Loyola ties run deep with Chaminade QB Griffin
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When Chaminade’s Ryan Griffin trots onto the Los Angeles Valley College field for Friday night’s game against Loyola, it’ll be more than just a homecoming for the senior quarterback.
It’s been well over a year since Griffin made the difficult decision to leave the same Loyola school that not only allowed him to play for a divisional championship squad, but also cultivated two generations of lasting memories for his family.
Ryan’s grandfather, Gary Griffin, was an All-CIF basketball player at Loyola in 1950 and his father, David, started at safety on the Cubs’ 1975 CIF-Southern Section Division 4A championship-winning team. This same team was declared ‘National Champions’ by the National Sports News Service (the only organization to recognize national champions before the USA Today started publication in 1982). Ryan’s uncle, Gary Christopher Griffin, also played Loyola football.
“Loyola has always been a special place for my family and it’s still a special place for me,” Ryan Griffin said. “I love Loyola, but I also love Chaminade and I’m going to do everything I can do to win.”
More than anything, though, the game is just going to be a little “weird” for Griffin. He still hangs out with Loyola players (QB/DB) Kevin Franks, (FB/DL) John Leon and (OL/DL) Devin Stewart and he knows practically all the seniors on the team, including (TE/DE) Jonathon Rossi and (RB/LB) Marcus Gaxiola.
“It’s going to be weird lining up against them,” said Griffin, who left Loyola essentially because the 2 1/2 to 3-hour commute from his Westlake Village home was too much for him. “But I’ve really been looking forward to this game. I know all the guys over there look forward to play Notre Dame, but this is the game I’ve been highlighting on the schedule for awhile.”
And just like last year, Griffin has played an invaluable role for the Eagles. Through five games, he’s passed for 992 yards and 12 TDs as Chaminade has jumped out to a 5-0 start.
Griffin doesn’t have any scholarship offers on the table yet, but Washington, Washington St., Michigan St., Wyoming and Harvard are all interested in the 6-foot-4, 210-pound QB with a 3.7 GPA.
Of course, all of this recruiting business is on the backburner for Griffin, who’s expecting 20-30 family members to be in the stands at Friday night’s game. But even though some of those family members went to Loyola, they’ll all be cheering for Ryan.
“I’m thinking of wearing my Chaminade shirt on Friday,” said David Griffin, who’s still involved with Loyola through its alumni award selection committee. “I know I’m going to get made fun of a little bit, but I’m supporting Ryan even though Loyola is where my roots are.”
- Austin Knoblauch
