HUNTINGDON COLLEGE
News Release
November 27, 2023
For more information, contact:
Dr. Anthony Leigh, aleigh@hawks.huntingdon.edu
Fifteen Years of Football and Friendship
Montgomery, Ala. – On Saturday, November 11, Huntingdon paid tribute to nearly two dozen football players as part of Senior Day activities. Two of them, Ty Brown ’24 and Denzel Greene ’24, were also elementary school friends, youth football buddies, and high school teammates at Benjamin Russell High School in Alexander City, Alabama. They have shared with us their insights on Hawks football and the joy of growing up together in this Q and A spotlight.
Q. Tell us a little bit about yourself?
Denzel: I’m a senior sport management major and I play cornerback. I also own my own clothing brand, Lavish Ambitions.
Ty: I’m a senior sport management major. I have been involved in the Outdoors Club where I now serve as president. I served as an orientation leader this past summer and am now a Huntingdon ambassador.
Q. What are you planning to do with your life beyond Huntingdon?
Denzel: I plan to continue working in the physical therapy field and continue running my own business.
Ty: Attend graduate school or begin coaching football.
Q. When did you start playing football?
Denzel: 15 years ago, when I was six years old.
Ty: I was six years old. Denzel and I have been on the same team since we were seven.
Q. What were the primary reasons you chose Huntingdon?
Denzel: Huntingdon gave me that home feeling when I came on my visit, and everyone treated me like family.
Ty: I felt the love and family in the program on my visit. I had Ben Russell family already there, Landon Cotney and Ryan Spradley, who had nothing but positive things to say about Huntingdon and it was close to home.
Q. How meaningful was it to you to have a high school teammate be with you when you started playing at the collegiate level?
Denzel: We grew up playing baseball and football together ever since day one, so he’s like a brother to me. It has been fun playing with Ty for all of these years.
Ty: It’s awesome to have someone you grew up with play college ball with you. Not only did it give me someone to live with my freshman year, which was huge, it was also awesome to see how much our program builds men and how positively it affected both of our lives. I think the coolest thing I watched from Denzel over the years has been his determination. He battled through injuries and played behind a couple of all-conference cornerbacks and now to see him make all-conference was amazing to me.
Q. What are your top two or three favorite memories from playing at Huntingdon?
Denzel: My favorite memories are my first interception in my first game back from knee surgery and another favorite memory is when I caught a pick six and Ty was one of the first teammates I celebrated with. This moment was special for both of us because that morning before the game we learned that one of our former coaches passed away, so it was a dedication to him.
Ty: I would say my first was winning my first conference championship as a freshman. It really showed me the work we put in pays off and buying into our coaches’ philosophy will benefit us. The second would probably be beating BSC in the last minute my junior year. The third would be forcing a fumble in the comeback win against Brevard this year. Being down 21-0 after one quarter, it was almost unreal after fighting all the way back and then getting the opportunity to get the ball off their quarterback and set our offense up to win the game. No doubt the most fun I’ve had in a game.
Q. What are some classes you took at Huntingdon that were especially meaningful to you?
Denzel: Teaching and Analysis with Mr. Townsend.
Ty: There were plenty of fun and meaningful classes I took at Huntingdon, but by far the coolest was Adapted Physical Education. In this class we got to lead physical education classes with a group of elementary students with special needs. I’ve always been an advocate of everyone being able to participate in sports, and the ability to spend a semester doing so meant the world to me and I think everyone should get the opportunity to experience it.
Q. How does the Huntingdon game day atmosphere compare to other places in the USA South Conference?
Denzel: The game day atmosphere is lit! One of my favorite parts of game days is the Hawk Walk.
Ty: The energy! Nowhere else we play brings the juice like our fans on “The Chuck!” There’s nothing like having an offense pinned against their own goal line and having either the student section or the alumni yelling their tails off! Those guys and gals don’t have a clue how much we feed off their energy on the field. If you ever need evidence, Tyler England’s punt return to seal the Maryville game proves it.
Q. What are your plans for the winter break?
Denzel: My plans for the break are to start back working in my career field and prepare for my internship.
Ty: I plan on visiting out of state family and friends as well as doing my part in the Outdoors Club by either hunting or fishing as much as possible.
Q. Want to give a shoutout to one of your coaches at Huntingdon?
Denzel: Special shoutout to Coach White for pushing me to reach my full potential.
Ty: Of course, I’ve got to shoutout Coach Hicks for believing in me for four years and making football fun while making me a better man and ball player!
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Huntingdon College, in accordance with Title IX and Section 106.8 of the 2020 Final Rule under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, other applicable federal and state law, and stated College policy, prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex. Similarly, it prohibits discrimination on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, religion, age and/or national origin in its education program
