Feature on 1,000-yard rusher Alex Green

About training hard to improve his balance at a facility near his home in Portland, running across a narrow board with a medicine ball in one hand and holding a weighted bar above his head while doing a one-legged squat, Alex Green said:
"It took a lot of work." (HSA)


About how Alex was a good kid, his mother Phyllis Smith said:
"Growing up, he has never caused us any problems." (HSA)


About how Alex was nicknamed the "Chosen One" when he was 7-years-old on a family trip to Disneyland with a fly buzzing in the car, Smith said:
"Everyone was trying to swat the fly while he was sleeping. He wakes out of a deep sleep, then swats the fly we were trying to get for the last 45 minutes. We called him the 'Chosen One' because a lot of good things happen to him. But he also has worked hard to overcome a lot of adversity." (HSA)


HSA Note: "As a high school senior, Green was added as an alternate to a Portland all-star game. A few days before the game, a running back was injured, and Green was summoned. He ended up being named the game's most valuable player. Eastern Arizona (junior) College was the only school to offer him a scholarship. But when he arrived, the head coach had left. He transferred to California's Butte College. After his freshman year at Butte, he learned he was going to become a father. His daughter, Harlym, was born three days before the start of training camp. He took a job working at a hardware store. When that conflicted with his school and football schedule, he worked odd jobs."


About eating just 2 meals a day at UH (a large breakfast at the training table and dinner), sending the money saved from the third meal and other earnings to his daughter's mother in Portland, Green said:
"No sacrifice, no reward. Whether it's through football or a degree, I want to be able to support my family." (HSA)


HSA Note: "Green said he should accumulate enough credits to earn a degree in 2011. He said 18 credits from Butte did not transfer."


About how Mack promoted their team's family atmosphere to her during his recruiting trip, Smith said:
"Coach Mack said: 'We'll take good care of him. Don't worry.' When Alex got there, he told me, 'They treat me like family. Everybody is so nice.'" (HSA)


About how it was nice for Green to have such a huge game against NMSU, Bryant Moniz said:
"A.G. helps us so much with his blocking, it was nice that we could help him." (HSA)


HSA Note: "Green said he first knew he was doing well statistically when he saw his running tab -- 240 yards, nine carries -- on the scoreboard. Later, in the huddle, the linemen said they would help him reach 300."


About how the OL wanted him to get 300 yards, Green said:
"They were telling me to keep it up." (HSA)


About being the first 1,000-yard rusher at UH since UH started using the run-and-shoot, Mack said:
"That's the 'run' part of the run-and-shoot." (HSA)


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