A Softer Side of the Griffs

(ST. JOSEPH, Mo.) On the football field, the Missouri Western defensive line is known as "Death Row," but that tough exterior melts away when they clock-in for their summer job.

Linemen David Bass, Ben Pister and Sean Tray Bryson, along with wide receiver Tyron Crockom, take on a father-figure role at St. Paul Lutheran Childcare.

"You go from being 'Death Row' to a nice guy," Bryson said.

The stature of a college football player may intimidate some, but it does not affect the children at St. Paul Lutheran.

"You know I kind of thought that they'd fear you a little more since we're bigger, but a lot of them don't have that fear factor in them really," Pister said. "Some of them are still little snot nosed kids that run around and do whatever. I think some of the women have more of a pull on them than we do."

If Missouri Western's off-season workouts were not enough, chasing children around each afternoon tires the athletes out if they were not already.

"We are exhausted," Crockom said. "but I don't know how we do it, because they want us to pick them up, throw them in the air, climb on us."

At the end of the day though, it is a rewarding experience for the athletes and the kids.

"I enjoy working with kids," Crockom said. "I'm a big kid at heart, so I guess this is perfect."