COURTESY WESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
Brandon Green led Rice's linemen in tackles as a freshman.
Defensive star Student-athletes at Rice University, one of the toughest colleges in the country, must keep on top of things. Their scholarships depend on it.
tackles diabetes
every day
Rice's Brandon Green
excels on the field while
battling the 'silent killer'By Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comPeople who have Type I diabetes, the most dangerous form of the disease, must also be organized. Their lives depend on it.
Senior defensive end Brandon Green, Rice's best football player, falls into both categories.
"There definitely is a comparison that can be made," said Green, a sports medicinemanagerial major who holds the Owls career sack record with 24. "Especially at a school like Rice you have to be organized and take care of your academics. Same with diabetes. If I don't take care of it, I'll have problems, especially later in life."
Rice (4-6, 3-4 WAC) hosts Hawaii (7-2, 6-1) on Saturday in the last game for Green and 14 other seniors.
The Warriors are 9 1/2-point favorites, according to Harrah's odds. But Green and his classmates have beaten UH three times.
"I don't know if it's any one thing. We've been able to make some plays when we played them," said Green, who intercepted a pass in Rice's 27-24 victory against UH last year. "The chips have fallen our way every time."
Green led Rice's linemen in tackles as a true freshman and steadily improved each year despite having to inject himself with insulin three times a day. Every day, no exceptions. He also keeps careful track of everything he eats. If he doesn't, his blood-sugar level could go out of kilter and he could become very ill.
But it was really nothing new for him.
He was diagnosed with diabetes on April Fool's Day of his 10th year and has been using insulin since. Around the time he was beginning to learn to play football, Green also learned how to stick a needle into himself to avoid getting sick.
Green tries to make those around him at ease with his condition. He does things like time his insulin shot when freshmen see him for the first time, making them think it is an anabolic steroid shot, instead. Sometimes he does jumping jacks with a syringe in his stomach.
"It's been a thing I've had to deal with and had to grow with," he said. "I take care of it and watch it close, it's part of my life to take three shots a day and monitor my blood sugar."
By no means is Green alone. According to figures from the American Diabetes Association, it is estimated that 17 million people nationwide have been diagnosed with the condition (about 10 percent have Type I). Another 800,000 are thought to have diabetes but aren't aware of it; that's why it's called the silent killer. The disease is hereditary. Green's parents don't have diabetes, but his older brother does.
Green said he has never missed a game because of diabetes.
"It's never affected my play because I keep good track of it," he said. "I'm fortunate that I don't have to watch it as much as some people because I exercise so much. But I do have to understand how all types of food affect me, how my body will react to fruits, starches. I try to stay away from junk food like candy bars. But I'm not saying I don't have a treat at times."
Although he doesn't have much time to do so during the season, Green shares his experiences with children who have diabetes to let them know the silent killer can be beaten with diligence.
He hopes to inspire others the way he was as a youngster when he read "Necessary Toughness," a book by 12-year NFL tight end Jonathan Hayes about his own fight against diabetes.
"I'm working on getting together with the ADA and the Texas Children's Hospital to do more, but right now most of it is on a personal level with kids whose parents e-mail me with questions," Green said. "I tell them (diabetes) is something you can do whatever you want with. I've always been allowed to compete and I want them to know they can, too."
When: Saturday, 10 a.m. Hawaii time Hawaii vs. Rice
Where: Rice Stadium, Houston
TV: KFVE (Channel 5), live, with rebroadcast Sunday at 9 a.m.
Radio: 1420-AM
UH Athletics
