Football has always been a part of Molly Griffin’s life.
“My dad’s a football coach,” she said. “Football has always been a family thing.”
Griffin said has moved 13 times because of her father’s coaching career. He recently held a position on the Jacksonville Jaguars’ coaching staff.
The 19-year-old psychology sophomore said she now gets her “football fix” as a student volunteer for the University Athletic Association. She sits on the sidelines with potential recruits at the each Gators home game and makes sure they are properly taken care of.
“I love sitting with families that have never been to The Swamp before,” she said. “It’s a completely different experience from any other stadium.”
Griffin said she spends at least one hour a week in the office, and home gamedays are completely devoted to the program.
“It can be challenging to wake up early in the morning, but it’s an incredible experience,” she said.
Although the typical way to get involved on campus is by joining a student organization, Griffin said she likes to be different.
“I quickly found a home in the football office,” she said. “I love spending time with the other girls and getting to know families from across the state.”
Griffin said she thinks it’s important to be involved on campus because it’s important to make friends and build a network in college.
Eventually, Griffin said she wants to become an agent in the FBI. But for now she wants to focus on her schoolwork, stay positive and participate in the football program any way she can.
“I’m learning that life doesn’t always go as planned, and it doesn’t have to,” she said. “If you can continue pulling positives out of whatever situation you’re in, then you’ll always do well.”