Hall of fame
He took off his helmet and raised it to the sky.
He bowed his head, graciously accepting the applause from fans who stuck around after his final game.
Then, the best player USF has ever had in its nine-year history trudged into the tunnel, never to don a USF jersey again.
There were many seniors playing in not only their first bowl game, but also their last with USF in Charlotte during the Meineke Car Care Bowl. However, none stood out as much as No. 2.
Not surprisingly, running back Andre Hall accounted for 167 of the Bulls’ 295 total yards. While the senior remained scoreless in his last game with USF, he holds nearly every offensive record in his two-year stint as a Bull. In 2004, Hall set the single-season rushing record with 1,357 yards. On top of winning the Big East rushing title this season over Louisville’s Michael Bush, Hall finished 2005 with 1,374 yards (a new school record) and 13 rushing touchdowns (a single-season record).
Hall also holds the single-game rushing touchdown record (3), rushing touchdowns in a career (24), career rushing yards (2,731), rushing yards in a game (275 yards), USF’s longest non-scoring run (60 yards), most points in a game (24) and most points in a season (156).
Hall spoke of the candidates for his replacement next season and feels it will probably be freshman Ricky Ponton.
“Ricky can (take over for me),” Hall said. “I told you in the beginning, ‘Ricky is going to be something special.’ He just has to get the chance. I just hope he don’t break all my records.”
Hall will participate in the Senior Bowl on Jan. 28 in Mobile’s Ladd-Peebles Stadium and will look to impress NFL scouts at the NFL combine.
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