By Chad Love

Sorry, Alabama. While I commend your university for a great class offering I must point out that the University of Oklahoma beat you to it years ago.

I should know, because right there on my yellowed and  otherwise-undistinguished college transcript is a three-hour credit for a course entitled "Fish Behavior, Ecology and Fishing Techniques." Which is a fancy way of saying that in the summer of 1997 I got to spend almost three weeks fishing my arms off at the University of Oklahoma's biological research station on Lake Texoma. And earn a grade for it. My wife still rolls her eyes when I mention it.

The course was created and taught by the late, great Dr. Loren G. Hill, distinguished researcher and 1980s bass fishing icon. If you were a bass angler in the 80s and early 90s, chances are that at one time or another you fished with a product invented or influenced by Loren Hill. The Color-C-Lector, the pH Meter, the Snatrix, the Rebel Redneck, there were a multitude of products and lures based on his groundbreaking research.

So when I noticed during my senior year at OU that not only was the OU biological station offering a class with the word "fishing" in the title, but that it was being taught by Loren Hill himself, I jumped at it. Even better, Hill's "assistants" for the course were two very accomplished pro anglers in his son, Kenyan Hill and fellow Oklahoman O.T. Fears.

Sounds like a cream-puff, right? But here's the thing: the class really was rigorous. This may have been a fishing class, but Hill was first and foremost a professor. To our collective shock he expected us to learn a few things about ecology, fish behavior and basic zoology while we were there. And to that end we had lectures, took notes and were expected to pass any number of written tests. I can honestly say it was one of the most rewarding and educational classes of my college career.

So don't be so quick to snicker when you see college class offerings that read more like a vacation than an academic pursuit. Chances are the professor teaching the course is well aware of that perception and might have a few surprises for the slackers expecting a party.

Sadly, Loren G. Hill passed away last year and as far as I know the University of Oklahoma stopped offering the class after Dr. Hill retired.

So... Roll Tide. Maybe you can get a trend started...

Comments (4)

from shane wrote 3 years 5 weeks ago

You got to take a class with Loren Hill, and guys named Kenyan Hill and O.T. Fears? I think we need to resurrect Ted Trueblood to cover this story. This is too good.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from chadlove wrote 3 years 5 weeks ago

I really need to start taking some Ginkgo Biloba or something for failing memory.

I misspelled Kenyon Hill's first name (It's O not A) and for some reason I typed May of 1997 when I meant to type May of 1996.

I guess that's what age will do to you...

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Jim in Mo wrote 3 years 5 weeks ago

I remember the Color C Lector. Saw Mr. Hill and Bill Dance fishing with it. Wonder what happened to it? Glad my dad never saw it he was a sucker for every gizmo that came out. And I say that respectfuly to Loren Hill.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from FloridaHunter1226 wrote 3 years 5 weeks ago

As I said with the last post of these kind of classes being offered at Alabama.... I just hope that other colleges follow in example and offer such courses. I would love and thoroughly enjoy such classes.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

Post a Comment

 

All submitted comments are subject to the rules set forth in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

from shane wrote 3 years 5 weeks ago

You got to take a class with Loren Hill, and guys named Kenyan Hill and O.T. Fears? I think we need to resurrect Ted Trueblood to cover this story. This is too good.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from chadlove wrote 3 years 5 weeks ago

I really need to start taking some Ginkgo Biloba or something for failing memory.

I misspelled Kenyon Hill's first name (It's O not A) and for some reason I typed May of 1997 when I meant to type May of 1996.

I guess that's what age will do to you...

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Jim in Mo wrote 3 years 5 weeks ago

I remember the Color C Lector. Saw Mr. Hill and Bill Dance fishing with it. Wonder what happened to it? Glad my dad never saw it he was a sucker for every gizmo that came out. And I say that respectfuly to Loren Hill.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from FloridaHunter1226 wrote 3 years 5 weeks ago

As I said with the last post of these kind of classes being offered at Alabama.... I just hope that other colleges follow in example and offer such courses. I would love and thoroughly enjoy such classes.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

Post a Comment

 

All submitted comments are subject to the rules set forth in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.