Griffin family lost everything in Nashville house fire
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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.