Is NCAA football on the horizon at AV? Darrell Green has faced that question many times since becoming an associate athletic director and special assistant to athletic director Brad Edwards.
“It was never a conversation we had,” Green said. “We’ve had one conversation about that it is always asked.”
Green, the Hall of Fame cornerback who played 20 seasons with the Washington Redskins, has several duties at George Mason. His primary focus is development. He meets with business groups and chambers of commerce and leads monthly meetings he calls “Crunch Time,” which, Green said, “brings together eight to ten businessmen and -women who we consider potential investors in the university.” He is also a liaison between the university and prospective students and their families.
“I’m a built-in ambassador for the school,” said Green, 56, who played for Washington from 1983 to 2002, and with Edwards, a safety, as a teammate from 1990-93. I’m trying to introduce athletics and the quality of athletics and the needs that we have.”
One is the public’s involvement with the rebuilding of the university’s flagship men’s basketball program.
“I wish the people, particularly alumni, would come back,” Green said. “Let’s fill our arena. You can say, ‘Bring me a winner, then we’ll come.’ But come and help bring us a winner. That’s my message to the alumni.”
Green had several messages in a wide-ranging Q & A.
Your focus goes beyond men’s basketball, correct?
“It’s no secret our big horse is men’s basketball. It is important to our school and our social environment. That said, we want to raise athletes to new heights across the board, on the courts and the fields, in the classroom and as human beings.”
How do you see your role expanding?
“At Mary Washington [where Green worked as special assistant to the athletic director from 2013-15], I had in my title student-athlete development, which meant I got to sit down and hang out with students in a very light way, just be a resource to them, a dad, a friend. I love that part. I’d like to have that component [at Mason], where I can sit down with kids and talk.
Why is that important?
“We want our championship teams; we want our students to graduate. Those are givens. But we also want to make sure we bring mentorship and leadership to our students that is applicable off the field and in life.”
Compare the rush of athletics to more business-like endeavors.
“Since I retired [from the Redskins], I never felt more energy than I have here. The idea of getting us back to the Final Four [in men’s basketball], this is the first time in my life outside football I ever felt something like this. I guess because this is my family. I know who we are.
How does your relationship with Brad Edwards contribute to that?
Brad is very much in the mold of [former Redskins coach] Joe Gibbs. Joe Gibbs was tireless. Joe Gibbs wants to win. Joe Gibbs is a great leader. So Brad is a very passionate, driven person. Whether I’m here or not, this guy is a winner.”
So, once more, does NCAA football have a future at Mason?
“There’s no discussions for us to talk about football at this juncture. That’s not on the docket today. (Laughing) But if somebody reading your article wants to donate several hundred million dollars toward that, they can call us. They can hit us up.”