Every day, they convened for one-on-one practices. This was what Dad knew best, so this was their relationship.
"Football is what he grew up with, that's what he knows," said Greg, who starred at St. Joseph's Prep in high school. "So that's the way we spent time together. That's the way we bonded. We went and worked out."
Juan does have a defensive background that comes in handy with his son. At Texas A & M-Kingsville and with the USFL's San Antonio Gunslingers, he played linebacker. And considering Juan's wife, Zaida, was a gymnast, Greg naturally evolved into a prototypical cornerback.
The unusual sleeping routine has roots in Jon Gruden's tenure with the Eagles as offensive coordinator in the mid-1990s. As a quality control coach - or as Castillo called it, Gruden's "errand boy" - he needed to be at work at 4 a.m. Gruden was a workaholic, so Castillo went along for the ride.
"What ended up happening, as my kids got older, I found out that this was a good way to get work done," Castillo said. "When Coach lets you go then you feel like you can go home and you've done all your work."
As much as Dad's valiant insomnia inspired his son, Juan vows motivation has been a two-way street. In addition to Greg earning a scholarship, younger brother John is a runner at North Carolina State. After an injury-ravaged freshman year, John Castillo moved to Texas this summer. Living with his grandparents, he's training to come back stronger next spring. The Castillos also have two younger sons, Andres and Antonio.
This is what drives Juan every morning. This is what tells Juan he has done something right over the years.
