Heisman candidate? Nondescript Georgia QB gets little notice

Posted 4:41PM on Wednesday 17th September 2003 ( 21 years ago )

ATHENS - Contrary to popular opinion, David Greene can get testy on the football field. Let's say the Georgia quarterback has just taken a vicious shot from some 300-pound defender. His blockers better watch out when he gets back to the huddle! ``Oh yeah, he gets fired up every now and then,'' offensive lineman Bartley Miller said. ``When he's hit hard, he'll say something about it.'' Oh, really. Tell us more. ``He'll crack a joke, something like that,'' Miller said. ``He'll say, 'I'm going to get you guys back. I'm going to call a screen pass so you have to run.''' OK, so Greene will never be mistaken for Brett Favre. Fiery, he is not. He's so calm, so in control that he barely gets noticed on his own team much less by the rest of the country. Which is sort of remarkable, considering he's one of the best quarterbacks in college football, leading a team that has lost just one game in two years. ``If there's another quarterback who knows more about defenses, who knows more about his own team's offense, I've never met him,'' said Josh Brock, another Georgia lineman. ``He always calls the right play. He never loses his head, on or off the field.'' That isn't likely to change Saturday, even though No. 7 Georgia (3-0) is heading to one of the nation's most hostile stadiums for a crucial Southeastern Conference game against 11th-ranked LSU (3-0). Two years ago, Greene was a redshirt freshman playing the first road game of his college career before more than 100,000 fans at Tennessee's Neyland Stadium. All he did was guide the Bulldogs to an upset victory with a last-minute touchdown drive. That set the tone for the Greene era. Georgia is 9-0 on the road since he's been the starting quarterback, another testament to his calming influence. This season, the left-hander has completed more than 68 percent of his passes for 678 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Those around him say it's about time to start mentioning Greene as a possible Heisman Trophy candidate. ``If we keep winning and he keeps playing good, he'll have a chance,'' coach Mark Richt said. Greene's knowledge of the game is his greatest asset. When checking off at the line and he does it more than most college quarterbacks he usually calls a play that works. ``It's almost crazy how his football mind churns through and gets us in the right play,'' Miller said. Greene knows when to take a sack. He knows when to throw it away. He always seems one or two steps ahead of the defense. ``He's very accurate. That comes from understanding the offense,'' Richt said. ``The quicker you make decisions, the less velocity you have to put on the ball. A young quarterback wants to see if the play is open, then tries to drill it in there. He has tunnel vision. But Greene sees the throwing lanes. He sees the big picture. He knows where a receiver is going to be open, and he throws is there. He rarely has to throw it hard.'' But Greene is so effortless on the field and so nondescript away from it that he's barely noticed. Listen to the talk shows after a Georgia game. Hardly anyone mentions Greene. Backup quarterback D.J. Shockley has gotten more attention the last two years (Will he play? Will he transfer) than the starter. For two years, Greene had steadfastly refused to get dragged into any controversy over Richt's decision to give Shockley a few snaps every game. The junior starter has no intention of losing his cool over that or anything else. ``A lot of it is just my nature,'' Greene said. ``When you feel prepared for the game, it makes you calm. It's just like practice.'' Likewise, Greene is never going to get in a teammates' face when something goes wrong. That's just not in his nature. ``I'm not going to yell at the team, tell 'em to block, any of that stuff,'' he said. ``That's when they start letting guys slide by. There's different ways to get your point across. I feel like I can get my point across without yelling and screaming.'' As for the Heisman, Greene simply shrugs his shoulders. In all likelihood, his candidacy will be hurt by his lack of eye-catching numbers, such as a passing average of 226 yards per game. The Bulldogs have a stellar defense and kicking game, so Richt sees no need to take a bunch of chances on offense. ``I don't think too much about it,'' Greene said. ``It's flattering to get mentioned for the Heisman, but it's not one of those you work for every day in practice. I'm just trying to get ready for LSU.''

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