Demorest, GA - NICK GREEN demonstrated on more than one occasion during his Piedmont men's lacrosse career that he could take a hit and still keep moving toward the goal.  

Green was the first to tally 100 career goals in the history of the Piedmont men's lacrosse program, but just a few months before his graduation date and right in the middle of his senior season, the biggest hit of all came off the field as told by KTXS news anchor Wayne McCormack this past June in a feature story run by the Abilene news station:

"The past three months have been a rollercoaster of emotions for folks familiar with Abilene's Cypress Street Station.  In March, Cypress Street owner Brian Green suddenly died bringing a lot of uncertainty about the restaurant's future."

However, that uncertainty was quickly wiped away when Piedmont grad NICK GREEN, the nephew of Brian Green, was chosen to take over for his uncle and continue the legacy that he had already started with the Abilene landmark.

Brian opened the restaurant in the early '90s and gave Nick a chance to intern at the establishment prior to his final year at Piedmont allowing the young Lion a glimpse of the restaurant business before he had finished his undergraduate work in the Walker School of Business at PC.  

The opportunity came as no surprise to Dr. John Misner, Piedmont Executive Vice President and Dean of the Walker School of Business who saw Nick's potential before he even set foot on campus.

"I first met Nick when he was still a high school senior," said Dr. Misner of the encounter. "He came with his family for a visit, and I spent a good half hour with Nick over in the business school talking about our programs.  It was obvious to me that he was anxious to play college lacrosse, but he was also anxious to study business."

Nick's desire to succeed on the field became obvious in a short time with the Lions as he scored 17 goals in his debut season with the Lions.  

However, Green was also a three-time Academic All-Conference honoree as well demonstrating the determination necessary to survive in the restaurant business as Nick describes, saying: "The thought of closing down Cypress Street never entered our minds.  We knew in our hearts that Cypress Street Station needed to stay open no matter the costs."

With support from his family and the new community Green would call home, the young graduate was chosen to take over as the General Manager at Cypress Street Station and keep alive the legacy his uncle had handed down to him.  

"He (Nick) was very close to his uncle. I know that internship last summer when he spent the time with him really meant a lot to Nick, and he really wanted to go down and help the family," said Dr. Misner of Nick's internship opportunity that set the table for him to take over the business upon his uncle's passing.

Nick also looked back on his time as a valuable resource for not just what it meant as experience, but as a chance to be with his Uncle Brian as well, saying: "It was an awesome learning experience, I met a lot of great people, and I've said many times that I wouldn't have traded it for the world especially given the circumstances."

Having now settled in his new role over the last few months since graduation, Nick is keenly aware that the destination is not nearly as important as the journey itself.  The young man is looking forward to continuing what his uncle handed down to him and also sharing his experience at Piedmont with a new community in Abilene, Texas.  

"I'm just thankful that the people of Abilene have been so welcoming to not only myself but my family as well," said Green. "It's been a long journey, but it's not done yet."

Throughout it all, Green has continued to demonstrate what it truly means to have the heart of a lion...a Piedmont Lion for Life, that is.

Lion for Life Spotlights
NICK GREEN's story comes to the fans of the Green and Gold as part of Piedmont's continuing 'Lion for Life' Spotlight feature story series, a new initiative begun by the Office of Athletic Communications at PC beginning this past summer with Maria Carter of the Golf Channel featured as a former Lady Lion golfer herself.  The series is designed and meant to allow Piedmont student-athletes to have the chance to tell their stories to the fans following the Lions and Lady Lions throughout the years with more features planned for release.  Continue to following PiedmontLions.com for all news surrounding the Green and Gold including the 'Lion for Life' Spotlight feature story series.