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If the discussion is of lacrosse pedigree, Bobby Griebe is a thoroughbred.
It's one thing to have players in your family. It's a whole other to have a dad that led Towson to a NCAA championship in 1974, was an All-American and Attackman of the Year and whose bust is not only in the Towson University Hall of Fame, but the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame.
Heredity might breed a certain degree of pressure. But the elder Griebe, Bob, did not magnify it.
"Being his son is definitely a lot of pressure," Griebe said. "He always tells me, 'do your own thing' and it really hasn't bothered me that much."
Despite having memories of his dad's 1990 induction into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame, the magnitude of his father's accomplishments did not dawn on Griebe until his early teenage years. Nonetheless, the weight carried by his last name was not the deciding factor in his decision to pursue lacrosse. Bobby just liked to play. He just so happened to be good at it, too.
Griebe broke out as a senior at Boys' Latin in 2002, adding to his family's legacy with All-State and All-Metro selections, Baltimore City and Baltimore County Player of the Year honors, and a spot on the All-American first team. He finished the year with 39 goals and 53 assists for a Lakers team that went 20-2 and captured the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association 'A' Conference championship.
Thanks to his decision to follow in the footsteps of his father, more of the same would follow.
"Everyone thinks I came here because he played here, but that had nothing to do with it," Griebe said. "He never pushed me to go here."
He was plugged into the lineup in 2004 after redshirting in 2003 and finished third on the team with 27 points, as Towson won its second-straight CAA title.
The following summer he, like his father 22 years prior, represented the United States in the world lacrosse championship, playing for the Under-19 team.
"A lot of those guys on that team are all-Americans and very good in college, so that was a unique experience to play for your country," Griebe said.
After another CAA title in 2005, the Tigers faced Delaware at home in the semifinals of the CAA Tournament a year ago. Oliver Bacon knotted the score at 12 a piece with 31 seconds left to play. But 27 seconds later Delaware's Dan Deckelbaum spoiled a late Tiger run and their bid for a four-peat. By Griebe's standards, the season had come to a premature end.
"Even my redshirt year, three years before last year, we won the CAA Championship," Griebe said. "Losing last year left a sour taste in my mouth."
Leave it to a player with lacrosse built into his gene pool (his older sister, Kelly, played for the Towson women's team from 2002-04) to know what to do with that sour taste: make sure it's gone for good.
Griebe, whose No. 21 is on loan from his father who had the digits taken out of retirement for his son, bounced back to lead the Tigers in points during the regular season with 36, including a CAA-best 19 assists. Along with inheriting his jersey number, Bobby also got an eye for finding teammates which contributed to Bob's 125 career assists (part of his team-record 221 career points).
"A lot of people tell me that I play the same style that he did," Griebe said. "Being able to see the field well and distributing the ball."
And when need be, Griebe can also be selfish.
In the Tigers' first round 11-5 win over Hofstra Wednesday night, he netted four goals, upping his season total to 21.
"I'm one of the most competitive guys on the team," Griebe said. "I don't like losing."
Must be in his blood.
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