Former University of Chattanooga Little All-American John Green passed away earlier this week. Green was widely remembered as the quarterback for the Mocs in the historic 14-6 win over Tennessee on Nov. 8, 1958.
Green graduated from the University of Chattanooga in 1959 and played professional football for the Toronto Argonauts, Buffalo Bills, and New York Titans. He was inducted into the UTC Athletics Hall of Fame in 1987.
Obituary (Chattanoogan.com) - Former UTC Little All-American Johnny Green Dies At 81
Green threw for over 2,500 yards and 18 touchdowns in his three-year career from 1955-58. In the historic win over the Vols, he was 12-20 passing for 117 yards and also ran for the first score of the game. He handled the punting duties, connecting on seven kicks for 33 yards.
Playing both ways, he also had a huge impact on defense. Leading 7-0 in the third quarter, Green picked off a Bill Majors pass in the endzone that could have tied the game.
Born October 12, 1937, in West Point, Mississippi, Green worked for the Associated General Agency insurance company in Chattanooga until he retired. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Janice Hall Green, his daughter Cathy (Green) Clark and her husband Steve, son John Edward Green, Jr. and his wife Lisa Bloomer Green, and five grandchildren.
The family will receive family and friends Sunday April 28th at 2 p.m. at Church of the Good Shepherd in Brentwood, TN. A memorial service will follow at 3 p.m. at the church.
John Green (12) attempts to pass in the Mocs 14-6 win over Tennessee on Nov. 8, 1958.
| Recap of the Tennessee game from the 1959 U.C. Moccasin Yearbook |
This season brought U.C. its greatest victory in its gridiron history; this being over Tennessee by a score of 14-6. Johnny O. Green, ably assisted by Bill Butler, Joe Abercrombie and Harold Wilkes, was the calm director of the operation. Harold Wilkes caught five passes for 43 yards.
The Mocs had two sustained drives stopped in the early moments of the game, one on the three yard line by an incompleted pas and the other on the two yard line by a fumble.
The first touchdown drive consumed eighty yards in nine plays. Green completed a thirty yard pass to the Tennessee second yard line in the key play. With fifty seconds left in the half the Mocs were the first to hit pay dirt.
In the fourth quarter Tennessee had the ball on the "nooga" 43. It was fourth down and two yards to go. Etter gambled and was thrown for a loss by Captain Hinman Rizer. From there the Mocs drove for their second TD.
The Vols couldn't muster enough offense to score on the stalwart Chattanooga defense, led by Tucker, Arnold and Rewis, until the last minutes of the game.
One score by Tennessee wasn't enough; the whistle blew and the Vol's were beaten – the first Chattanooga victory since the Grant College days.
A riot was touched off after the game. It took over one hundred firemen and police with tear gas, billy clubs and fire hose to stop the mob; but we got the goal posts. |
