Twenty-five years ago this week, Illinois tailback Howard Griffith set the NCAA Division I record, scoring eight rushing touchdowns in a 56-21 win against Southern Illinois. Staff writer Bob Asmussen talked to Griffith on the silver anniversary of the historic game:
Griffith did more than break Arnold “Showboat” Boykin’s record. He also passed legend Red Grange on the Illini single-game touchdown list.
Not everybody accepted it. Not everybody wanted to see Griffith break the record of icon Grange.
“There were letters that came to the football office that I got that people were unhappy about the fact that they let an African-American break such a revered guy’s record,” Griffith said.