'Jump On My Back'

[KB]

From Tampa Tribune

MARTIN FENNELLY

Published: Aug 30, 2005

He's a man among Bulls.

Dead ahead is a trip to Happy Valley -- home to Joe Paterno's Nittany Lions, whose home field, Beaver Stadium, seats 107,282 people. It's the second-largest house in college football.

"I want every seat filled," Andre Hall said.

South Florida's star workhorse hates the idea of someone missing the tracks he aims to lay down this season, beginning with Saturday's opener.

"Do I like it? Some nights I can't sleep," Hall said. "Me, who plays before 35,000 here, going before 100,000?"

Nearly everyone knows who'll get the ball for USF. The hungry senior who fills the front cover of the USF media guide.

"If it's me you need to pull you through, that's fine. You can jump on my back. I'm going to bust it. I'm going to give you my all to win."

Needed More Help On Offense

USF lost seven times last season, but it wasn't Hall's fault. He carried the ball 210 times for 1,397 yards. He broke off runs of 63, 60, 58 and 57 yards. He scored 12 touchdowns. He had six 100-yard games. Against UAB, he hauled it 29 times for a school record 275 yards. He went for 200 against Army.

If only Hall had more help on offense. He carried too much of the load last season. He joins the Big East as perhaps its best back, but defenses will zero in on him unless he gets help.

Who knows how good USF can be if he does.

Who knows what Andre Hall can do.

He thinks he can do most anything. He sees the preseason football guides and all the running backs rated ahead of him. Adrian Peterson of Oklahoma. Reggie Bush of USC. Gerald Riggs of Tennessee. And so on.

The 5-foot-10 Hall throws a stiff arm.

"I'll put my best against anybody."

He's the St. Petersburg kid with a tattoo of a pit bull with a football in his mouth. Andre Hall is the one whose motor is always going. Teammates lovingly call him "Mush Mouth," because he talks so fast they can't understand him. And another thing ...

"You always see him, even with two guys on him, gaining yards," Bulls offensive lineman Chris Carothers said. "Those tough yards, they always belong to him."

His favorite runner was Walter Payton. Hall's first love, after son Andre, is watching boxing. His favorite is Joe Frazier.

"No doubt, Smokin' Joe," Hall said. "Joe is like a pit bull. He's always going. He doesn't stop. He keeps coming back for more."

Andre Hall came back to USF for more. He flirted with making himself available for the NFL draft, but thought better of it. A good call. He wants to be a senior. And a leader.

"I'm not trying to be a father figure, but if the young guys need to talk to me, I'm there for support."

Andre Hall has a father figure.

His father.

First name: Captain.

"That says it all," Andre said.

Captain's Word Is Good

Captain Hall is 85. He served as an army engineer in World War II. Andre listens to Captain.

"He's a straight up, honest guy. His word alone -- you can stand by it."

Captain listens to his son. Captain has glaucoma, and sometimes it's hard for him to make out Andre's No. 2 at games or while watching TV. Sometimes he just listens on the radio.

"His ears are like his eyes," Andre said.

Captain hears the motor roar.

"I can't cut it off," his son said.

Now comes his final season.

Andre Hall isn't asking for much.

Just the football.

"I tell the guys every game, I'm not asking for a pancake, for them to throw a guy off the ball. I'm asking for a split second. I'm asking for a gap. Get me to the linebackers. I'm gonna fall for 3 yards at least. I'm gonna do that. No one's knocking me back."

No bull.

[Apis Bull]

You gotta love this guy.  I am so glad he's a Bull!!

[MavTechKNIGHT2]

You gotta love this guy.  I am so glad he's a Bull!!

I agree.  I really like him and I don't usually like Bulls.  The best thing about him is his passion for the game and winning.  I bet you guys wish this was his SOPHOMORE season, huh?

[Velcro]

I agree.  I really like him and I don't usually like Bulls.  The best thing about him is his passion for the game and winning.  I bet you guys wish this was his SOPHOMORE season, huh?

you know what, i wish he had 20 years of eligibility left... but he doesn't.  We took him when we could get him, and are happy with what we've got.  

[Apis Bull]

I agree.  I really like him and I don't usually like Bulls.  The best thing about him is his passion for the game and winning.  I bet you guys wish this was his SOPHOMORE season, huh?

Hopefully his attitude will rub off on the his backups and we have a long string of great backs.   ;D

[BigShoop]

Hopefully his attitude will rub off on the his backups and we have a long string of great backs.   ;D

Hopefully THAT will be his legacy. Not only on the RBs, but on the whole team. If we had 22 Andre Hall's, we'd win the national championship. It's all about attitude.

[bullMD2005]

What a great player, and a great kid to boot.  I'm proud that he's a bull.  We would be so lucky to recruit a team full of Andre's in the coming years.  Imagine what a guy like that does for a team: in the locker room, on the practice field, and in the midst of battle.