Photo by: Austin Perryman/MSU Athletics
Air Raid Offense Influential To Greek's Family
August 23, 2021 | Football
STARKVILLE – Steven Greek has been enamored with Mike Leach's Air Raid offense for more than two decades.
When Greek graduated from college in 1999, he went to hear Leach speak following Leach's run as offensive coordinator at Oklahoma. Greek has implemented his own version of the Air Raid at the high school level ever since and won four state titles as a head coach in Texas.
"I was intrigued by his attack," Greek said. "I tried to model so much of what I do after his blueprint of success offensively over the years."
Little did Greek know but Leach would go on to have an even bigger impact in his life. Three years after hearing Leach speak for the first time, Greek and his wife, Daisy, gave birth to their first son, Daniel.
That son is now 19 and a freshman quarterback for Leach at Mississippi State. And just like his father, Daniel Greek is passionate about the Air Raid offense.
"I absolutely love it," Daniel Greek said. "I love throwing a lot. I love coach Leach's offense. As much as we throw, we're still going to take what the defense gives us – whatever is the best option."
After playing nearly every position on the field as a youngster, Daniel Greek finally settled in at quarterback in seventh grade. He served as a back-up on Prestonwood Christian's state championship team in 2017 as a freshman before taking over the starting job at Liberty Christian for his final three years.
Daniel Greek threw for 5,245 yards and 47 touchdowns as a starter for his father and earned 17 college scholarship offers in the process, including one from Leach while at Washington State.
"I loved coach Leach and I was very close with his staff and as soon as they made that transition and I found out they were going to Mississippi State, I automatically knew that was going to be one of my top options," Daniel Greek said. "As soon as I visited last February, I fell in love with the campus. Also with it being close to home, being in the SEC and the Air Raid, I made the decision to come here."
Daniel Greek enrolled at MSU in January and was able to get his first taste of college football in the spring. During the Bulldogs' spring game, the now 6-foot-4, 225-pounder completed 8 of 11 passes for 101 yards and a 45-yard touchdown to Lideatrick Griffin.
Graduating high school a semester early allowed Daniel Greek to get adjusted to college life as a student-athlete.
"It's night and day in coming early," Daniel Greek said. "I've been here about eight months now. Having all that time to learn the offense, get to know the team, just be able to compete and learn how school, classes and the schedule works – being here this long, I already feel like a veteran."
Daniel Greek is currently competing with fellow Texan Sawyer Robertson for third team reps. He had a 2-yard rushing touchdown in State's second scrimmage this past Saturday.
"Even though I'm still a freshman and still learning, this has always been a dream of mine to be in the SEC and play Division I football," Daniel Greek said. "It's a dream come true and I'm trying to make the most of it."
Daniel Greek comes from good stock. His father signed to play quarterback at Texas A&M-Kingsville but ended up playing basketball for the Javelinas from 1997-99. His mother lettered in basketball and track in high school and has two younger brothers, Nathan and Joshua, who also play football for their father at Ferris High School.
"Something that our family is thankful for is that we love each other," said Steven Greek. "Our faith and our family are very important. Daniel is a great example to his younger brothers to strive to grow up and become like him, and when I say that I don't mean the football field. What we're most proud of is the young man, the leader and the character that Daniel has. We hope that transitions to the arena of competition for Mississippi State one day."
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When Greek graduated from college in 1999, he went to hear Leach speak following Leach's run as offensive coordinator at Oklahoma. Greek has implemented his own version of the Air Raid at the high school level ever since and won four state titles as a head coach in Texas.
"I was intrigued by his attack," Greek said. "I tried to model so much of what I do after his blueprint of success offensively over the years."
Little did Greek know but Leach would go on to have an even bigger impact in his life. Three years after hearing Leach speak for the first time, Greek and his wife, Daisy, gave birth to their first son, Daniel.
That son is now 19 and a freshman quarterback for Leach at Mississippi State. And just like his father, Daniel Greek is passionate about the Air Raid offense.
"I absolutely love it," Daniel Greek said. "I love throwing a lot. I love coach Leach's offense. As much as we throw, we're still going to take what the defense gives us – whatever is the best option."
After playing nearly every position on the field as a youngster, Daniel Greek finally settled in at quarterback in seventh grade. He served as a back-up on Prestonwood Christian's state championship team in 2017 as a freshman before taking over the starting job at Liberty Christian for his final three years.
Daniel Greek threw for 5,245 yards and 47 touchdowns as a starter for his father and earned 17 college scholarship offers in the process, including one from Leach while at Washington State.
"I loved coach Leach and I was very close with his staff and as soon as they made that transition and I found out they were going to Mississippi State, I automatically knew that was going to be one of my top options," Daniel Greek said. "As soon as I visited last February, I fell in love with the campus. Also with it being close to home, being in the SEC and the Air Raid, I made the decision to come here."
Daniel Greek enrolled at MSU in January and was able to get his first taste of college football in the spring. During the Bulldogs' spring game, the now 6-foot-4, 225-pounder completed 8 of 11 passes for 101 yards and a 45-yard touchdown to Lideatrick Griffin.
Graduating high school a semester early allowed Daniel Greek to get adjusted to college life as a student-athlete.
"It's night and day in coming early," Daniel Greek said. "I've been here about eight months now. Having all that time to learn the offense, get to know the team, just be able to compete and learn how school, classes and the schedule works – being here this long, I already feel like a veteran."
Daniel Greek is currently competing with fellow Texan Sawyer Robertson for third team reps. He had a 2-yard rushing touchdown in State's second scrimmage this past Saturday.
"Even though I'm still a freshman and still learning, this has always been a dream of mine to be in the SEC and play Division I football," Daniel Greek said. "It's a dream come true and I'm trying to make the most of it."
Daniel Greek comes from good stock. His father signed to play quarterback at Texas A&M-Kingsville but ended up playing basketball for the Javelinas from 1997-99. His mother lettered in basketball and track in high school and has two younger brothers, Nathan and Joshua, who also play football for their father at Ferris High School.
"Something that our family is thankful for is that we love each other," said Steven Greek. "Our faith and our family are very important. Daniel is a great example to his younger brothers to strive to grow up and become like him, and when I say that I don't mean the football field. What we're most proud of is the young man, the leader and the character that Daniel has. We hope that transitions to the arena of competition for Mississippi State one day."
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