High school football: Discipline, determination pay off for Tulsa Union's Chris Hall

Barbie Hall watched from afar while Chris habitually sobbed by himself against the fence. It became so worrisome to her that she sought help from a high-school coach.

“Look, my son cries after every single game,” Barbie said. “What can I do?”

“Leave him alone,” the coach said. “He'll focus it on the field. When it's all said and done, those other kids won't even be playing in high school.”

Ten years have passed since Barbie Hall was put at ease, and her son not only plays high school football, he led Tulsa Union to the 2011 state title and verbally committed to play college football at the University of Tulsa. His performance earned him the No. 29 spot on The Oklahoman's Super 30.

Barbie said her son's determination and discipline are the reasons he's become an outstanding young man and football player.

“Everything that he has gotten he did on his own,” she said. “Nobody made him stay in the gym late.”

When Chris first stepped in front of Union coach Kirk Fridrich and his staff as sophomore, he said he played defensive end and wide receiver. Fridrich watched Chris practice at each position for two days before he decided to permanently stick Chris on the offensive side of the ball.