rocketman
flying low
Just got back from a function involving Ohio State's freshmen leadership program, which my company sponsors. I got to meet and have dinner with Archie Griffin, along with a small group of incoming freshmen picked for having high leadership potential.
He spoke about his accomplishments, and how none of it could happen without the support group that he had growing up. Athletics were a means to an education, because his parents could not afford college for him and all of his siblings. He said his greatest achievement at Ohio State was earning his degree. His success on the field, he said, was a product of being at the right place at the right time, with the right players, and the right coach to guide him.
The most important things that guided him as a student and an athlete were taught by his family, his mentors, and his coaches. He credited his family for instilling his values, and his coaches for guiding him throughout his life.
He mostly referred back to his pro days with the Bengals when discussing life lessons taught to him through sports. Every year Cincinnati had the most trouble with Pittsburgh, namely their defense. In one game, Archie's job was to block Jack Lambert on a toss-sweep to the fullback (Pete Johnson, at the time). Archie went on to talk about how the first time he got a block on Lambert, it was the greatest block of his life. Pete Johnson ran for a 20-yard gain and he felt on top of the world. After all, he did block the Jack Lambert. The next play, they ran the exact same thing, except this time... not so much luck. Lambert came right for Archie, with a hit so hard it flipped him on his back. Lambert then stood over him and said, "Griffin! If you EVER block me again I will bite your head off!" To that Archie replied, while walking back to the sideline in a daze, "Yeah Lambert? Well if you do you'll have more brains in your stomach than in your head!" Lesson: success and failure can come at any time, the key is how you deal with it - learn to pick yourself up after you get knocked down.
I asked him what his favorite Woody Hayes quote was, and to that he replied "Never pick a fight with those who buy ink by the barrel full." He said, working in public relations, Woody's perspective has never been more pertinent than it is now.
All in all it was cool to talk with him. The man doesn't have an ounce of ego or selfishness in him. I couldn't ask for somebody better to represent our alumni organization, and our school as a whole. I did my job as a recruiter and gained a greater perspective on the school I graduated from.
He spoke about his accomplishments, and how none of it could happen without the support group that he had growing up. Athletics were a means to an education, because his parents could not afford college for him and all of his siblings. He said his greatest achievement at Ohio State was earning his degree. His success on the field, he said, was a product of being at the right place at the right time, with the right players, and the right coach to guide him.
The most important things that guided him as a student and an athlete were taught by his family, his mentors, and his coaches. He credited his family for instilling his values, and his coaches for guiding him throughout his life.
He mostly referred back to his pro days with the Bengals when discussing life lessons taught to him through sports. Every year Cincinnati had the most trouble with Pittsburgh, namely their defense. In one game, Archie's job was to block Jack Lambert on a toss-sweep to the fullback (Pete Johnson, at the time). Archie went on to talk about how the first time he got a block on Lambert, it was the greatest block of his life. Pete Johnson ran for a 20-yard gain and he felt on top of the world. After all, he did block the Jack Lambert. The next play, they ran the exact same thing, except this time... not so much luck. Lambert came right for Archie, with a hit so hard it flipped him on his back. Lambert then stood over him and said, "Griffin! If you EVER block me again I will bite your head off!" To that Archie replied, while walking back to the sideline in a daze, "Yeah Lambert? Well if you do you'll have more brains in your stomach than in your head!" Lesson: success and failure can come at any time, the key is how you deal with it - learn to pick yourself up after you get knocked down.
I asked him what his favorite Woody Hayes quote was, and to that he replied "Never pick a fight with those who buy ink by the barrel full." He said, working in public relations, Woody's perspective has never been more pertinent than it is now.
All in all it was cool to talk with him. The man doesn't have an ounce of ego or selfishness in him. I couldn't ask for somebody better to represent our alumni organization, and our school as a whole. I did my job as a recruiter and gained a greater perspective on the school I graduated from.
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) about what he thought Penn State's chances were....
