Griffin family lost everything in Nashville house
fire
Click here to view Howard Griffin bio page
COOKVILLE, Tenn. -- A fund has been established for fans, alumni,
supporters and others to help the family of Tennessee Tech
linebacker Howard Griffin,
whose home burned to the ground last week in Nashville.
By NCAA rules, the money in the fund cannot go directly to the
family but can be used to purchase items needed by his family such
as clothing and furniture.
The home that Griffin grew up in burned early Wednesday morning.
He immediately returned home, but came back to campus later in the
day to attend practice. Griffin played last Saturday and helped the
Golden Eagles claim a 21-14 victory at Jacksonville State. He made
seven tackles in the game, and was instrumental in the play that
clinched the victory, a fourth quarter fumble by the Gamecocks that
Tech recovered. When the ball was knocked loose, Griffin's pursuit
of the ball carrier put him in the middle of the play. He wasn't
able to recover the fumble, but he did bat the ball free from a JSU
player so that teammate Jamere Hogue could
recover it. Tech was able to run out the final 1:25 of the game for
the road win.
"I felt so sorry for Howard. It's the only home he's ever lived
in," said Golden Eagle coach Watson Brown. "I'm so proud of the way
he's handling this. When I informed him that this fund is being
established, he was so grateful."
At Monday's Insider's Lunch with Watson Brown, the fund was
announced and the people in attendance donated $800.
Anyone interested in making a donation to the Athletics
Association/Howard Griffin Fund can contact the Athletics Ticket
Office in Eblen Center by calling (931) 372-3940. Check (payable to
Tennessee Tech Athletics Association) can be mailed to: Athletics
Association, TTU Box 5057, Cookeville, TN 38505. For additional
information, please contact Kevin Bostian at (931) 372-3939.