Springfield College Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Spiritual Life Welcome William Green to Campus

Left to right, Joel Dearing, Megan MacDonald, Patricia Rousseau, Clayton Sleator, William Green, Tim Wood, Jessica Sleator, David McMahon.

The Springfield College Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Spiritual Life hosted former National Football League running back William Green on Thursday, March 24 at Marsh Memorial Chapel. Green explained to the campus community the strong role faith played in his personal and professional life.

Green played four seasons of professional football for the Cleveland Browns following a successful collegiate career at Boston College, where he received Big East Offensive Player of the Year and consensus First-Team All-American honors in 2001.

Green talked about his youth growing up in Atlantic City, N.J. and facing many challenges, including poverty, crime and drugs. Green lost both his parents to AIDS as a teenager, and he strived to use his goal of playing in the NFL as a way to ease the pain of losing both parents at a young age.

“I thought playing in the NFL would cure everything,” Green told members of the campus community. “I remember sitting at my locker in the Cleveland Browns dressing room thinking, what I am going to do now. I grew up not really understanding a relationship with Christ. But, that changed with the help of my wife.”

Green battled issues with drugs and alcohol, and it was his wife, Asia, who had him discover his faith.

“My wife never gave up on me,” said Green, a father of eight children. “Her patience and her forgiveness allowed me to have a second chance.”