Madre Hill
Encyclopedia
Madre Hill is a former American football
running back
, playing last for the Oakland Raiders
of the National Football League
. Considered one of the greatest running backs to come out of the University of Arkansas
, Hill was named 1st Team All-SEC in 1995 and was named to the Razorbacks' All-time team for the 1990s. He formerly held the all-time season rushing record for Arkansas high schools and for the Arkansas Razorbacks.
National High School Player of the Year, and was named All-American by USA Today
and Blue Chip Illustrated for the second time by each publication. Hill was also a Gatorade
Circle of Champions Player of the Year for Arkansas and closed his high school career with 3 All-State and All-District selections.
from 1994–98, missing the 1996 and 1997 seasons due to tearing the anterior cruciate ligament
in each knee.
.
(SEC) by the SEC coaches and the Associated press
, setting single game school records for rushing attempts (45 against Auburn
) and rushing touchdowns (6 against South Carolina
) and the school's single season record for rushing attempts (307) and rushing yards (1,387). The season rushing attempts record and rushing yards record have since been broken by Darren McFadden
. Hill led the Razorbacks to the SEC Championship Game
that season, where they were defeated by Florida
34–3. Hill suffered his first knee injury in that game versus the Gators. The 1995 Hogs finished 8–5 after losing to North Carolina in the Carquest Bowl
, without Hill.
, in head coach Houston Nutt
's first season (Hill's coach from 1994 through 1997 was Danny Ford
). Arkansas would lose to Michigan
(led by Tom Brady
) in the Florida Citrus Bowl
on January 1, 1999.
Hill was named to the Arkansas Razorbacks All-Decade Team for the 1990s, and finished his Razorback career with 2,407 yards rushing, ninth place all-time at the university. Artist Nancy Couch was commissioned by then-athletic director
Frank Broyles
to paint two Razorback football players running behind a herd of charging razorbacks. For the players Houston Nutt chose Brandon Burlsworth
and Madre Hill. The original 8" X 16" oil on canvas
painting of Hill running behind Burlsworth currently hangs in the Broyles Athletic Center at the University of Arkansas
.
in the seventh round of the 1999 NFL Draft
. Selected with the first pick of the seventh round, Hill was drafted ahead of players such as Chris Akins
and future Pro Bowl
er Donald Driver
. Hill played two seasons with the Browns, playing five games as a kick returner
in 1999, returning 8 kicks for 137 yards. Hill spent the 2000 season on injured reserve
due to a neck injury.
In 2001, Hill played in NFL Europe
for the Berlin Thunder
, and was the team's leading rusher with 388 yards on 69 carries (5.6 avg.). He also caught 15 passes for 295 yards (19.7 avg.), returned 7 kicks for 98 yards and scored four touchdowns (2 rushing, 2 receiving). The Thunder finished with a 6–4 record and won World Bowl IX
that season, with Hill leading the Thunder in rushing with 31 yards on 8 attempts and catching 4 passes for 35 yards.
Hill's performance with the Berlin Thunder earned him a free agent contract with the San Diego Chargers
in 2001. He was signed to fill in during LaDainian Tomlinson
's
holdout, but was released after appearing in three pre-season games once Tomlinson signed with the team. Hill's final professional season was with the Oakland Raiders
in 2002, and was part of the active roster for the Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII
, which they lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
.
in 2004. In 2005, Hill was hired by Steve Spurrier
at the University of South Carolina
as running backs coach. The Gamecocks finished the 2005 season with a 7–5 record and were invited to the Independence Bowl
. Hill coached running backs at Florida International University
for head coach Don Strock
during the 2006 season.
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...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
, playing last for the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
of 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...
. Considered one of the greatest running backs to come out of the University of Arkansas
Arkansas Razorbacks football
The Arkansas Razorbacks football program is a college football team that represents the University of Arkansas. The team is a member of the Southeastern Conference's Western Division, which is in Division I's Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
, Hill was named 1st Team All-SEC in 1995 and was named to the Razorbacks' All-time team for the 1990s. He formerly held the all-time season rushing record for Arkansas high schools and for the Arkansas Razorbacks.
High school career
Even before Hill reached high school, leagues were instituting rules in order to keep things fair for his opponents. In high school, Hill rushed for a then-state record 6,008 yards for Malvern High School and 68 touchdowns. As a senior Hill ran for a state record 2863 yards (broken by Derek Lawson of Nettleton High School in 2006) and led Malvern to a Class AAA State Championship in 1993, running for over 200 yards in the title game. Following his senior year Hill was named ReebokReebok
Reebok International Limited, a subsidiary of the German sportswear company Adidas since 2005, is a producer of Athletic shoes, apparel, and accessories. The name comes from the Afrikaans spelling of rhebok, a type of African antelope or gazelle...
National High School Player of the Year, and was named All-American by USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
and Blue Chip Illustrated for the second time by each publication. Hill was also a Gatorade
Gatorade
Gatorade is a brand of sports-themed food and beverage products, built around its signature product: a line of sports drinks. Gatorade is currently manufactured by PepsiCo, distributed in over 80 countries...
Circle of Champions Player of the Year for Arkansas and closed his high school career with 3 All-State and All-District selections.
College career
Hill played collegiately for the Arkansas RazorbacksArkansas Razorbacks
The Razorbacks, also known as the Hogs, are the names of college sports teams at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The term Arkansas Razorbacks properly applies to any of the sports teams at the university. The Razorbacks take their name from the feral pig of the same name...
from 1994–98, missing the 1996 and 1997 seasons due to tearing the anterior cruciate ligament
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
in each knee.
1994 Season
As a freshman, Hill ran for 351 yards on 74 carries (4.7 avg.), and tied a school record with a 100 yard kickoff return for a touchdown against the LSU TigersLSU Tigers
The LSU Tigers are the athletic teams of Louisiana State University. They participate in the NCAA's Division I, in the Southeastern Conference. It fields teams in 14 varsity sports . Its official team nickname is the Fighting Tigers and the school mascot is Mike the Tiger...
.
1995 Season
In 1995, Hill was named 1st team All-Southeastern ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
(SEC) by the SEC coaches and the Associated press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
, setting single game school records for rushing attempts (45 against Auburn
Auburn Tigers
Auburn Tigers is the name given to Auburn University athletic teams. The University is a member of the Southeastern Conference and competes in NCAA Division I, fielding 19 varsity teams in 13 sports:* Men's sports** Baseball** Basketball...
) and rushing touchdowns (6 against South Carolina
South Carolina Gamecocks
The University of South Carolina's 19 varsity sports teams are known as the "Gamecocks". The unique moniker is held in honor of Thomas Sumter, a South Carolina war hero who was given the name "The Carolina Gamecock" during the American Revolution for his fierce fighting tactics, regardless of his...
) and the school's single season record for rushing attempts (307) and rushing yards (1,387). The season rushing attempts record and rushing yards record have since been broken by Darren McFadden
Darren McFadden
Darren McFadden is an American football running back who currently plays for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League . He played college football for the University of Arkansas from 2005 to 2007...
. Hill led the Razorbacks to the SEC Championship Game
SEC Championship Game
The SEC Championship Game refers to the game determining the Southeastern Conference's football season champion. The championship game pits the SEC Western Division representative against the Eastern Division representative in a game held after the regular season has been completed. Thus far, nine...
that season, where they were defeated by Florida
Florida Gators
The Florida Gators are the intercollegiate sports teams that represent the University of Florida located in Gainesville, Florida. The "Lady Gators" is an alternative nickname sometimes used by the Gators women's teams...
34–3. Hill suffered his first knee injury in that game versus the Gators. The 1995 Hogs finished 8–5 after losing to North Carolina in the Carquest Bowl
Champs Sports Bowl
The Champs Sports Bowl is an annual college football bowl game that is played in Orlando, Florida, at the Citrus Bowl. The bowl is operated by Florida Citrus Sports, a non-profit group which also organizes the Capital One Bowl and Florida Classic...
, without Hill.
1998 Season
In 1998, Hill came back from a two year absence to finish second on the team with 669 yards rushing and seven touchdowns on 160 carries (4.2 avg.), helping the Razorbacks to a 9–3 record and a first place tie for the SEC West Division title with the Mississippi State BulldogsMississippi State Bulldogs
The Mississippi State Bulldogs are the athletic teams of Mississippi State University. They participate in NCAA's Division I in the competitive 12-member Southeastern Conference under the mascot Bulldogs and the school colors of maroon and white...
, in head coach Houston Nutt
Houston Nutt
Houston Dale Nutt, Jr. is an American football coach and former player. Most recently he was the head football coach at the University of Mississippi from 2008 to 2011. Previously, he served as the head coach at Murray State University , Boise State University , and the University of Arkansas...
's first season (Hill's coach from 1994 through 1997 was Danny Ford
Danny Ford
Danny Lee Ford is a former American football player and coach. He played college football at the University of Alabama from 1967 to 1969. He served as the head football coach at Clemson University in South Carolina from 1978 to 1989 and at the University of Arkansas from 1993 to 1997, compiling...
). Arkansas would lose to Michigan
Michigan Wolverines
The Michigan Wolverines comprise 27 varsity sports teams at the University of Michigan. These teams compete in the NCAA's Division I and in the Big Ten Conference in all sports except men's ice hockey which competes in the NCAA D1 Central Collegiate Hockey Association, and women's water polo, which...
(led by Tom Brady
Tom Brady
Thomas Edward Patrick "Tom" Brady, Jr. is an American football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League . After playing college football at Michigan, Brady was drafted by the Patriots in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft.He has played in four Super Bowls,...
) in the Florida Citrus Bowl
Capital One Bowl
The Capital One Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played in Orlando, Florida at the Citrus Bowl, and previously known as the Tangerine Bowl and the Florida Citrus Bowl...
on January 1, 1999.
Hill was named to the Arkansas Razorbacks All-Decade Team for the 1990s, and finished his Razorback career with 2,407 yards rushing, ninth place all-time at the university. Artist Nancy Couch was commissioned by then-athletic director
Athletic director
An athletic director is an administrator at many American colleges and universities, as well as in larger high schools and middle schools, who oversees the work of coaches and related staff involved in intercollegiate or interscholastic athletic programs...
Frank Broyles
Frank Broyles
John Franklin Broyles is a former American football player and coach, athletics administrator, and broadcaster. He served as the head football coach the University of Missouri in 1957 and at the University of Arkansas from 1958 to 1976...
to paint two Razorback football players running behind a herd of charging razorbacks. For the players Houston Nutt chose Brandon Burlsworth
Brandon burlsworth
Brandon Vaughn Burlsworth was an offensive lineman for the Arkansas Razorbacks football team from 1996-1998...
and Madre Hill. The original 8" X 16" oil on canvas
Oil on Canvas
Oil on Canvas is a live album by the British band Japan, released in 1983 by Virgin Records. Although it is a live recording of their established material, the album also contains three new studio tracks , recorded separately by Sylvian, Sylvian/Jansen and Barbieri respectively...
painting of Hill running behind Burlsworth currently hangs in the Broyles Athletic Center at the University of Arkansas
University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...
.
Professional career
Hill was drafted by the Cleveland BrownsCleveland 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 seventh round of the 1999 NFL Draft
1999 NFL Draft
The 1999 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 17-18, 1999...
. Selected with the first pick of the seventh round, Hill was drafted ahead of players such as Chris Akins
Chris Akins
Christopher Drew Akins is a former American football safety and special teams player. He played in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots, and the Miami Dolphins.-High school years:Akins attended Hall High School in Little...
and future Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
er Donald Driver
Donald Driver
Donald Jerome Driver is an American football wide receiver and children's author. He plays for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League...
. Hill played two seasons with the Browns, playing five games as a kick returner
Kick returner
In American and Canadian football, a kick returner is the player on special teams who is primarily responsible to catch kickoffs and attempts to return them in the opposite direction. If the ball is kicked into his own endzone, he must assess the situation on the field while the ball is in the...
in 1999, returning 8 kicks for 137 yards. Hill spent the 2000 season on injured reserve
Injured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
due to a neck injury.
In 2001, Hill played in NFL Europe
NFL Europe
NFL Europe was an American football league which operated in Europe from 1991 until 2007. Backed by the National Football League , the largest professional American football league in the United States, it was founded as the World League of American Football to serve as a type of spring league...
for the Berlin Thunder
Berlin Thunder
The Berlin Thunder were a professional American football team in NFL Europe, which was a springtime American football league serving primarily as a developmental league for the National Football League. Most of the players were young American professional players assigned by NFL teams to receive...
, and was the team's leading rusher with 388 yards on 69 carries (5.6 avg.). He also caught 15 passes for 295 yards (19.7 avg.), returned 7 kicks for 98 yards and scored four touchdowns (2 rushing, 2 receiving). The Thunder finished with a 6–4 record and won World Bowl IX
World Bowl IX
World Bowl IX was the first World Bowl that didn't have the year that it was played in the title. It was the 2001 edition of NFL Europe's championship game. The site was the Amsterdam ArenA in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. On June 30, 2001, the 6-4 Berlin Thunder took on the 8-2 Barcelona Dragons...
that season, with Hill leading the Thunder in rushing with 31 yards on 8 attempts and catching 4 passes for 35 yards.
Hill's performance with the Berlin Thunder earned him a free agent contract with 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...
in 2001. He was signed to fill in during LaDainian Tomlinson
LaDainian Tomlinson
LaDainian Tramayne Tomlinson is an American football running back for the New York Jets of the National Football League. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers fifth overall in the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at Texas Christian.Tomlinson, often referred to by his initials, L...
's
holdout, but was released after appearing in three pre-season games once Tomlinson signed with the team. Hill's final professional season was with the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 2002, and was part of the active roster for the Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII
Super Bowl XXXVII
Super Bowl XXXVII was an American football game played on January 26, 2003 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 2002 regular season...
, which they lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
.
Post-playing career
After playing for the Raiders, Hill returned to the University of Arkansas, where he served as a graduate assistant to head football coach Houston NuttHouston Nutt
Houston Dale Nutt, Jr. is an American football coach and former player. Most recently he was the head football coach at the University of Mississippi from 2008 to 2011. Previously, he served as the head coach at Murray State University , Boise State University , and the University of Arkansas...
in 2004. In 2005, Hill was hired by Steve Spurrier
Steve Spurrier
Stephen Orr Spurrier is an American college football coach and player. Spurrier is the current head coach of the University of South Carolina's Gamecocks football team. He is also a former professional player and coach...
at the University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
as running backs coach. The Gamecocks finished the 2005 season with a 7–5 record and were invited to the Independence Bowl
Independence Bowl
The Independence Bowl is a post-season NCAA-sanctioned Division I college football bowl game that is played annually at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana, so named because it was inaugurated in the United States bicentennial year, 1976....
. Hill coached running backs at Florida International University
Florida International University
Florida International University is an American public research university in metropolitan Miami, Florida, in the United States, with its main campus in University Park...
for head coach Don Strock
Don Strock
Don Strock is a former professional football player who was the head coach of the Florida International University football team from 2002–2006.-College:Strock played college football at Virginia Tech, and graduated in 1973...
during the 2006 season.