Search the Community

What: Joe Greene Hall Dedication (tours will be available after the ceremony) When: 3:30 p.m. Aug. 31 (Saturday) Who: NFL Hall of Famer Joe Greene, UNT President Neal Smatresk, UNT Vice President of Student Affairs Elizabeth With and student residents of Joe Greene Hall Where: 800 Avenue A in Denton (intersection of Eagle Drive and Avenue A) **Free parking is available in the Highland Street Garage at the corner of Highland Street and Avenue A.** Background: The 500-bed residence hall features pod-style student communities made up of four to nine sleeping rooms with centralized social and restroom spaces in each pod. The concept is designed to give students more privacy and give them shared social space outside of their rooms to study, play games and watch television. Other amenities in the new residence hall include practice rooms for musicians, study lounges and a full kitchen. The university announced in May that it would be naming the residence hall after one of its most iconic figures. At the time, President Neal Smatresk noted Greene’s impact on the university went well beyond his prowess on the football field. Greene also was the first African American to serve on the UNT System Board of Regents and has continued to be a valued Mean Green supporter and ambassador for the university throughout his life. Unquestionably the greatest football player in UNT history, Greene also is one of the greatest defensive tackles in NFL history. The first UNT player selected in the first round of the NFL draft, Greene played 13 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, becoming the cornerstone of the famous “Steel Curtain” defense and winning four Super Bowls. The NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1969, Greene went on to earn 10 Pro Bowl invitations and two Defensive Player of the Year honors. He was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987, and his No. 75 was retired by the Steelers in 2014, only the second number ever retired by the franchise. At UNT, Greene was named a Distinguished Alumnus in 1976, was a member of the first class of the Athletics Hall of Fame in 1981, and served as a UNT System Regent from 1983 to 1987. Joe Greene Hall was part of a $58.9 million project that also included the new UNT Welcome Center, which opened earlier this year.

Greene, out of North Texas, arrived in the Steel City in 1969 and, over the next 13 seasons, anchored one of the most feared defensive units in league history. The "Steel Curtain" helped Pittsburgh reverse its fortunes and claim four Super Bowls from 1974 to 1979. Greene was named the NFL's top rookie in 1969, earned 10 Pro Bowl nominations and was named the league's best defensive player in 1972 and '74. The 6-foot-4, 275-pounder started in 172 of 181 contests before hanging up his cleats after the 1981 campaign. No Steelers player has worn Greene's iconic number since then. "I'm overwhelmed with emotions," Greene said. "I'm extremely pleased and I know that Dan (Rooney) and Art (Rooney II) put a lot of thought into making this decision. Retiring jerseys is not something that the Steelers do. That makes it even more significant." Read more: http://www.idahostatesman.com/2014/07/30/3302767/mean-joe-finally-has-jersey-retired.html?sp=/99/104/

Really impressive list of players and Mean Joe stands tall in that list: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1205091-50-former-college-football-players-who-still-give-us-nightmares/page/12