Wayne Hall nervously awaited the committee’s announcement, taking a deep breath right before they said his name.
He smiled from ear to ear as he got up and accepted the award for being the Minor League News Running Back of the Year in Las Vegas on Dec. 4.
“I’m blessed and honored to receive such a prestigious award,” Hall said. “It was an intense moment, not knowing if they were going to choose you or one of the others.”
Hall is a member of the Arkansas War Cats, a semi-professional football team based in Northwest Arkansas.
The War Cats play in the World Football League’s Central Division, with the Lincoln (Neb.) Extreme, Oklahoma Thunder, Oklahoma City Gunners, and the Kansas Kaos.
This league is perennially one of the more highly competitive leagues in all of minor league football.
Even though they struggled to a 5-6 record in 2009, the War Cats are confident heading into 2010 with Hall returning and former assistant Thurman Shaw taking over the head coaching duties.
“We began preseason practices on Dec. 5,” Shaw said. “The team has a good number of core players coming back from 2009. From what I’ve seen from new additions, we should improve from last year.”
Stacey Rubin is the defensive coordinator, Dahron Moss is the defensive back coach, and former Arkansas Razorbacks Lucas Jackson and Brandon Kennedy coach linebackers and offensive backs, respectively.
Hall, while being the main offensive weapon, coaches wide receivers.
Last season, a mammoth offensive line paved the way for Hall to pick up close to 2,300 all-purpose yards and 16 touchdowns.
At the midway point of the season, Shaw took over the play-calling duties and allowed the offense to flourish with Hall as the focal point.
As a result, Hall won the award that he hopes gives him momentum going into 2010.
“Winning the award makes me want to work harder to win it again,” Hall said. “I have to thank my offensive line. Without them I wouldn’t have been able to put up the numbers that I did.”
The War Cats are continuing to prepare for the 2010 season but spots are still available to try out for. The next tryout is at 2 p.m. Jan. 9.
Shaw is looking for players who want to challenge themselves through hard work and discipline, and who are committed to a team cause in a competitive environment.
During the Lou Holtz era at Arkansas, Shaw played for the Razorbacks and played in the NFL. He is an assistant coach for Elkins High School and works extensively with the offensive and defensive lines.
“My position coach at Arkansas, Larry Beightol, contributed to a large part of what I do on the field,” Shaw said. “By coaching at Elkins High, I get insight and go through different experiences that help me to better coach the War Cats.”
Hall carries with him a message that his coach at Arkansas Tech, Steve Mullins, conveyed to him while he was in college.
“Coach Mullins taught me that when you face adversity, it causes some men to break and some to break records,” Hall said. “That in every struggle, there’s a process.”
Hall set team records last year with his rushing exploits, and hopes that 2010 means even better things for him and the War Cats.
“All the struggles I’ve been through are paying off now,” Hall said. “Maybe there’s still hope for me (to get to the NFL or CFL). I just love this game.”