Post by Guvmintcheeze on Jul 29, 2015 0:42:45 GMT
Falcons' Devonta Freeman eager to reunite with college pal Red Lightning
Atlanta Falcons second-year running back Devonta Freeman looks forward to reuniting with his old friend Frankie Grizzle-Malgrat, better known as “Red Lightning” to college football fans.
Freeman played at Florida State, where Grizzle-Malgrat gained fame as the team’s fiery, red-haired ballboy. Grizzle-Malgrat is set to join the Falcons on Friday as an equipment intern for training camp. He was profiled by ESPN in this story.
“That’s my boy,” Freeman said of reuniting with Red Lightning this week. “I’ve known him since my freshman year at Florida State. He’s just cool as s---.”
Part of the reason Grizzle-Malgrat gained a following was his mad dashes down the sideline and his willingness to step up in defense of the players. Such was the case with Freeman during a game against Florida. After Freeman took what appeared to be an excessive hit out of bounds, Grizzle-Malgrat gave the defender a light shove -- and helped Freeman to his feet.
“You saw that clip? He always did stuff like that,” Freeman said. “You know Jameis [Winston] would run over there, and Red Lightning was the ball boy on the other sideline. You know how the other team would try to crowd up on you, like they would do with Jameis? Red Lightning would always be over there like, 'Get off him.’ He would throw his body in there. He did that a lot.
“Red Lightning would get into it every game for us. He was ready to fight folks to protect us. I was happy they eventually got him back over to our sideline.”
Freeman said he hasn’t talked to Grizzle-Malgrat yet but is eager to see him come Friday. Red Lightning was on the Florida State sideline when Freeman & Co. won the national title.
“You’d love him, man. He’s just a good guy,” Freeman said.
Maybe the Falcons will like him enough to keep him around the entire season.
Atlanta Falcons second-year running back Devonta Freeman looks forward to reuniting with his old friend Frankie Grizzle-Malgrat, better known as “Red Lightning” to college football fans.
Freeman played at Florida State, where Grizzle-Malgrat gained fame as the team’s fiery, red-haired ballboy. Grizzle-Malgrat is set to join the Falcons on Friday as an equipment intern for training camp. He was profiled by ESPN in this story.
“That’s my boy,” Freeman said of reuniting with Red Lightning this week. “I’ve known him since my freshman year at Florida State. He’s just cool as s---.”
Part of the reason Grizzle-Malgrat gained a following was his mad dashes down the sideline and his willingness to step up in defense of the players. Such was the case with Freeman during a game against Florida. After Freeman took what appeared to be an excessive hit out of bounds, Grizzle-Malgrat gave the defender a light shove -- and helped Freeman to his feet.
“You saw that clip? He always did stuff like that,” Freeman said. “You know Jameis [Winston] would run over there, and Red Lightning was the ball boy on the other sideline. You know how the other team would try to crowd up on you, like they would do with Jameis? Red Lightning would always be over there like, 'Get off him.’ He would throw his body in there. He did that a lot.
“Red Lightning would get into it every game for us. He was ready to fight folks to protect us. I was happy they eventually got him back over to our sideline.”
Freeman said he hasn’t talked to Grizzle-Malgrat yet but is eager to see him come Friday. Red Lightning was on the Florida State sideline when Freeman & Co. won the national title.
“You’d love him, man. He’s just a good guy,” Freeman said.
Maybe the Falcons will like him enough to keep him around the entire season.