Coach Robinson, We'll Miss You!

Grambling State coach remembered as teacher and father-figure

April 6, 2007

By Brian Jones

Special to CSTV.com

	BRIAN JONES Brian Jones is a football analyst for CSTV and CSTV.com. E-mail here!

        ---   Column Archive   --- 1/17: Good Call For Some 1/8: Prognosticating Failure 1/8: LSU's Defense The Real MVP 1/3: Oklahoma Flat Out Whipped 12/18: Postseason Pontification, Edition '08 12/5: Final Thoughts - I Think - On 2007 11/28: What A Hoot 11/20: Love And Hate 11/13: Jayhawks Are For Real 11/05: Heisman Hosses 10/29: Corn-shucked 10/15: Nation Who Loves To Hate 10/9: No Love In The Heartland 10/1: Lessons For Professors 9/24: Say What? 9/3: NCAA Alphabet Soup 9/1: Questions On Defense Bit Wolverines 7/24: SEC Breakdown 7/16: Pac-10 Breakdown 7/10: Big East Breakdown 7/03: ACC Breakdown 6/25: 'Big 11' Breakdown 6/19: Big 12 Breakdown 5/14: Who's That 4/30: BJ's All Hi-Def Defense 4/27: `Twas the Night Before The Draft 4/23: Picture Perfect 4/6: Coach Robinson, We'll Miss You 4/3: BJ's 32 3/19: The Deserving Hall of Famers 3/5: Dreaming of December Delirium 2/26: Spring Cleaning 2/19: Gay or Straight, It Shouldn't Matter 2/13: Steroids Were Once Part of The Game 2/7: A Walk Down Recruiting Memory Lane 2/5: Longing For The Day When Race Doesn't Matter 1/29: Old Ways Need to Change 1/22: Change For the Better 1/15: No Problem With Ginn, Peterson Going 12/18: Postseason Pontification 12/12: Season Superlatives 12/4: Handicapping the Heisman Race 11/27: Rutgers Better Lookout For Stewing WVU 11/20: Got To Like Booty And USC 11/13: It's All About The D For Michigan 11/6: Knights Will Be Hard-Pressed to Stop Cards 10/31: Win in Cards For Louisville

I'm sure by now the majority of sports fans have heard the news about the passing of a football legend. Coach Robinson, or coach Rob as he was affectionately known by his players and admirers, left us on Wednesday. But I'm positive that those who knew him, those that he touched, those that played for him and those that know college football will agree that his legacy will forever live on.

In a time when black folk were afraid to hold their heads up high for fear of having them bashed; in a time when being black wasn't so popular; in a time when limited opportunities were afforded to people of color. It was during this time and beyond that Robinson instilled pride, confidence and determination in so many young black men and the black community. Robinson's influence was not confined to that patch of grass measuring 100 yards in length and 50 in width, no way would he nor could he be handcuffed by such boundaries.

Robinson was a confidant, teacher, father-figure and surrogate. And for young men that grew up with no father like me, he was an absolute blessing. If human beings like Robinson ceased to exist many of us would lose our way, we would give up, we would assess blame and stop trying. We would give in to the pain and the heat. Rarely are we graced with the presence of someone that is truly beyond reproach, and Robinson is one such gentleman. He molded boys into men not to mention excellent football players.

Having been in the company of a few players that played for Robinson, I can't think of anything negative that they may have spewed pertaining to Robinson. I remember Doug Williams just smiling like a Cheshire cat when I invoked Robinson's name into our conversation. Albert Lewis just shook his head with a grin as wide as the Mississippi River. Andrew Glover, who also goes by the name Poncho, simply said, "He's the man!" while Everson Walls didn't say much and just closed his eyes. There's no doubt that Wall's generous donation of an organ to his best friend Ron Springs was made easier because of Robinson's indoctrinations. I've sat in many locker rooms and rode on plenty of buses and airplanes with teammates. Inevitably, the conversation includes past and present coaches. To not have heard one nefarious remark about a man that was affiliated with the game for 55 years is just plain incredible.

I know we casually overuse the term "great," but folks we have truly lost a great one. He may be gone, but Robinson will never be forgotten. On behalf of all of us here at CSTV and CBS, we send our condolences to the Robinson Family and Grambling State University.