Oct. 15, 2002

by Jennifer Renaker * Host Communications

In most cases, finding someone with a raw talent is like searching for aneedle in a haystack. The Wildcats, however, don’t have to look too far.They have that someone on their offensive line.

Junior offensive tackle Antonio Hall doesn’t only put on a show on thefootball field, he has been singing since he was 3-years-old. But Hall isnot your average singer. He has been gifted with the ability to sing opera,a talent not too many singers can claim.

“It’s kind of a raw talent, I guess,” the 6-5, 299-pounder said. “People tellme that if I study it, I could probably be one of the best. I’m trying to domy best right now.”

Hall is the youngest member to date of the Lexington Singers, a communitychoir group that travels quite often to give public musical performances.But the traveling has interfered with Hall’s football schedule.

“This summer, they (Lexington Singers) are actually going to Italy, but Ican’t go because I have football,” he said.

Although Hall doesn’t get the opportunity to travel much with the group, heuses his summer vacation in a different way. This past summer, the Canton,Ohio, native created the Complete College Experience, a program to givemiddle school-aged student-athletes a chance to experience the benefits ofcollege, academics, athletics and cultural diversity.

“I started the program because of my own personal experience and what I sawwhen I came to a college my eighth grade year,” Hall said.

Hall said the goals of the program are to get the students on campus,experience college life, and make them realize there are opportunities andscholarships available to them once they get to college.

“It gives them something to focus on while they are in high school, keepstheir noses clean and keeps their grades up,” he said.

Hall, who received help starting the program from University of KentuckyOutreach Coordinator Lisa Mattingly, said he has high hopes for the programin the future.

“It wasn’t as big as I wanted it to be this year. The number of students thatcame was in the teens. But it was a good first year, especially learning howto start the program.”

Hall said he hopes to have two sessions next year, with about 40-50 students.He would like to have the students stay overnight on campus to get the dormlife experience.

“I’m going to fund the program once I get out of here and I’m trying to getcorporate sponsors for it next year,” Hall said of the program’s future.

He said he feels the students look up to him because he is a Division Iathlete.

“I think once they got to know me and listened to the things I talked about,I think it made them not in awe, but made them think, ‘Wow, he is a prettyinteresting person,’ ” Hall said.

Hall also has been a part of many other programs at UK. He has participatedin the Cat Tales reading program at area schools, was a guest speaker atLansdowne Elementary School, served as a mentor to a high school student inthe Mashburn Excel Scholarship Program, participated in a service event atUK Children’s Hospital and was a participant in the UK Schoolhouse Rockacademic pep rally for fourth- and fifth-grade students.

Hall said his teammates are very supportive of him and his music andunderstand what it means to him.

“They know how serious I am about my music, as serious as I am withfootball,” he said. “At first they said stuff about it, but once they got toknow me and how much it meant to me and how good I was at it, they supportme now.”

Hall said if his teammates could describe him in one word, it would bediverse.

“I can relate to just about everybody and every situation,” he said. “I’vegone through a lot, as well as everybody. I’m laid back, but I can beserious. I can be in my football frame of my mind and my music frame ofmind. I’m very diverse when it comes to that.”

Sports Illustrated did a profile on Hall in September 2001 for hiscombination of athletic and musical ability.

“It was weird,” Hall said, laughing. “It was kind of fun, though. I have alot of friends all over the country playing Division I football and they allsaw it, so that was pretty nice.”

Hall, who received 87 college scholarship offers, is as passionate aboutfootball as he is about his music.

Having played football since the age of four, Hall chose UK over powerhouseprograms such as Florida State, Tennessee, Michigan and Ohio State, all ofwhich were in Hall’s top five choices, along with the Wildcats.

“I chose UK because they had an offensive line coach that knew what he wastalking about, they had a great music department and they had the ability towin,” Hall said.

That offensive line coach was Guy Morriss, the Wildcats’ current head coach.Hall said his most memorable moment with the Wildcats to date happened just acouple of weeks ago when Morriss was awarded a guaranteed, extended contractthrough the 2007 season.

Morriss, who has been a role model to Hall since arriving at UK in 2000,seems to have brought the team together, not just on the field, but off thefield, as well.

“We’re a family,” Hall said. “We’re upbeat. We’re almost like brothers, allof us. It’s the best group of guys I’ve ever been around, honestly. And thecoaching staff – we have nothing but love for them and they have nothing butlove for us, so it’s a great atmosphere right now.”

Hall has been in the spotlight quite a bit since arriving at UK, but that wasan easy adjustment for him.

At McKinley High School, Hall was regarded as one of the nation’s premierlineman prospects. He was named first-team All-America by the Prep FootballReport and second-team All-America by USA Today. He was also named to theParade Magazine All-America team and the nation’s No. 1 defensive tackle byRivals.com.

He was a member of the state championship teams during his sophomore andjunior seasons. The team went 14-0 his sophomore season and also was chosenas national champion.

A three-sport star in high school, Hall has gained much respect playing forthe Wildcats, as well. Playing with an ankle injury last season thatrequired off-season surgery, he led the Wildcats in “knockdown blocks” with94.

He was named True Freshman All-America by Rivals.com in 2000, while alsobeing named freshman third-team All-America by The Sporting News andFreshman All-SEC by SEC Coaches and the Knoxville News-Sentinel the sameseason.

Hall said that to be a good offensive lineman, one must possess speed, goodfootwork, knowledge of the game and a tremendous work ethic. He hopes hisperformance this season will earn him more accolades and possibly a chanceto play in the National Football League.

“Personally, I got a lot of preseason hype so I hope to be an All-Americanand get first-team All-SEC,” Hall said. “Those are goals that everyone has.”But Hall seems to be focusing on his team goals, rather than his individualones.

“I want to win as many games as we can,” he said. “I want us to gain respect- to let people know that Kentucky football is for real and that theyactually play football in the Bluegrass.”

Hall said he had many expectations coming into this season.

“I knew that we were going to be a good team and my intentions were to win alot of football games. I wanted to come in and win seven, eight or ninegames and I think we can do that,” Hall said.

Hall said there are many things about UK that he will miss once he steps outof the Blue and White uniform.

“I’ll miss the experience that I’ve had,” Hall said. “I didn’t know how manygenuine people there were in Lexington. Everyone I’ve met has been sowilling to help you, not just because you’re a student-athlete, but becauseyou’re a nice person. Everyone I’ve met has been so nice and so supportiveof the program here and I’ll miss that a lot and the support that we get.”