Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/208902
where have you gone? one of the most storied football traditions of all time. I remember calling the Virginia coach and waking him up at about 2 a.m." The Cavaliers coaches tried to sway Griffith by telling him he would never see the field in South Bend. It took a couple years, but he eventually proved the coaches wrong. Griffith started for three seasons among a talented group of defenders that included the Golic brothers, Mike and Bob, and Bob Crable, the program's all-time leading tackler. Griffith finished with more tackles than any of his fellow defensive lineman in his final two seasons portant contribution," Griffith joked. The Ohio native has gone on to play a bigger part in other historic Notre Dame wins and losses. He made 14 tackles and narrowly missed an interception in the victory over Pitt during his final season. That year began with the first night game in the history of Notre Dame Stadium. Griffith was part of an Irish defense that held No. 10 Michigan to less that 100 yards rushing that night in another upset win. The last game of that season was against USC in Los Angeles. Leading 13-10 in the fourth quarter, Griffith fell "I played against the best kids in the country, and they'd go on to the NFL and become Hall of Famers. I was fine with that. I was fine with the path I was taking, which was to go to law school." Griffith in South Bend. His career got off to a rocky start as a true freshman in 1978. Griffith broke his leg during one of his first collegiate practices while trying to fend off a double-team block from brothers Dave and Tim Huffman. He spent much of the season healing, but eventually was able to make a contribution at the end of the campaign. Notre Dame played in the Cotton Bowl to finish the year, Joe Montana's famous "Chicken Soup" game. It was the first time Griffith was in pads on the sideline. In the second half, he took over the important role of holding on to Montana's winter coat and mittens on the sideline when the quarterback was on the field. "He has yet to thank me for my im- on a goal-line fumble by USC's Michael Harper. Referees, though, ruled that Harper had reached the end zone before losing the ball, and the Trojans won. "I got the ball on about the 2-yard line, a clear fumble," Griffith said. "That was painful, but the USC games were great, playing against NFL-caliber players and Heisman Trophy winners." Griffith returned to campus this October to watch Notre Dame play the rival Trojans. After spending nearly a decade away from campus, he said he makes regular trips back to South Bend now to visit the oldest of his four daughters, Kelly, now a sophomore at Notre Dame. That is, when he can find time away from the golf course. ✦