What he did: Mark Richt's first quarterback at Georgia was a kid from South Gwinnett High School who in the 10th grade ran the single-wing offense and didn't win a game. He would finish his career with the Bulldogs as the winningest quarterback in college football history, starting 52 consecutive games.
David Greene’s road from Snellville to Athens was a short but interesting one. After a 0-10 season with the Comets in 1997, coach T. McFerrin arrived at South Gwinnett and took them to the GHSA quarterfinals in his first season. Also a very good baseball player, Greene threw for 2,102 yards and 19 touchdowns as a senior and was heavily recruited by then-Georgia coach Jim Donnan, along with Georgia Tech, Ole Miss and Mississippi State. The December of his senior year, Greene committed to the Bulldogs and arrived on campus with Quincy Carter and Cory Phillips as the two upper classman quarterbacks.
A left-hander, Greene redshirted as a freshman, and Donnan was fired after the season. Richt arrived, and Carter left for the NFL. Greene went into the 2001 season battling Cory Phillips for the job and after splitting reps in the first game, won the No. 1 spot for good and would never relinquish the spot until his final game in a Georgia uniform.
In his redshirt freshman season, he endeared himself to the Bulldog Nation when against a highly ranked Tennessee team in Knoxville, he led a last-second comeback win in what legendary announcer Larry Munson made famous in what is known as the “Hobnail Boot’’ game. The Bulldogs finished 8-4 and played in the Music City Bowl, and Greene was named SEC Offensive Rookie of the Year, throwing for 2,789 yards and 17 touchdowns.
When Greene was a sophomore, highly recruited quarterback D.J. Shockley arrived on campus and saw a little playing time, but it was Greene who led the Bulldogs a SEC title, whipping Arkansas in the conference championship game and then beating Florida State in the Sugar Bowl. The one-loss team, the defeat coming against Florida, would not get a chance to play for the national championship as both Ohio State and Miami finished undefeated and the Bulldogs finished at No. 3 in the final Associated Press football poll. Greene won conference offensive player-of-the-year honors, throwing for 2,924 yards and 22 touchdowns.
As junior, Greene completed 60.3 percent of his passes and 3,307 yards and the Bulldogs finished 11-3 and went to the Capital One Bowl. When Greene was a senior, some called for Shockley to get more playing time, Richt stuck with Greene and the Bulldogs finished 10-2 and went to the Outback Bowl. Greene would throw 214 consecutive passes that season without an interception, then an NCAA record. He also threw 20 touchdowns that season.
Greene finished his career at Georgia with 42 wins, setting the NCAA record for a quarterback that had been held by Tennessee’s Peyton Manning. It stood until Texas quarterback Colt McCoy broke it in 2009. Greene’s 11,528 passing yards at Georgia were a school record until Aaron Murray broke it as a senior in 2013. Also, in all four of Greene’s seasons the Bulldogs finished the year in the top 10.
Greene was taken by Seattle in the third round (85th overall) of the 2005 NFL draft, but despite being on some very good teams with the Seahawks, New England and Indianapolis, his pro career was short lived as he spent most of his time on practice squads, never playing in a regular season game and retiring after the 2008 season.
Where he lives: Greene, now 33, lives in Grayson with his high school sweetheart, Veronica. They have been married for nine years and have two boys, Jordan and Barrett.
What he does now: In 2009, Greene and teammate Matt Stinchcomb began working with the insurance group Seacrest Partners. He also hosts a radio show on Thursday on 92.9 The Game during the college football season and also hosts a show once a week on the SEC Network called "Film Room.''
On his playing days at South Gwinnett High School: "It is incredible to think that in 365 days I went from being on a 0-10 team to getting a full ride at Georgia and other scholarship offers.''
On the 2001 season at Georgia: "Coach Richt came in and I was battling with Cory during spring practice. Cory had filled in for Quincy when he got hurt the year before and we went into the first game against Arkansas State and Cory and I split time but I completed my first 15 passes and got the job.''
On the SEC Championship in '02: "It was a magical year and we beat Alabama and went into the Florida game undefeated. That was a heartbreaking loss but we came back and won a big one against Auburn and then were hitting on all cylinders. We beat Arkansas badly (30-3) in the SEC Championship Game and I really wish we would have gotten to play for the national championship because we were really hot.''
On his relationship with Shockley: "It was tough on both of us, but it is tough to lead a football team as a quarterback when you are splitting time. We both made it work as well as we could. We both wanted the team to win, and I will say it would have been a very tough deal if we had not liked each other. But we had a great relationship, and he was one of those guys I really respected and was very selfless. I was really glad he stayed and was very happy for him when he and the team won a conference championship (in 2005).
On at one time being the winningest QB in college history: "I have never been one to think much about it. My timing has been better than a lot of other quarterbacks…right place, right time. We had some really good teams when I was there.''
On his short time in the NFL: "What is funny, as much as I enjoyed I college football, I really didn't enjoy the pros that much. I realized that when I got there to the NFL that I liked high school and college because of the camaraderie and brotherhood. It's different in the NFL, but I learned a lot of lessons as I got to see Matt Hasselbeck take us to a Super Bowl in Seattle, got to play with Tom Brady and then Peyton at Indy.''
On the firing of Richt: "I was shocked though there was a ton of speculation for years about whether it would ever happen. It was an odd situation. It is hard to remember when he wasn't head coach. I can't help but feel bad. Very appreciative of what he has done and where he has gotten the program. When nine or 10 wins isn't good enough, you have to give him a lot of credit for that. Coach Richt is someone that I am always be grateful for. He believed in me as a redshirt freshman to allow me to start for his football team. Coach Richt is an excellent play-caller. Great coaches can take things that are complex and simplify then. He was the best at that. As far as us letterman, I will say that the reaction will get better as soon as we know who the coordinators and assistants are. On a personal level, a lot of us were surprised and because he has done so much for the program, we wished his exit would have been as great as his entrance but that typically doesn't happen.''
On the reported hiring of Kirby Smart as the new Georgia head coach: "Kirby reminds me a lot of where coach Richt was when he came to Georgia. Both coached for legendary head coaches. Kirby played here and knows what it takes. He eats, sleeps and breathes football and will do what it takes to win. I think what will be big with Kirby is his attention to detail, and if you look at the best teams, they are the ones that have that type of mentality on both sides of the ball. Also, Kirby is a great recruiter and has a great personality, which I think will really help him.''
On Richt taking the job at Miami: "I actually thought he would take a little time off after 15 years at the same place, especially with the stress level that was at Georgia. I was a little shocked. But I think it is a combination of the firing and the chance to go back to his alma mater that lit that fire in him. I am excited for him, and I think he has some great years left.''
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