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First Person Q&A with … Aaron Green

The senior running back demonstrates communication skills in discussing football, his education-emphasizing parents and the value of international travel.

Aaron Green TCU, TCU football running backs, best college RBs, Doak Walker list

Senior running back Aaron Green is on the Doak Walker Award watch list.

First Person Q&A with … Aaron Green

The senior running back demonstrates communication skills in discussing football, his education-emphasizing parents and the value of international travel.

Editor’s Note: The questions and answers have been edited for length and clarity.

 

First things first: Your father, Tony Green, was a football letterman at Baylor. Were you a Bears fan as a kid?

No. I was not. Never.

 

You’re usually spreading a positive message through social media. You credited your parents for instilling an uplifting perspective at home. How did they do that?

I think it’s just the life they live. They’re two very humble people. They’re very appreciative of everything they have. They’re both very hardworking and dedicated. They always look at the glass half full, not half empty. I think that rubbed off on me, to where I became humble, I became positive.

 

 

Your father made a career in education, and your mother is in social work. What did they teach you about the value of education?

My dad led by example. He graduated from college and got his master’s degree as well. So education has always been big in my family. Everybody went to college, and everyone graduated. That’s why I’m really stoked to graduate and be the last to complete that mission. I’m the baby of the family.

 

You were one of the top-ranked high school football players in the country at San Antonio Madison High School. How did you stay focused in the midst of the intense recruiting process?

It’s just natural, not like a secret drink or something. I understand that you can be up here one point, and the next day you can be down here. There are a lot of prime examples of that in athletics, where someone had the world one day, and the next he or she is in jail or hurt. I know that I’m just here for a little while. After awhile, Aaron Green will fade away.

“We all have one goal, and that’s to win. We’re all on the same page.”
Aaron Green

 

You signed with Nebraska and spent a year there before transferring to TCU. Why did you choose to be a Cornhusker?

At that point in my life, I felt that was where I needed to be, especially as a freshman. The opportunity to play really persuaded me to go there. I learned a lot, and I’m really happy I did go there my freshman year because it’s a big part of who I am today. I had a lot of troubled times there, emotionally and stuff like that, but the people I met there, the coaches and teammates, we’ll be friends forever.

 

What made you decide on TCU as a transfer destination?

I liked the way [the coaches use] their running backs in the offense, the old offense. I was looking for a place where I had a better chance of playing, of having a better role.

 

TCU Iowa State, TCU big plays, tailback Aaron Green, Aaron Green character, best RBs NFL draft

Green breaks free for a big run against Iowa State on Dec. 6, 2014.

The offensive system changed last season with the arrival of co-coordinators Sonny Cumbie and Doug Meacham. What do you think about the scheme they implemented?

It’s the best in the world. I love it. It’s fun. We throw the ball around a lot, and everything’s fast. We use all of our weapons. It fits me perfectly, the type of player I am. I feel like I’m an exciting runner, and this is an exciting offense. I feel like whenever Tre [Boykin] throws the ball to Deanté Gray or Kolby [Listenbee] or Josh [Doctson], everybody holds their breath: Like what’s going to happen? I feel like it’s the same with me when I touch the ball.

 

What did you expect going into the 2014 season?

I expected a lot, actually. I didn’t know if I quite expected 12-1, but I expected us to win a lot of games. And even the year before, the 4-8 season, all of those games we were in, we just couldn’t score. Our defense always played well. So I knew that if we had somewhat of an offense, we were going to be a scary team. And we were.

 

What are your expectations going into the 2015 season?

The same. I just want to win every game. Of course take one game at a time, but it’s my senior year. I feel like we have a really good team. The defense is always going to be good. We’re returning the majority of our players on offense. The chemistry is as good as it has ever been, so it’s going to be a roller coaster. It’s not going to be easy, but I definitely expect a good year.

“People mistake athletes as kind of lazy, like we were born with this talent and don’t really do anything for it. But I wanted to show people that we do put in a lot of hard work, time and emotions.”
Aaron Green

 

In July, you posted videos on Twitter about working out and running routes in the middle of the night. Were you trying to escape the heat, or are you obsessed?

I was just that focused. I’m a night owl. I stay up all night and do absolutely nothing. I just feel like I’m going to miss something if I go to sleep, so I was up, and my mind started wandering. I started thinking about the season. Like, ‘I can’t be asleep right now. I need to go do something,’ so I drove up [to campus], and I did.

 

 

Was the midnight workout a one-time thing?

No, that was just the first time I actually recorded it. A lot of times, people mistake athletes as kind of lazy, like we were born with this talent and don’t really do anything for it. But I wanted to show people that we do put in a lot of hard work, time and emotions.

 

The depth chart lists you as first-team tailback along with sophomores Kyle Hicks and Trevorris Johnson, and freshman Shaun Nixon is nipping at your heels. With so many talented athletes in the mix, how do you balance the by-committee approach and keep the group’s energy focused?

We’ve got a group full of good, good guys, good teammates, good players and good friends. All of that other stuff takes care of itself. We all understand our roles. We’re fine with our roles, so we work hard and encourage each other. We all have one goal, and that’s to win. We’re all on the same page.

 

What was your favorite game in a TCU jersey?

West Virginia last year. I didn’t play that much but just being out there with my team and seeing how we overcame adversity was so amazing. It was so emotional after the game, just going into the locker room, seeing everybody screaming and jumping. That’s definitely a game that I’ll never forget. A game I thought that all of our dreams of making it to the playoffs were down the drain, but we fought back and ended up winning. It was awesome.


TCU FCA, FCA trips, Aaron Green, TCU running back, Doak Walker award

TCU running back Aaron Green sits on the teaching steps in Jerusalem. The senior traveled to Israel during 2013’s spring break.

You’re involved with TCU’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter. How does the group add to your college experience?

It adds a lot. Chauncey Franks [TCU’s FCA life and character coach] does an amazing job. It’s good to interact with other positive people and bounce ideas off of them. It’s encouraging to get through the week and know you have other people supporting you.

 

Are a lot of people in the football program involved with Fellowship of Christian Athletes?

Yes, probably about a third. Over half of the football team goes to the annual FCA retreat.

 

During Spring Break 2013, you traveled to Israel and were re-baptized in the Jordan River. Did you go there with this intent?

I actually didn’t, but when I was there, it was like why not? I’ve come this far. That was the time of my life.

 

Would you say your life has been different since then?

Yeah, I think whenever someone travels overseas, your life is somewhat transformed because naturally your mind expands. You see a different part of life. A lot of times, we see different countries on television, but it’s totally different when you’re over there and you get to live in their culture, see how other people live, how they think, eat, drink. It’s good to get out of that Americanized model.

 

You took a trip to Big Bend National Park last summer. How was that experience?

I went with my childhood friends from back home. I’m kind of a nature freak. It’s so typical to go to a club or go to the beach. Let’s go somewhere we won’t really have access to our phones, where we can kind of be one with nature and just enjoy each other’s company. It was by far one of the best trips I’ve ever taken.

TCU christian, Aaron Green San Antonio, Aaron Green Nebraska, spring break FCA trip, TCU Jerusalem

Green visited the Tomb of Christ during the FCA spring break trip. He said the international experience widened his perspective.


 

What do you tell recruits who are visiting TCU about the school and the football program?

I just tell them the truth. That it is not easy, but it’s definitely worth it. I enjoy my experience here. We have a great football program that speaks for itself. Other than that, just how the city gets behind us, the school spirit, you can’t find that everywhere.

 

Do you give the recruits any keys for achieving success?

Yes, time management, self-confidence and [the willingness] to learn from other people. Sometimes people come in here like they know it all. Ultimately they fail.

 

You are scheduled to graduate in December with a degree in communication. Why did you choose this area of study?

You can do a lot with it. Everyone needs someone who can communicate effectively, in business or wherever you work.

 

How do you apply your communication studies to your role on the football team?

A lot can be applied, especially considering the fact that playing the game of football, or any team sport, takes a lot of communication. Being able to relate to my teammates and communicate with them effectively, it makes us a better team, especially now that I’m a senior and more of a leader. I have to be not only [setting] an example out on the field, but be a leader vocally as well.

“It’s good to get out of that Americanized model.”

 

What do you want to be doing a year from today?

Hopefully still playing.

 

If you decided you didn’t want to play football, what would you do?

I would love to get into broadcasting. I think I have a knack for public speaking, and I’d get to talk about sports.

 

Have you considered what you want your legacy at TCU to be?

I want to be known as a good man, a loving man, someone who cared about everyone. In our society, we tend to treat people better if they can benefit us in different situations. I really treat everybody the same, love everybody. I try to be a down-to-earth, humble guy. As long as I can do that, I’ll be happy.

 

–Caroline Collier

Your comments are welcome

2 Comments

  1. I never knew Aaron that well personally but I was blessed to see his play back when he attended Madison. Thanks to him and God’s favor, I’ve been able to sustain a humble mindset and the ability to lead my new team (Lee High School). I only pray his legacy ends up bigger than he ever imagined, and that I can make myself better by taking away from what he’s left behind so far.

  2. I love watching Aaron Green play the sport of football, and every week I see him in that purple and white (and sometimes black) uniform, I say thanks to the Lord for allowing Aaron to be wearing purple in lieu of Nebraska’s red.

    Thanks to TCU Magazine for spotlighting Aaron Green this week. We all know Aaron brings us joy on the gridiron; but after reading the article, it’s quite obvious Aaron has so much more than football to offer this great world.

    And thanks to Aaron for being truly a great role model to all the little Bleacher Creatures who have their individual heroes they try to emulate.

    And I would be remiss if I personally did not thank Aaron for being so alert to grab that Boykin-to- Doctson-to- Green touchdown pass against the Red Raiders to keep the dream alive!

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