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HUNTINGTON Ƶ Marshall defensive line coach Ralph Street took a green spiral-bound notebook off a shelf in his office to reveal Mike GreenƵs name on the cover.
Green is a frequent visitor to that office, picking StreetƵs brain for knowledge, reviewing film, drawing up pass-rush moves or just talking about life. That behavior drew strong comparisons to former Thundering Herd football stars.
ƵEvery day heƵll come in here and sit right beside my desk. I spend the most time with him,Ƶ Street said. ƵSame way Owen Porter was. Same way Koby Cumberlander was when I first got here. IƵm attached to the hip with him, and heƵs really taken off.Ƶ
Green is one of the key returning pieces on the defensive front for Marshall, one year after he made 43 tackles, including nine for loss, and 4.5 sacks during his redshirt freshman season after transferring from Virginia.
With defensive stalwarts like Porter, Sam Burton and Elijah Alston out of the picture this year, Green figures to take a leap forward in production and a much larger leadership role in 2024.
Green feels like heƵs ready for that role, and Street believes heƵs built for it.
ƵGotta lead the pack. Lead the pack,Ƶ Street said of Green. ƵWhen youƵre a true leader, youƵre not looking for anybody else to lead. You lead, they jump on your back and we go that direction.Ƶ
When he joined the Herd, Green faced a steep learning curve. Benched at one point in 2023, it served as a wake-up call for him.
His relationship with Street has everything to do with the turnaround since.
ƵWhere I came from a Power Five school, they didnƵt really teach those fundamentals of football like footwork or hand placement and those types of things,Ƶ Green said. ƵOnce I continued to build in those categories, I ended up realizing how much more important it was than I thought.Ƶ
In many ways, Street is just simply handing down tradition, training up his players or, as he calls them, his Ƶlittle bros,Ƶ in much the same way he was taught when he wore the Herd uniform from 1998-2001. Marshall claimed three Mid-American Conference championships during that time.
ƵItƵs tradition,Ƶ Street said. ƵWhen you put that helmet on, thereƵs a standard to live up to and you better deliver. If not, you better be willing to take the criticism of my tradition not being upheld. If you donƵt want that, donƵt put it on.Ƶ
To some, that emphatic message might come across a little brash. But to Green? ThatƵs just Street.
ƵThereƵs really no better position coach that I could ask to have,Ƶ Green said.
Luke Creasy is a sports reporter for HD Media. He can be reached by phone at 304-526-2800.
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