program at the high school level?
Coach Hall– Boys and girls Soccer, followed by boy’s baseball. At Northwest Rankin High School, Baseball is more important than Football.
Boatright’s Observation– What was interesting about this was how much significance that Coach Hall placed on multiple sports and getting all kids involved for their mental development. This was pointed out later in our conversation with his view on having athletes playing multiple sports
Question No. 4
Boatright– You left Madison Central in 2016, where did you coach then?
Coach Hall– I when to Biloxi, Mississippi for three years before I retired.
Question No. 5
Boatright– What is the major difference between High School Football and College Football?
Coach Hall– The Football player has a better grasp of the basics and they are generally overall better athletes. The support group for the football program is better. But basically it is still running, blocking, and tackling; those skills are better.
Question No. 6
Boatright– With school choice being discussed, what is the impact of recruiting at the high school level?
Coach Hall– In Mississippi, it’s not an issue to participate athletes; the parent or guardian has to live in that school district. In Florida, it’s the wild-wild west, where high school athletes can be recruited across school districts.
Question No. 7
Boatright– Is that why Florida has better athletes?
Coach Hall– No, they have better athletes, because their population is about seven times bigger than Mississippi’s. But, per capital in baseball and football, Mississippi puts out some of the best athletes as any other state does.
Question No. 8
Boatright– What is the relationship between high school coaches and college coaches?
Coach Hall– Generally good; when I was the Head Coach at Madison Central, I requested that recruiters and coaches go through me before they talk to the athlete, where I would know what was going on. The life blood of College Athletics is high schools, and they know that.
Question No. 9
Boatright– In smaller schools, is Basketball more popular than Football?
Coach Hall– In Northeast Mississippi, basketball was the sport of choice. You can field a team of 15 athletes with little cost in equipment and facilities.
Question No. 10
Boatright– Because the fine-motor-skills development is important, is multi-sport participation by students essential for early childhood development and the age they start?
Coach Hall– Yes, but I don’t necessarily believe that six-year-olds should play tackle football, but playing multiple sports is one thing I stressed. Archie Manning didn’t allow his boys to play football until the 7th grade, and they turned out performing at the highest level. I told my staff that if I heard them telling a student that they should specialize in a particular sport, I would fire them on the spot.
These kids aren’t in the NFL, MBA, or MLB, so let them determine what sport(s) they want to participate in themselves.
Boatright’s Observation– With obesity among kids and teens being serious, getting kids involved in sports is crucial. We might be looking at the first generation that actually has a shorter life span than their parents. We are looking at heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension being a problem before kids reach their late teens.
Question No. 11
Boatright– I’m doing an article right now on cross-training and the importance of being involved in multiple sports, like for example, a kid usually picks up a baseball bat before they’ve picked up a golf club. The motor-skills they developed swinging a baseball bat even in the backyard allow them to develop better hand-eye coordination and those fine motor-skills that are important to a golfer. Do you agree?
Coach Hall– No doubt, a multiple-sport athlete makes for a better overall athlete, in my opinion.
Question No. 12
Boatright– When you watch football now, do you scrutinize plays that are called and get into a coaching mode?
Coach Hall– No, not really, I mainly try to predict what plays are going to be called and formations the offense will run in RPO. Now I’m not even a big NFL guy, I’m a big New Orleans Saints guy. I would watch any and all college games on television, but the only NFL I team I watch is the Saints. I’m 64 years old; I started listening to the Saints when I was 12 years old.
Boatright– Coach Bobby Hall is a huge Saint Louis Cardinal Fan also, like myself.
Question No. 13
Boatright– Can you imagine what Archie Manning would do if he played for a top five NFL team, similar to the case of Barry Sanders from OSU playing for Detroit Lions, with his running ability? With Sanders not having a top offensive line to run behind?
Coach Hall– Archie’s numbers would be astronomical, if he had a top offensive line to protect him and give him time to complete his passes.
Question No. 14
Boatright– For people reading this Press Box Interview, we know how the offensive plays are called, but how are the defense formations called?
Coach Hall– They base the defense personnel and packages off of what the offense puts on the field and their formations. Even in critical downs, the defense would let the offense get set before calling a timeout to get their defense personnel and formation in that they need. That’s why the defense shows their hand first, before making any adjustments on the field or off the sideline.
Question No. 15
Boatright– For example, the San Jose State and Arkansas game this past Saturday, did you see any of that game?
Coach Hall– I did not, but I’m familiar with what happened.
Boatright– The first play when Arkansas opted to have the ball in the second half. San Jose from their 25- yard line hit for a 60- yard pass, where the receiver blew right by the defender for an uncontested reception. Do you think that there was film on that, giving the coaching staff of San Jose a play call to test the Arkansas secondary right off the bat? San Jose didn’t even wait for their quarterback to establish his rhythm.
Coach Hall– No question, Arkansas secondary showed volatility in that coverage. College coaches have their GA’s provide them with cutups. Within 10 minutes, they will provide them 100 cutups of trips open and 10 personnel. Now give me some clips with 21 personnel on how they line up when the other team is running a guard tackle counter play.
(GA- Graduate Assistant)
Question No. 16
Boatright– They even have these cut sheets on the sidelines during the game?
Coach Hall– Why not use analytics if you’ve got them and the software to run the numbers on the other team and their weaknesses? Analytics have become a big part of sports.
Question No. 17
Boatright– Analytics in pro ball, the teams aren’t reacting to their opponents; they actually already know and can predict what their opponents will do in certain circumstance by the percentages. Does this mean that, like golf, the game is played between the ears than on the field or court?
Coach Hall– Most definitely. Gone are the days when you can just overpower your opponent. Especially if they know where to place their personnel. The reaction time is dramatically cut down. Based on analytics, you can prepare almost play- by-play what your opponent is going to do.
This is what is affecting tackling the most in Football. The offenses are spread out more, and tackling is more being done in space or the open field.
Question No. 18
Boatright– With the competition for budget dollars for various education programs, is sports still remaining a money producer?
Coach Hall– Football, in most cases, is the money-maker. Football brings in more money than the budget they use for the various athletic programs, other than football.
Question No. 19
Boatright– Anyone who thinks cutting sports will help the budgets of schools doesn’t have a full grasp of the financials.
Coach Hall– That is correct.
Boatright’s Observation– A couple of years ago, University of Alabama at Birmingham decided to cut the Football program, when they were just beginning to compete at a high level with some of their best athletes. There was such a push back that UAB had to re-instate the Football program.
Question No. 20
Boatright– We know that exercise is important to kids, especially the older we get. What is a good age for kids to starts an exercise regimen and strength training?
Coach Hall– I think strength training should start around age 12, and even then, I would be cautious. I would focus on reps and sets with light weights than on power-lifting. Power-lifting should be specific to the sports and age.
I have an 11-year-old grandson that does 35 pushups now, and I personally think that is good for him. We challenge each other on pushups and setups.
Question No. 21
Boatright– Calisthenics are one of the best exercise regimens you can have, especially at a young age. Are these the best exercises, because the kids are using just their body weight in ergonomics settings?
Coach Hall– I agree! I don’t think young kids need to go into a squat rack and squat 200 pounds. That’s isn’t good for the joints.
Question No. 22
Boatright– In my workout, I prefer light weights (10 – 30 lbs.), where I focus on more reps, than with more weight and less reps. I believe reps are more important for stamina than more weight with less reps or sets?
Coach Hall– I agree, However in Football, power-lifting is critical at some level. A stronger athlete is a better athlete. Your lower back, abdominals, hips, thighs are the most important areas for Football. Too much emphasis is placed on the upper body in power-lifting. More emphasis should be given to the lower body. Everyone wants to bench press, but your power is in the lower body.
Boatright: Below is my CASPER Fitness Program that I developed and followed since I was 12 years old. While the CASPER is tailored for golf, it is also a great general Fitness Program for anyone over 12-years old. In the YouTube Video, I’m 61- years old and still have maintained my flexibility and stamina. When I play golf, I op to walk the course (18-holes) walking usually 9.2 miles.
I agreed with Coach Bobby Hall, A stronger athlete is a better athlete, in that a more fit person is the better performance, health, and ability to enjoy life they will have. Treat your fitness program like your 401(k), but this has a 600% return on your time and money!
Question No. 23
Boatright- I have women ask me how can I get my legs and gluts in shape, I tell them to get a 10- to 15-pound dumbbell in each hand and do squats. And don’t squat below your knees.
Coach Hall– That is correct.
Question No. 23
Boatright– What are the long-term benefits of participating in sports, even if they (kids) choose a different field or career to go into?
Coach Hall– It is phenomenal, this great country was built on competition. You learn how to deal with success and failure, you learn how to deal with both and move on. The worst thing an athlete can do is dwell on either one for long. It affects your future performance.
Joe Paterno once said- Success is never final, Failure is never fatal.
The reason Football is such a good training ground is because it is so demanding. You have to learn to be on time, and have a hard work ethic, and be mentally tough. Mental toughness is probably the most important.
Question No. 24
Boatright– In my observation, a team can handle failure better than success?
Coach Hall– At Tulane, we always want our opponent to win the week before we play them.
Question No. 25
Boatright– In reference to rugby that has little to no equipment, they don’t suffer the head injuries that they do in Football. Does the equipment give the player a false sense of security?
Coach Hall– I did my research paper on Football and Rugby. At all levels of football, we are striving to get the head out of the game of football and we pretty much have. The equipment is better (providing safety) than it has ever been. The sports medicine we have now has made a contact sport a safer sport. Especially the way we are tackling has made the game much safer.
Coach Hall quoted Vince Lombardi- The only thing I don’t like by this great game is that the quarterback is too important to the success of the team.
Question No. 26
Boatright– You are setting up my next question. When I played football, we tackled and had full contact scrimmage games during practice, GOOD or BAD Thing?
Coach Hall– We don’t practice tackling the way we used to; we are using dummies and donuts that roll that the players tackle. I was never a big contact guy in practice. We confined contact, except for the quarterback, to spring practice and during the first week of fall practice. Outside our line of scrimmage, contact was very limited. I despise getting anyone injured during practice. We did not allow our quarterbacks to get hit at all.
Question No. 27
Boatright– There’s a head Football Coach at Pulaski Academy, Head Coach Kevin Kelley, that doesn’t believe in punting on fourth down; prefers to go for the first down, what is your opinion?
Coach Hall– Coach John Perry went up to visit Coach Kevin Kelley twice. He asked me one time to go with him; but I told Coach Perry I was not interested. I believe you should take advantage of the kicking game and defend your side of the field. But it has worked for Coach Kelley.
Boatright’s Observation– Coach Kelley in this YouTube Video explains that he is a big analytics guy. He is not a guy that gambles. When you have the numbers, you’re not gambling, you are taking advantage of analytics. He even kicks the offside kick on kickoffs.
Question No. 28
Boatright– In the interaction between the parents and coaches, what would be your recommendation to parents to improve the relationship?
Coach Hall– Support them (the coaches) and back them up and let the coach do the coaching. Don’t try to be the coach or coach the game yourself.
Question No. 29
Boatright– Do you think college players should be paid?
Coach Hall– No, the average athlete receives a tremendous benefit in the way of stipend, food, room and board, and some get full or partial scholarships.
Boatright’s Observation– If you want to compensate the players for revenue they bring into the school, give the number of players that the NCAA allows you to have on a team to have full scholarships, instead of the select few.
Boatright’s Observation– One benefit a caller to the local sports show highlighted that played for an SEC Football Team is, when a Football player, especially in that state, goes to apply for a job, that applicant gets a tremendous advantage over any other applicant.
Coach Hall’s Observation– I used to tell my athletes that if they plan on staying in Mississippi, they need to go to Ole Miss or Mississippi State. After five years of college and you need a job, people will get you a job. But if you go to Alabama or Louisiana, you need to go to either Alabama, Auburn, or LSU.
Question No. 30
Boatright– The intrinsic value of playing sports extends far beyond the field or court. Sports builds character that far exceeds the years the athlete plays, Can you discuss some of those benefits?
Coach Hall– Coach John Perry, one of the best High School Coaches in the State of Mississippi who used to work as an Assistant Coach for me, has a mentoring program, where he matches up each player with a professional person in the community. The player has someone that they can receive guidance and advice from about life issues. He has done a tremendous job at Pearl High School.
Boatright’s Closing Observations– My conversation with Coach Bobby Hall proves that students participating in sports at the Junior High School, High School, and College levels receive an intrinsic value. This value extends far beyond the course, field, or court that can’t even be measured in direct and indirect benefits.
Question No. 31
Boatright– If you were going to attend a conference of business leaders, what would be some of the corporate topics that you would share with the attendees?
Coach Hall– I would share with them the leadership qualities, mental toughness, perseverance, participating as a team, and the importance of preparation that sports gives young people. I would share the opportunity and challenges that competing with higher skilled teams gives them, not just in experiences, but financially. Like when Tulane played Auburn and received a check for $1.97 million.
As Bobby Hall alluded during our conversation, competition is what has made The United States the country that it is today, due in large part to athletics. Sportsmanship, with values like respect for the game, the rules, and your opponent extends into the field these students are going into.
Question No. 32
Boatright– Would the Wishbone be effective now or do you see this leading to injuries exposing your quarterback?
Coach Hall– The Wishbone would be great, it needs to be adjusted to a more of a Flexbone look to what Army runs.
The Flexbone that Coach Hall describes is where the quarterback and fullback are in the backfield, and the two halfbacks are out in the flat.
Question No. 33
Boatright– Do you prefer artificial turf or real grass?
Coach Hall– I prefer Artificial turf.
Closing Statements from the Press Box By Charles W. Boatright:
If more values were presented to students, in terms of true grit and sportsmanship, there would be no limit to what a person could accomplish in life.
True grit is the hard work ethic that sports teaches. Sportsmanship includes such characteristics as humility, integrity, commitment, perseverance, respect, honor, honesty, fairness, sacrifice, responsibility, preparation, discipline, trustworthiness, and a hard work ethic, to name a few. An athlete can use true grit and sportsmanship in their future careers.
I hope that this conversation with Coach Bobby Hall shows you the tireless hours that these coaches put in, not just to win games, but to make better men and women to go into other areas of life, outside the grass of the grid iron, wood floors of the court, and into the boardrooms, workshops, and other fields across this country.
Sports, of any level and type, pays huge dividends that we can’t even estimate the benefit to society. Next time you go to the local High School Game, tell the coaches on both sides of the field thanks for what they do for our kids.
I would like to thank Coach Bobby Hall for giving his time for this conversation in THE QATSPY® Inside-the-Leather Sports Page The Press Box Special Edition.
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