Cie Grant speaks at breakfast
Fun times: Nine year old Skyla Johnson gets ready to toss the football at a hole that was cut into the side of a plastic 55 gallon barrel at the second annual Coshocton County Fatherhood Initiative All Pro Dad’s Breakfast held Saturday morning, Oct. 17 at Coshocton High School. That’s Cie Grant, the featured speaker and member of the 2002 Ohio State Buckeyes National Championship team in the background. Kids, dads and family members enjoyed breakfast and then the kids could kick soccer balls, shoot hoops or try the football toss in the gymnasium prior to Grant speaking. BEACON PHOTO BY MARK FORTUNE
COSHOCTON – Coshocton High School hosted the second annual All-Pro Dad’s Breakfast on Saturday, Oct. 17 and featured former OSU player and NFL player, Cie Grant. Grant was a three-year starter for the Ohio State Buckeyes and played on the 2002 national championship team. He also played three seasons with the New Orleans Saints before retiring in 2006. He now works as an engineer and travels around the region giving motivational speeches to schools and events.
The event began with breakfast in the high school cafeteria and then, kids and dads were invited to the gymnasium where they could play games such as soccer kick, football toss, and basketball throw, and win prizes. Kids could also have their face painted, and some chose to do it up right with OSU colors, scarlet and grey.
“I think events like this are good for the kids,” said Nicholas Rose who was there with his son, Quentin. “He’s really enjoying it and he’s a big Ohio State fan.”
At 9:30 a.m., raffles were drawn and each kid with a winning raffle ticket had the chance to win prizes by seeing how many footballs they could throw into a barrel in 30 seconds. Dads helped out by handing their son or daughter the footballs during the competition.
“Events like this are important because it shows the stigma of dead-beat dads is what we’re trying to eliminate,” said William Johnson of Coshocton County Fatherhood Initiative. “Events like this are not only bringing dads closer with their children, but into the family unit.”
After the football throw, dads and kids gathered in the auditorium to watch highlights of Grant’s OSU career and to hear him speak.
“When I heard about this opportunity, I jumped on it,” said Grant. “I am very passionate about this. It has nothing to do with suiting up. It’s about being a father. It’s my greatest responsibility. The number one thing my Dad did that helped me out, he was there whenever I had an event. I could look out there and see that he was there.”
Grant has been married for 12 years and he and his wife have four children. His first child passed away shortly after birth.
“I felt raw,” said Grant. “I really didn’t know where to go from that point because I was really looking forward to being a dad. That’s why you shouldn’t envy others. You don’t know their struggles.”
Grant stressed the importance of being there for your children not necessarily financially but physically.
“It’s not good enough to just pay your child support,” he said. “You should pay your child support, but don’t treat your kids like a bill. Our kids don’t have a say on whether or not to be here. We do as parents. We need to take on that responsibility and be there for our kids. It’s a struggle sometimes to take care of our kids, but they’re our greatest investment in life.”
Grant ended his presentation with these words:
“My football memories are great memories, but make great memories with your kids, because I get a kick out of mine. Have patience and learn to laugh with them. There’s nothing like the innocence of a child.”
beth@coshoctoncountybeacon.com
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