Barbecue and football, that’s what Texas does.
Lago Vista High School is the perfect example: former Texas Longhorns cornerback Cedric Griffin works the concession stand on Friday nights, fueling fans with his brisket and baby back pork ribs.
But he takes a timeout whenever Lago Vista plays defense, shedding his apron and putting on his dad hat. Griffin’s son, Swayde, is a senior cornerback who has signed with Arizona. Swayde won two gold medals at the UIL State Track Meet in the 110-meter hurdles and 200-meter dash. Sometimes, when Swayde makes a big play, he’ll look up to the concession stand and see his father clapping softly in his signature sun hat.
This is how Cedric handles Swayde’s journey from following in his father’s footsteps to making a name for himself. Supportive, but not overbearing. At the game, but working the concession stand. To some, that may seem distant. For Cedric, it’s how he stays close to his son. Because part of him wants to watch these games on the fence that separates the stands from the track, coaching his boy up between drives. But he already knows where that road leads.
Cedric was a cornerback on Texas' 2005 National Championship squad, one of the greatest college football secondaries ever. Swayde watches his game film at least once a week.
He did it as a senior, earning First Team All-District in football as a wide receiver and cornerback. But before he could graduate to Tucson, where he's looking forward to be coached by Wildcats cornerbacks coach Chip Viney, he had unfinished business on the track in the 110 hurdles and 200.
“His whole goal this year was to beat my 110 hurdles time of 13.56 when I was in school,” Cedric said. “I could see it in his eyes that he was determined to be a double-gold champion this year.”
Now, Swayde worked out twice daily, stretched morning and night, and watched track and field highlights. Father and son were so confident entering the state track meet that Cedric posted on X that history was about to be made.
Swayde won gold medals in the 110 hurdles and 200 at the same University of Texas campus where Cedric starred two decades ago. Frankly, he had earned gold before the meet started. He’d prepared harder than all his competitors with his father. But that was only because he wasn’t forced to - he wanted to.
“There’s no way I even could’ve made it this far without my dad,” Swayde said.
Swayde grew up watching Cedric’s highlight tapes. Now he’s going to make some of his own. And his father will be supporting from the concession stand all the way through.
“He’s going to be my favorite player,” Cedric said.