Minutes after Hutchinson Community College's win Jan. 26 against Pratt, sophomore Robert Goff walked back into the main gym at the Sports Arena.
A few fans offered Goff congratulations after his 11-point performance in a 97-68 Hutchinson win. Goff scanned the people standing on the court, but he wasn't looking for a fan.
Then Goff smiled when he found who he was looking for. Walking as fast as an 18-month-old toddler can, Jariah Goff was on a mission. Eyes wide, arms spread and sporting a smile that wasn't going away anytime soon, Jariah walked about 20 feet to her father, who was squatting, smiling and waiting patiently for Jariah to finish the trek. Robert then picked up his older daughter and gave her a hug and kiss.
While Goff was still in his sweaty, probably smelly, uniform, Jariah acted like she didn't care. Robert certainly didn't. While he was still dressed for a game, basketball didn't matter at that point.
About 30 minutes later, Goff didn't look like a basketball player. His uniform had been replaced by regular clothes, and hooked onto his arm was a portable baby car seat. Lying in the seat was 6-month-old Kaidance Goff. Goff's girlfriend, and Kaidance and Jariah's mother, Keyona Jennings, trailed the other three, trying to hold on to a number of belongings.
Robert Goff the basketball player whom Blue Dragon fans know was replaced by Robert Goff the regular daddy. Not the kind of life most 21-year-old men envision when they start college, but Goff isn't complaining.
"My girls, they're a joy to be around," Goff said. "They cheer me up when I'm down, and I'm happy that I have two beautiful children. I wouldn't have it any other way."
When Goff left Indianapolis for Kansas three years ago, he had no idea how different his life would become.
He played his freshman season at Cowley with current HCC coach Steve Eck. Eck then left after the 2008-09 season for Hutchinson. Goff came along but was not granted a transfer waiver, which meant he had to sit out a year before he could play again.
The changes to Goff's life were only beginning. On July 2, 2009, Jennings gave birth to Jariah.
"At first, it was scary, not knowing what I was going to do," Goff said. "I sat down and talked with Jariah's mother, and we tried to figure out what was best for both of us."
The three moved to Wichita, and the family still lives there.
Goff can do all kinds of good things on the basketball court. It's why he has already signed a letter-of-intent to play at Oklahoma next season. But what about changing a diaper?
Goff laughs about the first time he tried that.
"That was a doozy," Goff said. "Handling a baby at first? It was kind of rough. But it's made me want to be a better person for my daughters. That's not to say I was a bad person before, but I had to become a man. I was 19, 20 years old and I didn't understand a lot of things. Being a father changes things dramatically and they change fast. It made me focus more on life, like what I had to do to support her."
Goff was still learning how to be a father when Jennings again became pregnant.
Kaidance was born two weeks premature and was healthy despite being underweight. What made that day even more hectic was she was born on July 2, exactly one year after her sister.
Jennings won't give birth again this July 2, but it should be a wild day, having two birthday parties.
The thought of that day also makes Goff laugh, but it's probably going to be worse in 10 years, with the girls being a year apart and likely wanting separate fiestas with their own friends.
"It's going to be crazy, having two birthdays, but we'll find a way to make it work," Goff said.
It's craziness Goff is OK with. Life will continue to get more hectic as the girls get older, and changes will continue this year. Goff said he and Jennings are planning to get married this year, and of course, there's moving to Norman, Okla.
But Goff said becoming a father twice has prepared him for the inevitable alterations.
"It's made me mature faster than everyone else in my age group," Goff said. "Being in this situation has given me the advantage."
