Griffin: “I want to be in Olympics”
The last time I spoke with Robert Griffin (before this week) he had just completed one of the most incredible feats in Texas high school track history.
Griffin was a junior at Copperas Cove High School and had just set state records in the 110-meter hurdles (13.55 seconds) and 300-meter hurdles (35.33 seconds), the latter coming one-hundredth of a second off the national prep record.
From then on, I believed one day I’d be watching Griffin, who had thighs as big as tree trunks at 16, compete in the Olympics.
He’s well on his way, having won the Big 12 400-meter hurdles championship in May and coming one spot away from qualifying for Beijing at the Olympic trials in June, despite being just 18 years old.
What I didn’t know was that Griffin would become a star quarterback.
As a freshman.
But that’s what’s happened.
Sure, Griffin, the son of a retired Army sergeant, was also a standout quarterback at Copperas Cove, having led the Bulldawgs to back-to-back Class 4A state championship appearances.
He always maintained that he wanted to play for a coach that would also support his track career, which is one reason why Griffin originally committed to Art Briles at Houston, then followed him to Baylor.
But this? It’s hard to believe.
This season, Griffin beat out incumbent starter Blake Szymanski and transfer Kirby Freeman, whom Sooner fans will remember was Miami’s starting quarterback when the Hurricanes came to Owen Field last year.
Griffin has thrown for 756 yards, rushed for another 334, and has accounted for 12 total touchdowns without an interception. He’s one of six Big 12 quarterbacks ranked in the top 10 in the nation in passing efficiency.
The Bears are 2-1 since putting him in the starting lineup, coming dangerously close to knocking off undefeated Connecticut on the road.
Oklahoma defensive coordinator Brent Venables isn’t ready to call Griffin the next Vince Young. But he sees similarities.
“He’s a beast. He’s fast, got a huge arm,” said Venables, who noted that Griffin has more immediate explosiveness running the ball than Young.
Can Griffin take Baylor to a bowl game for the first time since 1994?
Probably not this year. The schedules seems to be a bit too tough in the loaded Big 12.
But count on it happening before Griffin refocuses on London. Where he’ll be shooting for a gold medal.
By Jake Trotter
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