Tim Green: Excellence Personified

Editor's note: This story appears in the Sept. 14 edition of the 2019 Syracuse football gameday program. Programs are available for $5 and sold throughout the Dome.

An All-American and a first-round NFL Draft pick. A best-selling author. A Rhodes Scholar candidate. An unbeaten, state champion wrestler. A broadcaster and an accomplished lawyer.

If a person achieves just one of those things, they're considered to be among the most successful in their field. Syracuse's Tim Green was all of those and then some.

The former defensive lineman played eight seasons in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons after his All-America career ended with the Orange. After football, Green served as a commentator and radio and television host, authored more than 30 books, including multiple New York Times best sellers, was presented with the NCAA Silver Anniversary Award, inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, and will now have his No. 72 jersey retired this weekend against Clemson.

Still Syracuse's all-time sacks leader, Green was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, more commonly referred to as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease on Aug. 3, 2016. ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.

True to form, Green has used this diagnosis to become a leader. In starting the Tackle ALS campaign, the Green family partnered with the Sean M. Healy & AMG Center for ALS at Massachusetts General Hospital. Over $3 million has been raised to fund research for a cure. The slogan "Don't be sorry, let's beat this" embodies Green and his fight.

The Liverpool, New York native has been nothing short of groundbreaking in his life, extending his talents well beyond football. Therefore, it's only fitting that he become the first defensive player in the program's 130-year history to have his jersey retired. Green's No. 72 joins the jerseys of Larry Csonka (39), John Mackey (88), Donovan McNabb (5), Don McPherson (9) and Joe Morris (47) in the Dome rafters. The No. 44, which was worn by 25 players, including legendary running backs Jim Brown, Ernie Davis and Floyd Little, is also retired.

Green tallied a school-record 45.5 sacks and 341 career tackles, the most for a Syracuse down lineman, from 1982-85 to help the Orange begin their football resurgence under head coach Dick MacPherson. A member of Syracuse's All-Century Team, Green posted three of the four highest season sack totals in Orange history. In addition, he's responsible for three of the top four tackling seasons ever by an SU down lineman.

"I humbly accept this great honor not on behalf of myself but on behalf of Coach Mac, his entire coaching staff, including strength coach Mike Woicik, my teammates and of course – George O'Leary," Green said when informed his jersey would be retired. "Without them, any success I had on the football field would not have been possible.

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"I also want my fellow Syracuse Orange fans to know how much I have enjoyed their kindness and support through the years. This recognition is especially sweet because it comes during another era of rebirth to greatness for the SU football program. I want to thank John Wildhack and the current administration for this incredible tribute."

During his time on campus, Green excelled in the classroom as well as on the field. He majored in English and was a Rhodes Scholar finalist as a senior. He is the only two-time CoSIDA First Team Academic All-American in program history, earning the award in both 1984 and 1985. He graduated Summa Cum Laude before returning to campus after his playing career to earn his law degree.

"Tim Green is one of the most accomplished student-athletes in the history of Syracuse University. He was one of the most important recruits of the Coach Mac era, a Syracuse native who opted to play for his hometown team and help rebuild our program," Wildhack said. "Tim's academic accomplishments are incredibly impressive as well, which speaks volumes about his diverse talents."

Now 55 years old, Green revealed on "60 Minutes" last November that he's living with a slow-progressing version of ALS.
"Tim's courage and optimism in dealing with ALS is truly inspiring," Wildhack said. "It is only fitting that a person of his achievement be celebrated."

Green played for George O'Leary at Liverpool High School, and when the time to choose his college destination came, Green elected to join his former coach – who had since become an assistant on Coach Mac's staff – at SU in 1982. Green made an instant impact as a freshman, starting at nose guard and collecting 58 tackles.

Green followed up his first season with a breakthrough sophomore campaign. He racked up 94 tackles and 14.5 sacks to earn his first of three All-America awards. Green's dominant presence helped Syracuse to a 6-5 record after three sub-.500 seasons, including wins over No. 13 Boston College and No. 14 West Virginia.

In 1984, Green cemented his legacy as one of college football's most fearsome defenders. He collected 101 tackles, the second-most by a Syracuse down lineman, and eclipsed his own school record with 15 sacks. Against Nebraska, Green made 12 tackles to lead an Orange defense that smothered the top-ranked Cornhuskers in a historic 17-9 victory at the Dome. He terrorized Maryland and Rutgers, logging three sacks apiece against the Terrapins and Scarlet Knights. After the season, Green was voted a first-team All-American by Sporting News, Pro Football Weekly and USA Today. He received third-team honors from Football News and the Associated Press.

Green capped his career with another stellar season in 1985, adding 88 tackles and 13.5 more sacks to his stat line. He powered an Orange defense that posted three shutouts, as Syracuse went 7-5 and earned a berth in the Cherry Bowl opposite Maryland. For his efforts, Green was voted the ECAC co-Player of the Year and a unanimous first-team All-American.

The Falcons used their first-round pick to select him 17th overall. He played eight seasons (1986-93) for the Falcons, collecting 24 sacks and nine fumble recoveries in 99 games as a defensive end and outside linebacker.

After retiring from the NFL, Green returned to Central New York. His post-football career has included working as a commentator for the "NFL on FOX" and National Public Radio. His career as an author includes 38 published books, including teaming up with New York Yankees great Derek Jeter in 2017 to pen the "Baseball Genius" series.

Green was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2001 and the CoSIDA Academic All-America Hall of Fame in 2006. In 2011, Green received the NCAA's Silver Anniversary Award, presented annually to six former student-athletes for distinguished career accomplishments on the 25th anniversary of their college graduation.

"Tim is the epitome of what it means to be a Syracuse University student-athlete," current Syracuse head football coach Dino Babers said. "What he's done on the field and in life after football speaks for itself. He's very deserving of this honor."

Green and his wife, Illyssa, reside in Skaneateles, New York. They have five children – Thane, Tessa, Troy, Tate and Ty. Like his father, Troy also played football at Syracuse. Green's daughter, Tate, is currently a senior on the Harvard women's lacrosse team.

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