Carrollton, GA - Commerce, Carrollton and Calhoun. These three cities in Georgia, on the surface have very little in common. However, one thing that they do have in common is West Georgia Hall of Fame football star Hal Lamb.
Born in Commerce, Ga. On August 22, 1964, football was the family business. He and his brother, Bobby, played under their father, Ray Lamb, the legendary Commerce coach. But for Hal, football was not the only thing on his palate, as he was a letterman in football, basketball and tennis.
Unlike Bobby, who was gifted with throwing the football, Hal was not the biggest or the fastest player on the field. But there was one place where Hal excelled, and that was catching the ball and running perfect routes.
When arriving at West Georgia following a national championship season, Lamb had to go through a proving ground and did not see the field until the final game of his freshman year against Liberty.
As a sophomore, Lamb continued to prove himself on and off the field, working hard to get into the regular receiver rotation. As a junior in 1985, he got that chance.
In that year, Lamb set a school record for receptions (38) and yards (588) in a season. He followed up as a senior in 1986 by breaking his own record with 53 receptions for 771 yards and six touchdowns on the year.
His impressive four-year career at West Georgia led him to 129 receptions for 1,843 yards and 10 touchdowns, netting All-Conference honors in each of his last two years in a West Georgia uniform. Both of those records stood for nearly 10 years until Chad Walker, followed by Roscoe Pounds, each surpassed those career numbers.
After graduating from West Georgia, Lamb continued his football career as a head coach at Calhoun High School, transforming an underdog into a formidable team in the state playoffs in nearly every season since.
In the fall of 1998, Lamb’s achievements on the field were relived, as he was inducted into the UWG Hall of Fame as a part of the sixth Hall of Fame class.
Three cities in Georgia will never forget the great legacy of one man who has changed and influenced many athletes. His outstanding work ethic, both collegiately and professionally in his days after West Georgia, prove his character in more ways than one. Alums like him make everyone proud to hail from the University of West Georgia.