The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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24 ■ THE WOLFPACKER TRACKING THE PACK Injuries and tragedy affected the playing career and personal life of Anthony Wayne "Bubba" Green, but they never defined the gentle giant of the gridiron. Green, who died on June 21 after a long bout with cancer, arrived at NC State from the Philadelphia suburbs and made an immediate impact, earning national Freshman Lineman of the Year honors from The Football News, as well as the curse of high expectations. He seemed destined to follow the All-America path forged by Wolfpack predecessors Dennis Byrd and Ron Carpenter. "There isn't a better player at rushing the passer in the na- tion than Bubba Green," first-year Wolfpack coach Bo Rein said after seeing Green's rookie season. "He's so quick for a man of his size that it is almost impossible for one man to successfully pass-block him. "Write this down: he is going to be an All-American." But an injury he suffered on Oct. 30, 1976, on the artificial turf of South Carolina's Williams-Brice Stadium changed the course of Green's playing career. He tore the ligaments of his left knee, and then had one botched surgery, two more corrective ones on the balky knee and a redshirt season before he was mostly recovered enough in 1978 to return to the playing field at Carter- Finley Stadium, where eager fans chanted, "Kill, Bubba, Kill." For two seasons, including the 1979 ACC championship, Green was a part-time player with Simon Gupton and Brian O'Doherty on the defensive line. The potential remaining from his freshman season seemed a curse during those seasons, as both the coaching staff and fans always wanted more from the 6-4, 275-pound tackle, who also spent two seasons throwing the shot put for the Wolfpack track and field team. The brilliance of Green's freshman year showed on the most important drive of the 1979 season, when Clemson drove down to the Wolfpack 4-yard line with less than four minutes to play. On four consecutive rushes, the Pack line stopped run - ning back Tracy Perry, with Green getting credit for the stop on the last three plays. State faithful got all Green could give in 1980, when he had 71 tackles, eight tack- les for loss and seven sacks. He was not only named first-team All-ACC, he caught the attention of the Baltimore Colts, who took him in the sixth round (No. 149 over- all) in the 1981 NFL Draft. In five years with the Pack, Green had 200 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, 14 sacks, three fumble recoveries and one interception. "I had an up-and-down career at NC State," Green told The Wolfpacker's Carter Cheves in 1998. "I did everything I could do to be a good player. With two good knees, I would have been unstoppable." Green was the surprise of summer camp, earned immediate playing time with the Colts and eventually started 10 of his 15 games. He was named to at least one NFL All-Rookie team, but lingering knee injuries prevented him from ever playing profes- sional football again. "I played through a lot of pain through most of my football career," Green said. "It got to the point with the Colts where I couldn't take it anymore. Being able to play with my children and being able to walk became more important to me than playing football. It was time to let go. I didn't want to be crippled. "I asked the Lord to let me play pro football, and he granted that. Playing football opened a lot of doors for me. I'm still known in this area and football's the reason for that. It allowed me great opportunities." After football, Green settled near Baltimore in Randallstown, Md., with his wife Nancy, whom he met at NC State, and their two children. The kind-hearted giant coached Pop Warner foot - ball for years and spent 11 seasons as the defensive line coach at nearby Morgan State. Afterwards, he was a program director for the Baltimore County Parks and Recreation, where he con- tinued his lifelong passion of helping children pursue their athletic dreams. On May 6, 2006, the family suffered a personal tragedy when 14-year-old daugh- ter Deanna was accidentally electrocuted when she touched a fence that had be- come electrified while preparing for a church softball practice. Afterwards, the Greens became public safety advocates and won several negli- gence lawsuits related to their daughter's death. They also created Deanna's Lyric Foundation for the Arts in her memory, providing up to four scholarships a year for creative students. "My wife has taken this foundation this year and she has run with this thing," Green said before a 2017 fundraising concert. "The way that I see it with her is, this is Deanna's prom. This is Deanna's wedding. This is a celebration of Deanna [giving] birth and us having grandchildren. "Psychologically, that's where we are, because physically, we don't have those things." Green spent the last year of his life fighting cancer, with the support of his friends and former Wolfpack teammates. — Tim Peeler Carla Hillman Yarborough, starting point guard for two of NC State women's basketball coach Kay Yow's four ACC championship teams in the 1980s, died on March 25 in Raleigh after an 18-month battle with breast cancer. She was 53. Hillman, a native of Chesapeake, Va., came to NC State as an honor graduate of Deep Creek High School, where she was a volleyball, basketball and softball standout, making her a perfect candidate to play for the Wolfpack's Hall of Fame coach, Yow, who coached all three of those sports at some time in her career in Raleigh. She came to NC State because women's assistant coach Ina Wiggins was recruiting Hillman's cousin, forward Trena Trice Hill, and thought the plucky point guard might make a good fit for Yow's program. Both came to Raleigh and helped the Wolfpack win the 1985 ACC title as sophomores and then again in 1987 as seniors. As a senior, Hillman tied the NC State women's sin - gle-game record with 12 assists against Clemson and still ranks No. 8 overall with 402 career assists. She twice led the Wolfpack in both assists and steals. "She was definitely a team leader," Trice Hill said. "She made a tremendous impact on the teams that won two ACC championships, and there aren't a lot of people who can say that. She was really most known for her defensive tenacity and her impact being a leader." Hillman graduated from NC State with a degree in sociology and a minor in criminology, staying in the state to begin a career with the North Carolina Department of Corrections. "She knew from the first time that she came here that she was going to stay in North Carolina, even after she graduated," Trice Hill said. "She just loved being part of Raleigh and she died a proud North Carolinian." Hillman spent five years working at Central Prison in Raleigh and then became one of the state's first female surveillance officers. Eventu - ally, she retired after 30 years of dedicated state service as a chief probation and parole officer. She was recently awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine by North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper. Hillman was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017, but kept most of her battle private, Trice Hill said. She attended the Wolfpack's team practice the day before a women's basketball reunion game against North Caro - lina, but chose to go with her son to Atlanta for theatrical auditions. "She didn't want anyone to worry about her," Trice Hill said. "She was always in good spirits. She didn't let her illness affect her life. Coach Yow was a good example for her. "She was a true warrior who fought her cancer to the end." She is survived by sons Xavier Michael and Gabriel Alexander Yarborough. She was a longtime member of the Wake Chapel Baptist Church, where she served in the security ministry, heritage ministry, choir and the Pack 366 Cub Scouts troop. — Tim Peeler In Memory: Bubba Green In Memory: Carla Hillman Yarborough Green was named the national Freshman Lineman of the Year by The Football News in 1976. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE MEDIA Hillman was the starting point guard for two of legendary NC State women's basketball coach Kay Yow's four ACC championship teams in the 1980s. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE MEDIA