*Becoming a Solar Bear

[woelkers]

Code:

I am using this article series as a way to give back to some (unfortunately not all) of the rookies of the s18 class, who have been so very good to me. Part of that is simply exposure for those whose stories are being told, and part of that is splitting funds with those whose names and words are used herein. That said, I would like to give half of the earnings of this specific article to Hallmonitor_20, who graciously gave me the time for an interview as part of this piece.

It is early evening in Palm Beach, and I find myself sitting on the sideline of the Solar Bears’ facility, watching intently as practice comes to a close. This team is young, and their play has been sloppy thus far, but every player I’ve talked to has told me that these are concerns from a past regime; they feel the future is bright, now that they’re under new management. Zach Hall (@Hallmonitor_20), the team’s star tight end and acting general manager, is exactly the person I’m looking to talk to on this first stop of my journey, and so I lie in wait, hoping for an opportunity to catch him when he eventually exits the huddle. When he catches my eye, I see a smile flash across his face, and he calls for an early end to practice, releasing the rest of the Solar Bears to the showers before he heads my way. I extend my hand for the professional handshake I am used to from my interviewees, but Hall is having none of it; he wraps me in a warm embrace, and I know immediately that I am welcome in Palm Beach.

After giving him time to grab a quick shower, I meet Hall in his new office, still in the process of being redecorated, to talk about his experience to date. “I’ve loved my time in this league,” he says, plopping himself into his seat, “I feel I’ve been accepted here with open arms, that I can be the person I want to be and still belong”. This, of course, is true; Hall has a reputation as a class clown of sorts, and his quick wit is part of the charm that drew me to this interview. He chuckles when I tell him this, clearly glad to hear that his character is appreciated by the media as well. “I’m thankful you chose me for this opportunity, really,” he says, leaning back and kicking his feet up onto his desk. Quite frankly, even before the interview has begun, so too am I.

Hall’s path to the DSFL, and indeed in the DSFL, is a bit of a rollercoaster. He was, at first, a wide receiver at Fayetteville High School in North Carolina, where, as a senior, he put up nearly a thousand yards and fifteen touchdowns in a season where his team went to the state championship. “Fayetteville is known for football, and I thought I had an impressive season,” Hall remembers, looking just past me as he talks, “I never expected to get recruited by an Alabama or a Michigan, not in Fayetteville, but I thought I could at least draw the attention of a Florida State, like my quarterback did”. At this point he frowns; this is a slightly painful subject for him, I can tell. “Most schools I talked to were concerned about my size. They thought I was too heavy to play wide receiver at the next level, that I wouldn’t be able to maintain my athleticism at my weight. So, I found myself at North Carolina A&T, as a tight end.”

Hall’s time at North Carolina A&T proved to be a struggle; the Aggie offense took a run heavy approach, and, having never been much of a blocker, Hall struggled in his new role. “I had two hundred yards receiving and one touchdown total my first three seasons. It just wasn’t a style I was used to; I’ve always been a poor blocker, and I’m used to producing in the passing game”. Fortunately for Hall, the Aggies eventually gave him a shot to play the way he was used to, and in his senior season, he had six hundred yards and five touchdowns, just enough to be a blip on the radar of the DSFL.

Hall may have had the attention of the DSFL at that point, but it wasn’t quite enough for him to feel comfortable. “I played several sports in high school, but football was the only thing that gave me a chance to get to the next level. The game has always been near and dear to my heart, and I knew that I either had to make it here or go to the military. I’m not one for dodging bullets, so I decided to secure my spot in this league”. How, exactly, did Hall see fit to do that? Simple: go viral. A series of videos Hall published of himself making circus-style catches on YouTube furthered the interest of DSFL scouts, and soon, Hall was projected to be one of the earlier picks in the draft. “I figured I was sitting pretty in about the fourth round,” Hall recalls, leaning back into his chair again with a fond memory to chew on, “The Prospect Bowl gave me a space to make a splash, and I felt like I was comfortably an early pick. To go third round to Palm Beach, an expansion team, was a bit of a shock, but I’m honored they took a risk on a guy like me to be one of the leaders of their team.”

Of course, Hall’s leadership was not ultimately limited to a captain’s role; soon enough, he claimed the office we sit in for this interview. “It was a bit of a shock when the former general managers stepped down,” he says, a smile spreading across his face as his eyes scan his new office, “It was a huge blow to our team, and I couldn’t think of how we’d be able to replace them. But then the owner asked me if I wanted the job…I’m grateful for the opportunity. I want to make this team better, for the players and the people of Palm Beach”. It’s clear, at least to me, that the Hall era is already an improvement; in just his first game as the general manager, Hall’s Solar Bears claimed their first win of the season against a Kansas City team that, at one point, was thought to be the best in its conference. “Obviously as a player my goal is to make an impact for an NSFL team in the near future, but I also want to be sure that this team is successful for its players and its city alike”.

At this point, I turn the interview to his own future. “I’m not entirely sure what to think, but I have a feeling I’ll go later in the NSFL Draft,” he admits, “I think most teams have a tight end they’re comfortable with, and those that don’t have other positions of greater need. So, yeah, I expect to slip”. When I ask him where he’d want to play, he was quick to make it clear, “I don’t know that there’s any particular team that I’d prefer. I’d like to play for a contender, but more importantly, I want to show my talent wherever I play. I’m looking forward to playing with some of the greats in the NSFL, but I don’t want to ride anybody’s coat tails to a championship; I want to make a name for myself with a team, and I want to see my name in a team’s ring of honor someday. If I had to guess where I’ll land? Philadelphia has some need. Maybe Colorado. But there’s really no telling how teams will feel about me and what they’ll need most come draft day”.

At this point, I start to pack my stuff to leave, but I throw one final question at him: what does it mean to be a Solar Bear? He chews on that for a minute before answering, “Being a Solar Bear is weird you know? We don't really have a history, so we are all rookies, but also we are the team leaders, if that makes sense. We make our own names and our own pathways. So, we're basically building blocks for good things to come”. I nod in agreement; Zach Hall is indeed a building block for good things to come.

Next Piece: Becoming a Seawolf

[Hallmonitor_20]

This is amazing and I'm glad you chose to tell my story.