Former Texas Tech quarterback Robert Hall will return to the South Plains this

next week as a member of the Mesquite (Texas) Horn coaching staff. The Horn

staff will visit Lubbock for a two-day coaching clinic of sorts with Kliff

Kingsbury and the Red Raider coaching staff.

Hall played quarterback for Texas Tech from 1990-93, was a unanimous

first-team all-Southwest Conference pick his senior season in 1993 and led the

league in total offense, passing yards and passing touchdowns. He left as the

program's single-season and career leader in completions, passing yards and

touchdowns.

We connected with Hall to discuss the upcoming visit to Texas Tech and his

thriving venture into quarterback coaching: Raider 1 QB School.

RH: "Well, our defensive coaches from Horn were headed out to spend a few days

in Lubbock with the Tech coaching staff and I had to tag along because that is

my school. We are going to spend a lot of time around the coaches and observe

their practices on Monday and Tuesday of next week.

"I coach offense and work with quarterbacks, so my focus will mostly be play

calling in certain situations and what type of drills or development they are

doing with the quarterbacks. Coach Kingsbury is known for being a good

quarterback coach and has produced some very good, young quarterbacks. I want to

ask about what plays or options they would call in certain situations, along

with observing some of the various drills they put the quarterbacks through.

"Coach Kingsbury and I both played quarterback, plus we both have some of the

same influences in terms of coaching and drills. Dick Winder, rest his soul, was

such a great coach and had an impact on both of our careers. Kingsbury played

under coach (Mike) Leach, but he learned Dick Winder drills in practice and the same

goes for several coaches across college football. Art Briles told me that he

used to drive from Stephenville to Lubbock back in the day just to learn from

Dick Winder. I'm just a student of the game and want to continuously learn more

about how to development talent."

RH: "Yes, I started getting into quarterback coaching on the side about five

years ago. Kevin Murray introduced me to the idea and told me that it was

something that I could easily do. Now I have about 25-30 kids that I work with

and it is very similar to a doctor with patients, we schedule out practices and

sessions several weeks out.

"I started working with Trevone Boykin when I was coaching at West Mesquite and

still work with him today. I had another young man, Chason Virgil, from West

Mesquite and he signed with Fresno State. I work with several other kids here in

the area and we have a pretty good one in Chris Robison at Mesquite Horn now."

RH:

"We put up some good numbers when I was at Texas Tech, but you have to remember

that I also had a Doak Walker award winner behind me that we handed the ball off

to at least half the time. The offenses these days are a lot less run oriented

and the passing game is a much bigger part of the offense.

"I try to make kids understand that good mechanics will lead to increased

production. Our quarterback at Horn finished with the second most passing yards

in the area behind only Kyler Murray, and he was only a sophomore. It isn't easy

for the younger kids to focus on the mechanics at first, but these kids are

coming in more and more polished at a young age. That makes my job somewhat

easier, but I believe it is ultimately a combination of the game evolving and

the offenses becoming more pass oriented."

RH: "I started coaching high school around 2005, but actually started my coaching

career in the Arena League. I have coached here in the DFW area for a while now

though with stops at Dallas Carter, South Grand Prairie, West Mesquite and now

Mesquite Horn.

"We always want our kids to compete at the highest level, D1 football. I have

coached some very talented young men and try to support them however possible.

Some will ask me questions about my experience and ask me questions about Texas

Tech. I just tell them Texas Tech was a great experience for me, but they have

to visit and learn about everything for themselves. I don't ever want a kid to

regret their decision or blame me for pushing them in a certain direction.

Recruiting keeps kids busy these days and we mostly keep them focused on the

bigger picture as a coach, mentor.

"I did have one of our kids sign with Texas Tech this year, Conner Dyer. He is

going to be a good one and had a ton of options from some big programs around

the nation -- Ohio State, LSU, you name it. Conner visited Lubbock and really

loved the coaching staff, even after visiting all of those other programs that

is what kept Tech on top for him."

RH: "Oh yeah, Emmett (Jones) actually was a walk-on quarterback at Tech back in 1993

during my senior year. He used to come by our apartment back in the day and I

remember even cutting his hair, we go way back.

"I think he really deserves this opportunity at Texas Tech after what he was

able to accomplish at both South Oak Cliff and Dallas Skyline as a coach. He did

a lot for those programs and should do great things for Tech as well."

RH: "It's been probably since 2007-08. I actually coached in the Arena League

for several years and coached the Lubbock Renegades for a few years. That was

back when (Michael) Crabtree was putting up numbers and winning Biletnikoff awards. I

coached at South Grand Prairie high school at the same time and would fly up to

Lubbock every weekend for the games.

"I'm looking forward to the visit though because even back then the town looked

so much different and I know things are going to look much different again this

time around."

RH: "Wow, that is a tough question to answer because there are so many, but I

guess some of the non-conference games we were able to play stick with me. We

played Miami my redshirt freshman season and I remember the whole team looked

like they were ready to play in the NFL already. I also remember playing against

Georgia and Terrell Davis was at running back. It's just funny seeing those guys

go onto the NFL and now they work in media on Sundays.

"Personally, I remember the Sun Bowl my senior season against Oklahoma and I

threw four interceptions in my last college game. That always sticks with me and

I know it isn't a good memory, but it helps to motivate me."