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LB Larry Grant (Official Thread)

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Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Larry Grant to play in fourth straight college football title game

0-for-3, Larry Grant hopes to win; he already has to his family

Sunday, December 16, 2007
Doug Lesmerises
Plain Dealer Reporter

Columbus- How did Ohio State senior linebacker Larry Grant reach four consecutive college football national championship games?

By getting out.

Six years ago, LaSean Woods, one of Grant's five older siblings, called from his home in Georgia. He had a message for Grant, his younger brother by 13 years, who was living in Sacramento, Calif., with his mother.

"You're coming with me, little brother."

Grant remembers LaSean saying what the whole family knew had to happen. And Shirley Woods, a single mother, realized letting one of her sons reach out for another was the best thing she could do.

"We didn't know what, but we knew Larry had something good ahead of him," Shirley Woods said. "He knew we'd be so disappointed if he got into the drugs and the gang-banging. We were in a gang-affiliated area, and we knew that LaSean could help him become a better man."

So 16-year-old Larry Grant left one home for another, moving across the country to a brother who worked two jobs to provide for him. It was the beginning of a journey from Sacramento to Norcross, Ga., to San Francisco to Columbus, with near-detours to Murray State and the University of Florida. Along the way, Grant has pulled off a rare championship quad.

During his two seasons at City College of San Francisco, Grant played in the California Community College state championship game, a de facto national title game with the winner typically declared the national champion by the junior-college poll of record.

Now he's playing in his second BCS national championship in his second and final year with the Buckeyes. Quite a feat. The only problem? Grant is 44-2 during his college football career in everything but title games, and 0-3 when going for it all.

"I haven't won yet. I haven't won yet," Grant said. "This is my last chance. I've got to come out with a big one this time. It's special at a point, but it's not special 'cause I ain't won one yet."
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To complete his odyssey, Grant has one more request for this last championship game.

"Just to win," he said. "That's all I want."
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cleveland.com: Everything Cleveland
 
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Mom helps Grant find a home at Ohio State
Sunday, December 23, 2007 3:54 AM
By Tim May
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

In choosing a tattoo a few years ago, Larry Grant didn't go for barbed wire, wings or other in-fashion options. He chose the 23rd Psalm.

Not just "23rd Psalm," mind you, but the whole verse. From "The Lord is my shepherd ... " through " ? and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever" -- it's all there on his massive upper left arm.

"It's something my mother used to read to me when I was a child and living with her," the Ohio State senior linebacker said. "It was a verse that was close to her. When we had Bibles around the house or wherever we stayed, every Bible always seemed to be open to the 23rd Psalm.

"After reading it, and understanding how much God does for me, it tells me not to fear any evil, just fear him. I had to have that put on my arm just to show people how much I love the 23rd Psalm."

The tattoo was Grant's beacon in what was a stormy first 20 years of his life. It's also a symbol of his love for his mom, because even though their relationship has had its trials it endured.

Grant, 22, is the sixth and last child for Shirley Woods. "He's my baby boy," said Woods, 52. The others, in order and by current age, are: LaSean Woods (35), Marvin Browder III (33), Jason Browder (32), Ebony Browder (29) and Laquita Grant (25).

Their fathers never stuck around, but through thick and thin -- and there was a lot of thin -- Woods tried to make sure her children were taken care of.
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Grant couldn't guess how many homes, apartments and dorms he has lived in. He just knows that Ohio State has felt more like home than any place he has lived.

"Coach (Jim) Tressel is a great coach, and not just because of the football part," Grant said. "The team unity he promotes is amazing. I've never been on a team at any level where I had to spend hours and hours in camp with just teammates and do things together. And I've never been able to enjoy one team just as much.
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BuckeyeXtra - The Columbus Dispatch : OSU football: Mom helps Grant find a home at Ohio State
 
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Wow. Larry Grant. What a great game you played tonight, young man. For awhile it seemed you were carrying the entire defense. Tremendous effort, and you will not be forgotten.

I can not comprehend what it must feel like to get to 4 championship games and come out on the short end in all 4. At the very least, it must build unbelievable character. Larry, you are a winner in my book. Thanks for everything, and good luck in the future. Forever a Buckeye.
 
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