Hal Herring
Encyclopedia
Hal M. Herring is a former American football
Center
and coach
. He played college football
at Auburn University
and professionally
for the Buffalo Bills
in the All-America Football Conference
and the Cleveland Browns
in the National Football League
.
Fraternity. While at Auburn he was team captain
in his senior year and played center, quarterback
, fullback
and linebacker
. He earned All-Conference honors and most valuable player awards in 1948.
in 1949 and by the Cleveland Browns
in 1950
where he played during the 1950
, 1951
and 1952
seasons. He was defensive captain and played linebacker.
on the coaching staff at Auburn from 1953 to 1965. His defense was ranked first in the nation for six of the thirteen years he coached and was always ranked in the top ten. During Auburn's 1957 National Championship season, the Herring-coached defense gave up only 28 points all season. After leaving Auburn, he coached professionally for the Atlanta Falcons
and the San Diego Chargers
.
He was awarded All-American Football Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award for outstanding performance by assistant coaches in their chosen field and was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame
in 2002.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
Center
Center (American football)
Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense...
and coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Auburn University
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
and professionally
Professional sports
Professional sports, as opposed to amateur sports, are sports in which athletes receive payment for their performance. Professional athleticism has come to the fore through a combination of developments. Mass media and increased leisure have brought larger audiences, so that sports organizations...
for the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills (AAFC)
The Buffalo Bills was an American Football team, based in Buffalo, NY, that played in the All-America Football Conference from 1946 to 1949. During its first season in 1946, the team was known as the Buffalo Bisons...
in the All-America Football Conference
All-America Football Conference
The All-America Football Conference was a professional American football league that challenged the established National Football League from 1946 to 1949. One of the NFL's most formidable challengers, the AAFC attracted many of the nation's best players, and introduced many lasting innovations...
and the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
.
College career
Herring graduated from Auburn University in 1948 where he was a member of Phi Kappa TauPhi Kappa Tau
Phi Kappa Tau is a U.S. national collegiate fraternity.-History:Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity was founded in the Union Literary Society Hall of Miami University's Old Main Building in Oxford, Ohio on March 17, 1906...
Fraternity. While at Auburn he was team captain
Captain (sports)
In team sports, a captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field...
in his senior year and played center, quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
, fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
and linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
. He earned All-Conference honors and most valuable player awards in 1948.
Professional career
Herring was drafted by the Buffalo Bills (AAFC)Buffalo Bills (AAFC)
The Buffalo Bills was an American Football team, based in Buffalo, NY, that played in the All-America Football Conference from 1946 to 1949. During its first season in 1946, the team was known as the Buffalo Bisons...
in 1949 and by the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 1950
1950 NFL Draft
The 1950 National Football League Draft was held on January 20–21, 1950.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:-Round ten:...
where he played during the 1950
1950 Cleveland Browns season
The 1950 Cleveland Browns season was the team's first season with the National Football League after playing the previous four years in the All-America Football Conference, which folded after the 1949 season. The Browns' first NFL game was against the two-time defending champion Philadelphia Eagles...
, 1951
1951 Cleveland Browns season
The 1951 Cleveland Browns season was the team's second season with the National Football League. Dub Jones set an NFL record with six touchdowns in one game versus the Chicago Bears.-Exhibition Schedule:-Regular Season Schedule:-Playoffs:-Standings:...
and 1952
1952 Cleveland Browns season
The 1952 Cleveland Browns season was the team's third season with the National Football League.-Exhibition Schedule:-Regular Season Schedule:-Standings:...
seasons. He was defensive captain and played linebacker.
Coaching career
Herring was the defensive coordinatorDefensive coordinator
A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
on the coaching staff at Auburn from 1953 to 1965. His defense was ranked first in the nation for six of the thirteen years he coached and was always ranked in the top ten. During Auburn's 1957 National Championship season, the Herring-coached defense gave up only 28 points all season. After leaving Auburn, he coached professionally for the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
He was awarded All-American Football Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award for outstanding performance by assistant coaches in their chosen field and was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame
Alabama Sports Hall of Fame
The Alabama Sports Hall of Fame is a state museum located in Birmingham, Alabama, dedicated to communicating the state’s athletic history...
in 2002.