AKRON, Ohio — Ohio State fans will always remember Cie Grant pressuring Miami Quarterback Ken Dorsey on the final play of the 2003 Fiesta Bowl, giving the Buckeyes a National Championship.
“I never would have thought with my humble beginnings that I’d be sitting here at 42 years old, two decades removed, talking about something as great a place as the Ohio State,” said Grant.
Twenty years have passed, and Grant continues to live his life with the same passion he showed that day.
“It fills my heart with joy. I think that’s where you become a kid again. You start thinking about your dreams and dream about that confetti falling down on your face. You think about your brothers that you put a lot of hard work. And you want to win it for the great state of Ohio,” said Grant.
Grant has always been a talented singer, showing off his voice at church and then with New Philadelphia High School’s choir.
In 2001, when he was late for a meeting, Coach Jim Tressell stood up in front of the team and put Grant on the spot, saying…
“We had a guy, who came in here a little late today, and no one guy is bigger than the team. Cie Grant, come up here, so I went up there and he goes, I want you to sing Carmen Ohio. I told him, ‘I said coach I’ll sing, but I have to sing it my way,’” said Grant.
Little did Grant know he would continue on that tradition for years.
The father of five, who recently moved to Akron and works in the oil and gas industry, said these days he gets joy watching his son star at cornerback for Archbishop Hoban High School.
“I tell him to live in the moment. Make sure he’s leading, doing the best that he can with his preparation, lead, love his teammates and play hard,” says Grant.
And as for the game verse that team up north this weekend, Grant continues to wear his heart on his sleeve and that competitive spirit lives on as a Buckeye alum.
“I expect nothing but the best from this team. We shouldn’t need a whole lot of motivation. What happened last year is unacceptable, so we have to get that win this week and that’s the only thing they need to be focused on,” said Grant.
Grant would like to coach in the future, using sports as a vehicle to affect young people’s lives, but for now, he has these parting words for Buckeye Nation.
“To the young men who are in that locker room at The Ohio State, they’re going to talk about this game the rest of your life and the pen is in your hand. You get to write your story before anyone else gets to write your story,” says Grant.
Grant is always willing to share the words in a song that has meant so much to him over the years.
“Oh come let’s sing Ohio’s praise And songs to Alma Mater raise While our hearts rebounding thrill And joy which death alone can still Summer’s heat or winter’s cold The seasons pass the years will roll Time and change will surely (truly) show How firm thy friendship … OHIO.
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