You want to make headlines, you run in a way that makes you forever seem on the verge of breakaway, light up notebooks with lively quotes and ultimately get kicked off the team for multiple arrests.

John Randle knew how to make headlines.

You want to get your name in the paper, you always can do that by first getting your name on a police report for allegedly cuffing up a middle-aged couple at a Kenny Chesney concert. Bruce Ringwood can see his name in print this morning. He has finally made it.

Here’s how you don’t get talked about: Take as much pride in picking up blitzing linebackers as in running for 118 yards and a touchdown in 32 carries in the Missouri victory last season. And then speak in platitudes about the big day.

A fifth-year senior, Clark Green won’t make anybody’s most-quotable list, win Olympic sprint medals or push Oklahoma’s Adrian Peterson for first-team All-Big 12 Conference honors.

Let’s talk about what else he’s not likely to do.

He’s not going to embarrass his university by stiff-arming anyone not wearing a helmet and enemy colors.

He’s not going to drop passes and miss blocking assignments that lead to quarterback concussions and, even worse, fumbles.

He’s not going to brag about his career numbers, even if he finishes as the third-leading rusher in KU history, behind June Henley and Tony Sands.

As a sophomore, Green rushed for 968 yards and six touchdowns and caught 44 passes, a school record for a running back. Randle displaced him as the featured back last season and, shock of shocks, Green didn’t gripe about it.

He needs 985 rushing yards to pass Laverne Smith for third place on the all-time list. That doesn’t mean he’ll be the third-best running back in KU history, or even close to it. It does mean he deserves some respect, especially since he’s considered a better blocker and receiver than runner.

In many ways, Green’s the perfect symbol of this offense. You look at him and you want to upgrade to a more explosive model, a louder talent, a guy who’ll make you want to tell your buddies what you just saw to see if they believe you. He’s not that guy. Neither are any of his offensive teammates. What he is is dependable.

Green took the hardest lick of anyone during the open-to-the-public portion of Wednesday’s practice. He was knocked silly. A few plays later, he was back in there grinding away for a few loud yards here and there. And a little while later, coach Mark Mangino was thanking the fans who sat in a light rain.

“Thanks for coming out on a night that’s not ideal conditions,” Mangino told the crowd of about 1,500. “Probably a lot of you folks are the same people who sat here through the Northwestern game a couple of years ago. There’s no fair weather in any of you folks.”

The diehards. They’re the ones who care enough to appreciate a guy like Clark Green.