The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Cedric Griffin: Breaking barriers
09.23.2005 | Football
Late in the summer of 2001, Cedric Griffin walked into the Longhorns team meeting room for the first time as a freshman. At first glance, he may have appeared quiet, stern and almost unapproachable to his fellow freshmen, but what his new teammates, including his future roommate Matt Nordgren, may not have realized is how much there was to discover.
"Cedric is one of the toughest guys you'll ever try to get to know, but I think that once you do, you'll be very happy with who you meet," Nordgren said. "It's a special thing, because he doesn't let many people in. He's very loyal. I think that's one of his best qualities. When you do get in, he'll do anything for you, anything in the world."
Trust and loyalty are two of the biggest qualities in getting to know Cedric Griffin. It was engrained at an early age as he ended up doing much for himself because of strained relations with his family, most of which is in southern Mississippi.
At age 10, he and his mother made their way to San Antonio, and although he admits he has found it difficult to ask for help from anyone, he would eventually receive one offer he felt he could not turn down.
"I don't talk to my real parents that much," Griffin said. "I live with a family in San Antonio who asked if I wanted to stay with them -- the Johnsons. I stayed with them in high school, so they are my closest family. I would call them a mother and a father figure. I 'm really close to my natural mom, we just haven't gotten along too well all the time."
In the Johnson household, comprised of father Tony, mother Sandi and son Anthony, Griffin found true trust and loyalty. He credits them fully for his successes, especially Anthony, one of his teammates at Holmes High School in San Antonio, who became his best friend.
"If you're his friend, you've got a friend for life," Tony Johnson said. "He'll go to bat for you, he'll go fight for you, and if he hears someone saying something about you, he'll step right up and straighten that out quickly.
"He has a hard time expressing himself, but when he does, it really comes out. It can be hard for him to do that. I guess as a child, he had to hold his emotions in so much. He'll let you know that he loves you, and he's just so thankful. He's just that type of person."
Beginning as teammates in Pop Warner football, Anthony and Cedric hit it off, and he was gradually accepted into the Johnson family, starting with an introduction to Tony and continuing with rides home from practice.
Eventually, during Griffin's sophomore year in high school, the Johnsons would extend an invitation for him to live with them in order to provide stability to the special person they recognized him to be.
"They're really supportive and they came to all of my games," Griffin described. "Even today, whenever I want to go down there, I can do it and just relax. They call me all the time and are just a really loving family."
With the benefit of support from the Johnsons, one night in their house became a distinct turning point. The night he took the SAT, it was Anthony who stayed up with Cedric to help him prepare.
"We sat there with training manuals, and I helped him where I could," Anthony recalled. "He knew some of the areas, and I knew some, so I helped as much as I could, and he just put a lot of effort into it. He trusted me, and we just got it done."
When the results were in, Griffin was on his way to play for The University of Texas.
"That was the happiest I've ever been in my life, because I knew I was going to college." Griffin recalled. "I knew I was going to have a chance to do what I wanted to do, and I knew I could repay him if everything worked out right. He helped me get here, and he's the reason why I'm here, honestly."
However, Tony and Anthony are quick to turn that credit around. Tony remembers a time when someone asked if Cedric made it to Texas because of the Johnson family.
"No, I'm here because of Cedric," he told them. "I'm sitting in this stadium seat because Cedric got me the tickets."
"I was there because of Cedric, not the other way around," he then explained. "He's there on his own initiative. I wish people could understand fully how hard it was for him to get where he is. If someone else takes credit, that's just silly. He's there because of him."
Anthony and Cedric consider each other brothers, and with the Johnsons' support, Griffin was able turn his strong ability to focus to his passion -- the game of football. Tony says that even from age 11, Cedric had his goals in place.
"When he is focused on it, you can forget it," Tony said. "I don't care what it is. I've never seen him give up. I've told him there are challenges out there that sometimes you won't meet, but that doesn't mean you have to quit trying. You don't just shoot for the moon, you can shoot for another galaxy, and he does. Sometimes it's almost an obsession compared to people who don't have goals. It does amaze me."
"Since he was a little kid, Cedric's been committed to football," Anthony followed. "Whatever he puts his mind to, that's what he does. From Pop Warner to middle school to high school, he's excelled at it, and it's what he's always wanted to do. Now he wants to go to the NFL, and that's his next step."
The Johnson family could not be prouder of Griffin, and no one would know him better than Anthony, who has seen him from all sides as they grew up together.
"It's like day and night away from football," Anthony laughed. "He can be so goofy. A lot of people don't see that side, because he's all rough and tough on the football field, but in the house, he's just a silly person."
So by the help of one family, Griffin found a second. He arrived at Texas and was embraced by Nordgren, Brian Carter, Michael Huff and the coaching staff, most notably defensive backs coach Duane Akina.
Akina says that even coaches had to earn Griffin's trust, something Akina now values as much as Nordgren.
With current NFL names such as Quentin Jammer, Rod Babers and Nathan Vasher on the roster at the time of Griffin's arrival, Akina could sense he was being watched to see if he treated everyone the same as the with a higher profile. He did, and a true respect between the two was formed.
"Just because I've got the hat and the whistle doesn't mean Cedric's going to follow me into the jungle," Akina said. "He wants to make sure that if he goes into the jungle, he's going to be able to come out too. I think you have to prove to him that you care about him, not only as a player, but as a person."
As for what some perceive as Griffin's image, Akina provided one classic message, "Don't judge a book by its cover."
"He's very caring," Akina said. "He's a very smart young man. He's going to be there for you if you need him at all times. I'd bring him with me no matter where I'm going. If someone has a problem with that, I think they're the one with the problem, not Cedric."
With Griffin's trust in Akina in place, his game on the field began to flourish, as he bought into all of the coaching messages of footwork, hand placement and eyes, to add to his speedy and physical nature. He also began approaching the game properly from a mental standpoint, watching film at any opportunity.
"Coach Akina is a great coach," Griffin said. "His influence as far as a man and as a player is just to make sure you're educated on what you're doing at all times. Coach Akina puts so much on himself to make us better. That's what I respect about him and that's what drives me to be the best player I can be."
Firmly placed on the right track, Griffin knows that one day he will return to his original home of Natchez, Miss. Despite all he has been through, he still views it as just that -- home.
"All of my family is there," explained Griffin. "I'm the only one out here right now, but it strengthens me. I want to go back to Mississippi, help my family out and go out there and live. That's where I'm from, and that's where I would like to be."
One member of his family he has been able to help is his brother, Anthony Noble, who was originally placed in a foster home when they were young. Although Noble's path has not been as straight as Griffin's, Noble is sure to always find acceptance with his brother. The two found each other again about the same time Griffin arrived at UT.
"I really care for him, because a lot of people put him down and didn't want to accept him," Griffin said. "I always wanted someone to be there for me, and I wanted someone to look up to me. I've got him now, and he sometimes gets into trouble, but I always try to help him, so he's really close to my heart. I'm always going to accept him, just because I want him to do right. He's very bright, and he just needs to use what he's got."
A youth and community studies major, Griffin's greatest hope is to be able to help those who are in need, especially those who have helped him.
"I want to do something with children or at a community house. I want to have a chance to give back. I hope I'm fortunate enough to give back to people who have done for me. They're the ones who have set up centers and things like that. I just want to go out into the community, see what the problems are and try to help people."
A recent problem everyone is familiar with in that region is the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina. Griffin received word early that his family was safe, but that did not deter him from wanting to help those he does not know.
"The little money I do have, I donate to the Red Cross," Griffin admitted. "It's hard times right now and everybody needs help, so I definitely want to do it."
Underneath the exterior is where you find the true Cedric Griffin. When asked to describe himself, he had this to say:
"I really feel like I'm a sensitive person, and a caring and loving person, but a lot of people don't believe that just because of the way they see me. Football brings your other personality out because you want to be mean, you want to try to be hard. That's what a lot of people perceive me as, but I'm just a really cool, caring guy to tell you the truth. That's what I think I am."
And he's not the only one.