EACH WEEK, WE'LL TAKE A LOOK BACK AT A MEMORABLE MOMENT IN ILLINI HISTORY, THANKS TO THE WORDS OF THE NEWS-GAZETTE

This week: Super Bowl Week always brings back memories of two-time NFL champ Howard Griffith, who made the transition to former player without a hitch.

Headline: Griffith's life full away from football

Date: Aug. 10, 2002

By BRIAN DIETZ

At some point this summer, Howard Griffith will make the drive north to Greeley, Colo., to check on the Denver Broncos at their training camp.

And while they're running drills, hitting dummies and sweating like an acrophobe at Rantoul's World Free Fall Convention, Griffith will have a Coke and a smile.

I am going up to training camp to harass them,' the former Broncos fullback said. They'll have their equipment on, and they'll be sweating and getting run into the ground by the coaches. I'll be drinking a Coke.'

The next time Griffith reports to camp with the Broncos, it will be as a businessman instead of a jackhammer fullback. The 34-year-old Griffith retired from his 11-year NFL career this offseason, and he hasn't looked back.

When the Broncos come to town tonight for the Chicago Bears preseason opener at Memorial Stadium, Griffith could be anywhere from Denver to Germany doing business.

I don't miss it one bit,' Griffith said of football. The only thing I miss from pro football is the guys, being around the locker room and the relationships you develop. I've turned all my focus to business. I've spent my entire life playing sports, and now I have another opportunity.'

The truth is, Griffith already made the transition last year. He spent the entire season on injured reserve with a neck injury and be- came increasingly involved in business interests.

When I went on IR, I got as far away from the game as I could, and that helped my transition,' Griffith said. When guys retire, a lot of times they go back and forth and still want to play. I didn't have that because I just dove into it.'

The injury didn't help, but Griffith said it was pretty much time' to retire. Twenty years of running into linebackers took its toll, but he loved his time in the game.

Highlight reel

Griffith said touchdowns in the Super Bowl and getting two championship rings with the Broncos were highlights of his career. He also enjoyed playing with great players from Thurman Thomas and Jim Kelly — Griffith started out on the Buffalo practice squad — to John Elway and Terrell Davis.

Along the way, he blocked for five different 1,000-yard rushers, developed a reputation as one of the league's top blocking fullbacks and got a few free trips to Hawaii and the Pro Bowl courtesy of Davis.

I got everything I could get out of football,' Griffith said. I never cheated myself in games or practices. I didn't want to look back and think woulda, shoulda, coulda.'

He approaches business with the same attitude. Griffith is involved with a computer advertising company in Germany and visits once a month for planning meetings.

We have a program where we put laptop computers in the hands of students,' Griffith said. When I saw that and how it was set up, it was something I wanted to participate in. I'm becoming accustomed to the travel. The biggest difference is the time, so I sleep about three hours on those trips.'

Griffith was offered a job in the Broncos' front office but said it's just too soon for me.' Coach Mike Shanahan wanted him to learn the ropes of being a general manager before last season began.

Knowing a lot of players who are here, it would be a tough adjustment for me to switch to the business side,' he said. You hear information about guys you played with, and it may not be positive. You're kind of torn, and your loyalties are tested. I know guys who have done that, and it put them in a tough situation. Once I've established myself in the business world and done what I want to do there, I'd think about it.'

Thinking ahead

Griffith does a lot of work from his home in the Denver suburbs, where he lives with wife Kim and sons Howard II (5) and Houston (2). Griffith said there's a chance he could return to his native Chicago.

We really haven't decided where we want to head,' Griffith said. We want to come back to Chicago, although I don't know if we want to come back and deal with the cold. Our parents are there, and we want the kids to be around their families. But I've learned that as long as there are airplanes, you're never too far.'

Living in Chicago would put him closer to Champaign, where he enjoys visiting old friends. He said the Bears will be good for the Champaign-Urbana community, and he likes the overall direction of the NFL.

One thing about the NFL, I think it all starts at the top with the owners,' Griffith said. You have a few who don't travel with the rest of the pack, but most move in the same direction. You don't have the type of situation you have in baseball. Salaries are larger, but not at the rate of baseball. That's not to say I don't want to see players make more money — they should make whatever they can. But the state of football is in good shape. They're bringing a lot of good, young players to the game, and they're putting a good product on the field.'