Georgia Football: Hey Kid, Catch!

The “Mean Green” are coming to Sanford Stadium on Saturday, September 21st, kickoff is set for 12:21 on SEC TV. It’s a first time meeting for the two schools and it’s doubtful that many members of the DawgNation could even tell you the team colors for North Texas but everyone will recognize their most famous alumni.

In October of 1979, Coca Cola aired a commercial with North Texas alum “Mean Joe” Greene featuring a young boy in awe of his hero offering the injured Steeler’s star a bottle of Coke as he walked through the tunnel following a game. Greene gulped down the entire bottle, turned and smiled, then tossed his game jersey to the kid.

The ad won a Clio Award as one of the best commercials of the year and was featured during the 1980 Super Bowl as Greene and his Steelers defeated the Los Angeles Rams 31-19, Greene became a cult hero and the ad has proved to be one of the best ever made.

“Mean Joe” played at North Texas from 1966 to 1969 and is the only alum to be inducted into both the college and pro Halls of Fame. At North Texas, Greene led a defense that was virtually impossible to run against and the “Mean Green” became the team nickname, Steeler fans adopted the description for Greene after he was taken with the 4th pick of the 1969 draft.

“Mean Joe” Greene is one of the best defensive tackles to ever play the game but he will always be remembered as the guy that gave his jersey to a kid.