Hall’s Season May Be Over, But His Spirits Remain High

By Jerry Ratcliffe

Friday night’s bus ride following a frustrating loss at Miami was one that Virginia coach Bronco Mendenhall will never forget. His Cavaliers had just dropped a 17-9 game to the Hurricanes after six visits to the “red zone” produced a mere three field goals.

Even more stinging was the fact that UVA lost perhaps the nation’s top cornerback in senior Bryce Hall, who ignored the lure of the NFL in order to return for his final year.

It was apparent that Hall’s gruesome injury to his left ankle would end his season after six games and potential All-America honors and other plaudits were no longer possibilities.

Normally, Mendenhall has plenty to talk to his players about on such bus rides from the stadium to the airport. Not this time.

Hall, with his leg in an air cast, was sitting directly behind Mendenhall on the ride.

“I usually have something kind of quick-witted to say to our players, and nothing came,” Mendenhall said, when he turned and realized Hall was right there. “I said, ‘Yeah, I’ve got nothing.’

“[Hall] and I were talking a few weeks ago about a quote we liked,” Mendenhall said. “It was in relation to people who were human buoys — nothing can get them down. That’s basically what [Hall] said. He said, ‘Coach, I’m a human buoy.’ He was smiling and he’s remained in good spirits and has just been exemplary in everything he’s done.”

While Virginia fans could easily detect the severity of Hall’s injury during television replays of a Miami player rolling up on him during a punt return, Mendenhall officially reported the outcome during his Monday presser, nothing that Hall had surgery on Sunday and was lost for the season.

“We expect a full recovery,” the coach said. “He sustained a left-ankle injury. He is recovering well. He will not return this season, and we’ll help him rehab for his next opportunity. Rehab timeline is uncertain depending on his healing.”

Mendenhall said Monday that Hall had made a huge impact on UVA’s program and that he was personally thankful for the cornerback’s efforts, for the chance to be his coach, and for his influence not only on the team, “but in my life.”

Hall was so effective at his position that opponents rarely threw his way, thus a mere four pass break-ups this season and no interceptions. He was eighth on the team in tackles with 20 (13 unassisted), including three tackles for loss and a quarterback sack.

Mendenhall has come under fire from a portion of the Virginia fan base for having an All-American candidate blocking on a punt-return team, but it is not uncommon to have starters on special teams.

“He was the captain of our kickoff team and punt-return team, which is where he got hurt,” Mendenhall said. “We think every blade of grass matters, and we play our best players — and they want to play in any capacity to help our team.”

Wide receiver Joe Reed, who has been outstanding as UVA’s kick returner, defended Mendenhall’s philosophy on using starters on special teams.

“We look at special teams as just as important as offense and defense,” Reed said. “[Hall’s injury] could have happened in anything. It’s a nature of the sport. I wouldn’t expect [Mendenhall] to hide [starters] from that.”

Reed said it was tough to see Hall’s season end. The two came into the program together and have become close during their careers.

“He’s the hardest working guy I know. After talking to Bryce, he’s so positive about his situation. He’s looking forward to the best outcome. I was talking to him [Sunday] wishing him the best, and he’s in the best of spirits, which was good to see.”

Linebacker Noah Taylor was also saddened by seeing Hall go down.

“It was very devastating,” Taylor said. “We have to put that behind us. We love Bryce, but he still wants us to achieve our goals. He knows God has a plan for him. He’s not sad and moping around. He’s the same Bryce.”

While there is an X’s-and-O’s element to losing a quality cornerback, there is also an emotional aspect to deal with in the Virginia locker room. The fact that Hall has taken such a positive approach should help the healing process among his teammates, but will it have an after-effect?

“I think that remains to be seen,” Mendenhall said. “Our team is resilient, our team is really close, and our team … they love each other. Bryce was right in the core of [the team’s] development and no one believed more than him. He does believe in our program.

“I think it was hard for us to keep the players away from him when he was out there (on the field, waiting to be carted off for X-Rays). They wanted to surround him. They wanted to touch, support him. And they will.”

Mendenhall noted that it was a powerful tribute by Miami’s entire secondary, which ran across the field to pay their respect to Hall.

“That wasn’t just an opponent. That was his peers in the same position on another team,” the coach said. “I think his impact has been pretty far-reaching, not only on our team, but in the league and on our staff.

“Yes, it hurts emotionaly. Yes, it hurts in a lot of different ways, including tactically. But already how he’s handled it, he’s taught us a lot. I think it will end up helping our program at some point, at some time, in the new role that he has.”

Junior De’Vante Cross (6-2, 210) will replace Hall in the lineup.