SLIPPERY ROCK — Greene with envy?

That's how most opposing football coaches look at Slippery Rock University's backfield — because Shamar Greene is standing in it.

“He's our horse and we're gonna ride him,” SRU coach Shawn Lutz said of his senior running back.

The Rock has gotten plenty of mileage out of him so far.

The 5-foot-9, 185-pound Greene broke SRU's career rushing record last weekend at West Chester. He has 4.033 career rushing yards — becoming the first 4,000-yard Rock running back and the 14th in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference history.

Greene has compiled 22 100-yard rushing games at The Rock, including 10 150-yard games and five 175-yard efforts.

“I know they say records are made to be broken, but I'd like to make this one unreachable ... at least for the next 20 years or so,” Greene said with a wide grin on his face.

“It's humbling, getting that record. So many great backs have played here. I think of all the linemen that have blocked for me. They've compiled that yardage as much as I have.”

A West Mifflin graduate, where he ran for more than 3,000 yards, Greene began his career at The Rock as a walk-on. Slippery Rock was the first school he visited.

And the last.

“There were other schools interested,” Greene recalled. “Clarion might have offered me and Kevin Clarke, one of my West Mifflin teammates, went to IUP and is one of the best linebackers in the league now.

“I was supposed to make a visit at Indiana with him.”

Only he never got there. Despite no scholarship offer from The Rock, Greene wanted to pursue nowhere else.

“The guys on the team made me feel so comfortable. They seemed like a family,” Greene said of his visit. “They had an All-America caliber senior running back in (Akeem) Satterfield at the time, so I felt I'd get a chance to play there early.

“I was looking at getting into athletic training then and Slippery Rock's program was one of the best. That sealed it. Besides, Coach (George) Mihalik said I'd have a chance to earn a scholarship and I took that as a challenge.”

Greene has been a scholarship player for a while now. His academic emphasis is business management, a change from his original career interest.

His performance on the field has never altered — consistent, dynamic at times, winning most of the time.

Over Greene's four seasons to date, SRU has won 32 of 40 games, including three PSAC West titles and a pair of state championships.

Greene has run for more than 100 yards in 15 of his last 19 games.

“His vision while running a play and his cuts are tremendous,” Lutz said. “And Shamar is a great blocker, so we don't have to take him off the field because of any issue there,

“He's not a big guy, but he's so strong and slips out of tackles. That's dedication to the weight room and off-season conditioning. He's stayed up here every summer and continued his workouts. That's rare for a Division II player.

“His yardage total is where it is despite us taking him out of a number of games early because of lopsided scores. When he's in there, he's productive,” Lutz added.

If he stays healthy, Greene will likely graduate among the top five PSAC rushers of all-time. IUP graduate Michael Mann holds the No. 5 spot with 4,805 yards.

Bloomsburg graduate Franklyn Quiteh leads with 7,523.

“At this point, I'm just going game by game,” Greene said. “That what we have to do as a team to get to where we ultimately want to be.

“When I'm done playing, I'll look back and see where I stack up. I'm not worried about it now.”

He's hoping he's not done playing anytime soon, either.

“If I can keep playing football after this year, I will,” Greene said. “Playing any kind of pro ball — NFL, CFL, anything — where I actually get paid has been my dream.”

Lutz believes Greene will wind up in a football uniform next year.

“You can say he doesn't have the size, but you can't ignore his numbers,” the coach said. “He should be able to play somewhere.

“Shamar's height, weight, 40 time ... That's not where you notice him. You watch the films, that's where he shows you.”

And when Greene's football career is totally over?

“Hopefully, I'll wind up managing something, maybe my own business,” he said. “Along the way, I want to help my community through coaching football. I'd do it at any level.

“A graduate assistant coaching position in college, I'd be very interested in. I want to give back to the game that's given me so much.”

Slippery Rock University running back Shamar Greene became the school’s all-time leading rusher last weekend during The Rock’s win over West Chester. Here is where the SRU senior runner stacks up all-time:SRU all-time1. Shamar Greene (2013-) 4,0332. Stan Kennedy (1997-00) 3,9323. Rick Magulick (1995-98) 3,6114. Josh Kniess (2002-05) 3,5275. Dorrian Glenn (1998-01) 3,333Active Division II1. Austin Ekeler (Western St.) 4,5952. Shamar Greene (SRU) 4,0333. Brandon Jones (Al. Broaddus) 3,3574. Ja’Quan Gardner (Humboldt St.) 3,1705. Robert Healy (East Stroudsburg) 3,126Active NCAA (all divisions)1. Donnel Pumphrey (San Diego St.) 4,6512. Austin Ekeler (Western St.) 4,5853. Marcus Cox (Appalachian St.) 4,3364. Tarik Cohen (North Carolina A&T) 4,2085. Shamar Greene (SRU) 4,033