In 2nd grade, I attended my first FHC basketball game and saw Tate Hallock throw down a dunk. I was in shock, wondering how he did that and why I couldn’t do that. After the game, Tate was at the exit talking to someone, and my dad pointed him out. Tate said, “What’s up man!”, and gave me a fist bump; in 2nd grade, that was the coolest thing in the world, having a varsity player in any sports talk to you. They felt like LeBron James and Michael Jordan and all famous athletes to us 2nd graders.
Fathers teach us many things in life, especially when they are the head coach of your sports team. They teach us how to grow up, improve at many things, and be the best we can be.
“My dad, because he taught me everything; he was my head coach my freshman and sophomore year at FHC,” Hallock said. “He taught me how to be a man and how to be a great football player because of what he all accomplished as a football player, making it to the highest level.”
College football moves at a much faster pace than high school football, and the talent is also at a much higher level. Western Michigan University played Ohio State, the number four team in the country, with star players Will Howard, Quinshon Judkins, and true freshman Jeremiah Smith.
“The biggest difference between high school and college football is the speed of play,” Hallock said. “College is a way faster pace than high school, also the talent because you go against players that were the best players at their high school, so everybody is talented.”
The FHC football coaching staff is great, and it teaches players many things about how to improve even when it seems like they are the best of their abilities. They teach players how to become a great leader and how to overcome challenges they face in their careers.
“Football at FHC was an amazing experience for me,” Hallock said. “It taught me many lessons as a player and a person. They taught me how to be a leader and respect and how to overcome adversity. Also instilled an amazing work ethic in me, being pushed by all my teammates and coaches.”
College football is a very fast-paced, physical, and time-consuming sport. It takes a lot to be a college football player, mentally and physically. You need to have the right mindset and keep stable health to succeed.
“It is very fast-paced, physical, and time-consuming,” Hallock said. “There is a lot of sacrifice in it, where it is truly a full-time job as it is year-round constantly working for the season.”
The FHC football program sets players up for great success. Previous head coach Tim Rogers played a big role in the development of players and helped get players on their feet to achieve the next level. At a young age, dads are also great coaches to be hard on you and make you perform at the best level you can.
“It set me up for a lot of success,” Hallock said. “I had people like my dad, who played college football and in the NFL, to prepare me for it then also Tim Rodgers, one of the best coaches I’ve ever had besides my dad. He coached in college and pushed me to become what I am today.”
Lots of memories come from playing sports at FHC. Hanging out with teammates, winning big games, and just playing the sport in general all have great memories to be made.
“I would not say I have a single memory, but there were so many,” Hallock said. “Going to the Lowell fair with the team, beating Lowell for the first time in 19 years my junior year, and beating Mona Shores junior year as well.”
The culture of sports teams at FHC is like family. Everyone stands up for each other and plays for each other.
“The best part, I believe, is the family-like culture we had when I was there,” Hallock said. “Everybody was close and played for one another.”
During junior year, coaches started contacting Coach Rodgers, and it boosted Tate’s confidence to be a better player, knowing he might have a shot at the next level.
“During/after my junior season, when college coaches started coming to the high school and contacting Coach Rodgers about me!”
