Times Recorder
4/12
Greeting a Buckeye great
Inspirational Griffin shares 'three D's' at Rotary event
By JOHN KERR
Staff Writer
ZANESVILLE - Former Ohio State football All-America Archie Griffin has used desire, dedication and determination to record incredible achievements throughout his life.
Those achievements include being college football's lone two-time winner of the Heisman Trophy and the only player to start in four Rose Bowls.
Griffin, president and chief executive officer of the Ohio State University Alumni Association, took time to share the three D's and the importance of education to inspire others at Tuesday's luncheon fundraiser at North Terrace Church of Christ on Bowers Lane.
The program, which attracted an impressive 540 people, was organized by Rotary Club of Zanesville and The Ohio State Alumni Club of Muskingum County. Proceeds benefited Noon Rotary Club's Kick Cancer program as well as The James Cancer Center in Columbus and the OSU student scholarship program provided by the local OSU Alumni Club.The event marked the first Rotary/OSU Alumni combination as well as the initial interactive Internet hookup with seven high schools ranging from West Muskingum to Steubenville.
"I used those three D's in the classroom," said Griffin, who learned the importance of the three D's from his junior high guidance counselor. "I knew my mother and father wanted to send all eight kids to college. I could either work my way through college, which was fine, or I go could through a grant-in-aid scholarship.
"I felt I had to get good grades in high school. I didn't want high school to limit me in what college I could go to ... I got good enough grades to attend the college of my choice.
He also used the three D's to succeed in football, track and wrestling at Columbus Eastmoor High School. While at Eastmoor wrestling practice, Griffin received a phone call from legendary Ohio State football coach Woody Hayes. Hayes wanted to meet Griffin for dinner.
"I got home and told my dad the dinner went fine. But I didn't know if he wanted me for football. He never once mentioned football. All he talked to me about was about my education."
That fact sold Archie's dad on Ohio State.
"Woody would say an athlete without interest in an education could be headed for a bad situation," Griffin said.
Griffin pointed out that Hayes and current OSU head football coach Jim Tressel have one similarity that stands out.
"The biggest thing is the way they care about their players on their team and the way they care about the people in the community."
Importance of sports
Griffin spoke of why sports are important and how they can teach valuable life lessons, including overcoming adversity."It teaches you how to get up when you get knocked down. We all have setbacks in our lives. We've got to be able to get up when you get knocked down."
Griffin pointed to playing for the Cincinnati Bengals as an example. The Bengals posted 4-12 records in 1978 and 1979, then a 6-10 mark the following season.
Everywhere Griffin turned, there was negative talk regarding the Bengals.
"We got up and went 12-4 the next season and won the AFC Championship and went to the Super Bowl and played the San Francisco 49ers. We got up after being knocked down."
Looking back at OSU
After a stellar career at Columbus Eastmoor High School, Griffin didn't expect to make an immediate splash with the Buckeyes."My goal was to make the varsity team. It (1972) was the first year freshmen were eligible to play on the varsity," recalled Griffin, a small but exceptionally fast player with the ability to break tackles. "It looked bleak at first. I was on the scout team and would really take a beating in practice."
After a fumble against Iowa in the season opener, Griffin didn't know if he'd have the opportunity to carry the football again.
Then, the next game, Griffin established himself as a potential star with an Ohio State rushing record of 239 yards against North Carolina. Griffin went on to set an NCAA record with 5,177 career rushing yards and win two Heisman Trophies.
"It's a wonderful feeling to just have won one Heisman," Griffin said. "To win two, I guess puts you in a group of your own."
Griffin expects another player to win two Heismans at some point.
"As a matter of fact, I think there is a person out there who could do it three times. (Oklahoma's) Adrian Peterson (in 2004) I think finished second in the Heisman his freshman year and could have won it."
Upcoming season
Griffin is looking forward to the 2006 football season and believes senior quarterback Troy Smith has an opportunity to make a run at the Heisman."I think we have an exciting football team this coming year. I think Troy Smith has been a wonderful asset to the team in the time he's had to be the starter," Griffin said. "When I think of Troy Smith, I think of two of the best performances for a quarterback I've ever seen against Michigan. That's something to be proud of and something he can build on."
Griffin is also high on the wide receiver and running back positions.
"I think there is tremendous talent at the wide receiver position as well as the running back position. I think it's going to be interesting to see what happens for us on offense this year."
The running backs include returning 1,000-yard rusher Anthony Pittman, highly-regarded freshman Chris Wells and Maurice Wells.
"You've got to look at what Antonio Pittman did last year. I think he really stepped it up last year as the season went along. I think he'll come back as good as a year ago. Certainly Chris Wells is trying to get a feel for the offense this year. Let us not forget about little Maurice Wells. I think he's a pretty talented young runner who is going to have a say about what is going to go on..."
Defensively, Griffin noted the Buckeyes will need to replace their talented linebacking corps of A.J. Hawk, Bobby Carpenter and Anthony Schlegel.
"What we're missing are some very, very talented linebackers. You don't get a group like that very often. We're pretty fortunate to have guys coming back who have been waiting in the wings for an opportunity and this is their opportunity to step up and do their thing."
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