GoUSFBulls.com Zebold: Green's Pro Football Dream Has Come True in CFL

[Brad]

It's a great thing that Mr. Zebold writes about a former Bull that has great success north of the border.  I am sure there are many that weren't aware.  I'd been following Green's career through google news feeds.  Good to see a story on GoUSFBulls.com

 

Green's Pro Football Dream Has Come True in CFL

June 30, 2016
By  USF

 

By TOM ZEBOLD

USF Senior Writer

TAMPA, JUNE 30, 2016 – Entering its 20^th season, USF Football continues to build an impressive list of former players at the pro level, including a receiver that’s caught on quite well in the Canadian Football League.

S.J. Green, who played for USF from 2003-05, has logged the second-most games of any Bull in the NFL or CFL with 115 for the Montreal Alouettes. The Bay Area’s 10-year vet from Brandon will add another chapter to his accomplished career Thursday night against Ottawa.

“I always said I wanted to play professional football,” Green said in a phone interview last week. “My dreams have come true.”

Signed as a free agent in 2007, Green has become a go-to guy for Montreal with 444 receptions for 6,626 yards and 42 touchdowns. The five-time All-Star put together 1,000-yard seasons in 2011-13 and hauled in 71 passes for 1,036 yards last season.

The 31-year-old started his 2016 season in stride with five catches for 75 yards and a touchdown in Montreal’s 22-14 win over Winnipeg last Friday.

“In this business, you get consistent at what you do and do what you do well. You give yourself a chance to make it big and you give yourself a chance to contribute to your team’s success,” Green said. “That’s what it’s about for me, being able to contribute to something bigger than myself and achieving one common goal, which is a championship.”

Fortunately for Green, he’s gotten a savory taste of success on the grandest of stages in the CFL. Green got to hoist the championship trophy, the Grey Cup, in 2009 and 2010 after Montreal appeared in the big game in 2008.

“That was an experience of a lifetime,” he said. “You see how hard it really is to get to that point. You really appreciate those moments because you never know how often they’re going to come around.”

Green, a father of two who resides in Wesley Chapel in the offseason, appreciates all the support he’s received from USF fans, former teammates, coaches and current members of the program during his long pro career that’s taken him far from home.

“Once a Bull, always a Bull,” said Green, who wants to return the favor whenever he can. “I’ll continue to try to give back to the University because they gave me an opportunity to play football and ultimately an opportunity to provide for my family.”

Living nearly 1,500 miles from campus during the season hasn’t stopped Green from remaining a dedicated follower of USF Football. Green catches every game he can on TV and he’s proud of what the program accomplished last season. USF won seven of the final eight games of the regular season on the way to the Miami Beach Bowl.

“I’ve kept up over the years and last year was a very positive year,” he said. “Coach (Willie) Taggart and his coaching staff have really honed in and made it their own. They’ve put their heart and soul into it and you can tell.”

Green was a part of USF’s first bowl team in 2005 and he enjoyed seeing Taggart’s “Gulf Coast Offense” rewrite the program’s record books with 5,741 yards and 54 touchdowns in 2015.

“Quinton Flowers and Marlon Mack did an excellent job, and they had some receivers making some big plays for them,” Green said. “It was fun to watch and I was proud to be a USF Bull. Hopefully it’s a good step in the right direction for future teams.”

Catch Green in action Thursday at 7 p.m., when Montreal hosts Ottawa in a Week 2 game that will be televised on ESPN2.

 

Rest of Report

[slick1ru2]

Cool, the game is just starting now.

[slick1ru2]

Awe crap, SJ just went down with a knee injury. 

[Bull Dozer]

I wonder if BJ has ever thought about the CFL 

[GaUSFBull]

10 hours ago, Bull Dozer said:

I wonder if BJ has ever thought about the CFL 

I literally posted that a while ago.

[raptorcj]

19 hours ago, Bull Dozer said:

I wonder if BJ has ever thought about the CFL 

That's a great idea. You should patent it before someone else claims the credit for being first...

[NewEnglandBull]

Anybody see the Montreal player knocked down the Ottawa coach after he scored a TD. I really hate the look at me attitude of some (or many?) players today. 

[Brad]

On 6/30/2016 at 5:02 PM, slick1ru2 said:

Awe crap, SJ just went down with a knee injury. 

Als’ recent woes that include a season-ending knee injury to S.J. Green