12
Hudson Hall is everything you want in a senior linebacker: big, strong, fast, a mean streak that frightens opposing offensive linemen, and the talent to play at the next level. Off the field, he's everything you want in a teammate: always fighting for the guy next to him.
Defense and offense don't often mix company. One side sometimes just can't understand the other. But in Westlake, football players are taught to think about the bigger picture of the game. With that comes great perspective and also an appreciation of what each player brings to the field. That perspective is why Hudson Hall and his teammates felt the extreme impact of what happened on Saturday, May 10th, 2014.
That morning, soon-to-be-senior Sean Rollings made a signature ridiculous diving catch in practice. But this time he wasn't able to get up. Once thought to be a simple "sore knee" was ultimately diagnosed as a torn Anterior Cruciate Ligament or ACL. Just like that, Rollings was out, likely to miss his whole senior season.
"My heart just dropped," Hall said of the news.
"I've played with Sean since I was a little kid and I'd never thought I'd be playing on a team where he wasn't out there."
The fiery and versatile Chaparral had been grounded, but only in a physical sense. From that moment on, Sean Rollings decided to play a different part.
"Everyone started calling him Coach Rollings," Hall said. "He's at every practice. He lifts with us and does all the lifts he can. He even started to squat on that knee, which is pretty amazing.
Rollings is motivated by the belief that he has a chance to play in his senior season.
"Optimistically, week 7 could be an option," Rollings said. "But I'm thinking closer to playoffs."
Rollings' duties are far from light until November. His self imposed job title has him circulating through the practice field armed with two years of varsity experience. He can tutor a new corps of receivers who have yet to play a snap underneath the Friday night lights.
"He's helping every wide receiver on where to go and what to do and sometimes he even tells them what's going to happen," Hall said. "He's always in a pumped up mood."
When the senior Division I caliber linebacker was asked what stood out most about his long time teammate, Hall didn't hesitate.
"Sean's always got your back. Always."
As a tribute to his friend and teammate, in 2014, Hudson Hall will not wear his familiar 36, but will wear Rollings' number 11.
"Number 11 has to be on the field," Hall said. "So, I asked him (Sean)."
"Definitely," Rollings replied. "That's awesome."
By Joe Taylor
STUDY
HALL