 
Ahmard Hall Q&A
On anticipating his first game as the starting fullback: As a walk-on, I have had a lot of dreams and aspirations. To be lining up as the starting fullback is something I never could have even dreamed. I am just so excited. I can't wait to get that first lick, wake up, and hopefully just have a good game. On the differences between Coach Mike Haywood and Coach Ken Rucker: It is definitely night and day between the two coaches. Coach Haywood was a really laid back type of guy and is kind of a `smooth operator.' Coach Rucker is more of a fireball. He is constantly going, constantly shouting, but it is all love. The first day we went out to practice, he was very calm. He is a religious guy, and he asked us if we wanted `word,' if we wanted to hear a verse from the bible. We were thinking he was going to be similar to Coach Haywood, and then he went out to the field and was screaming and hollering. We all thought, "Whoa!" It was definitely a shock. He is a good coach, and we love him just the same as we did Coach Haywood. On his relationship with former Longhorns fullback Will Matthews: I still keep in touch with Will. Will taught me a lot and I am so thankful for that. He taught me about plays, blocking schemes, and was just a good friend in general. We were really close. He is doing really well in Detroit [with the Lions]. One of the main things he taught me about was just being alert and blocking. I think he is one of the best blockers Texas has ever had. That is paying off for him in the NFL now. They say he is one of the best blockers they have ever seen as a rookie. If you can take from him and learn from what he has, you are going to be a good fullback. On different blocking schemes for the three main tailbacks: Selvin is more experienced, so sometimes he will be more patient [on the run]. It is a little bit easier blocking for him because of that experience. We have an unspoken language between us having practiced and played so much together. I know where I am supposed to go and he follows me and makes the correct cuts. But the freshman are doing great too. We have just been working with them, molding them, and getting more experience working as a unit. It is definitely different blocking for each [tail]back, but you learn from each other in time. On his focus on his football career: I love the military and I am very happy I served. I love all of the guys from the military that I have relationships with. But I feel like now, that is over with. It is another story. That chapter is closed, and now I am playing football for the Longhorns. I want to be known as a football player just like all of these other guys, not just as a Marine. Most of the questions I hear are about the war and about serving. I just want to be the father and the husband and football player. Football and my family are my main focuses. On balancing his family, football and school: I think I have the balance down now. At first, though, it was hard to balance everything in my life. You just have to set a schedule and work around it. One day it is my turn to bathe my son, Mason, and cook, and then another day it is my wife Joanna who takes care of things. There are so many other things like bills and work that you have to deal with. It takes a lot of work to get adjusted to it, but I love it. On football and the current weather situation in Louisiana: You definitely have to keep football on the forefront of your mind, but at the same time, I want to keep those people in my prayers and thoughts. I know that it could be us in that position. They [Louisiana Lafayette] are preparing for a game this Saturday and might not have the same advantages as we do because of the rain. So we just keep them in our thoughts and prayers and hope they are all safe.
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