LEXINGTON, Ky. — Jeremy Foley and Lee McGriff have had a running back-and-forth for years. McGriff played wide receiver at Florida in the early 1970s, became a Gators assistant coach in the late-’70s and eventually was placed in the Gators Sports Network radio both as color analyst not once, but twice and has been there since 2004.
Foley, who retired as UF athletic director in 2017, still teases McGriff when he sees him on chartered flights to road games.
“How long are you going to be on scholarship?”
They always share a laugh about it.
“I’m so grateful for it all,” McGriff this week. “And, yes, it feels like I’ve been on scholarship for about 50 years now.”
McGriff, though, is about to give up his free ride, but for one he anticipates will every bit as rewarding. Probably more.
When Gator fans tune into Saturday night’s radio coverage of the Florida-Kentucky game from Lexington they’ll hear the familiar voice of Mick Hubert calling play-by-play, but a different voice — Shane Matthews, the former UF quarterback and two-time Southeastern Conference Player of the Year — providing the color commentary. McGriff, who turns 68 Sunday, is taking road games off this season as part of a roll back that will allow him to attend his grandson’s football games in 2022.
If the scenario sounds familiar it’s because, well, it is. In 1994, McGriff asked out of his UF radio duties so he could watch — and cheer — for oldest son Travis during his time as a wideout for the Gators from ’95-98. McGriff’s hiatus continued when middle son Britt, also a wideout, signed to play with UCF.
He did it then to play Dad.
Now he’ll do it to play Granddad.
“Easy decision,” said McGriff, whose grandson, Keil, is currently being coached at the middle-school level by Travis. “When you experience it with your own child, it’s their time and it’s such a big deal with how invested they are. But when it’s your grandchild, now you’re watching your child be who you were. I wasn’t going to miss any of that.”
So McGriff approached the University Athletic Association with a heads-up. Where it all leads down the line is yet to be determined, but for the time being it will be Matthews, who left UF in 1992 as the SEC’s all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns, in the seat next to Hubert, now in his 33rd season.
Matthews played 13 seasons in the NFL for six different franchises, mostly as a backup. Now 51, Matthews has a daily podcast on Facebook and has done some color commentary for college games on Touchdown Radio.
“Those are some big shoes to fill,” Matthews said of McGriff. “Hopefully, I can stay out of Mick’s way and bring something to the broadcast.”
McGriff, who will be back in the booth for UF home games this season, has offered Matthews some tips, along with some well-wishes, as he prepares for what’s next.
It’s not exactly walk-on status, but it’s not a full ride, either.
“I’m on partial scholarship now,” McGriff smiled. “I get books and a few meals.”
And glorious grandson time to make up for the rest.
