Eddie Robinson IS Grambling- And So Much More!

As I look at the tributes pouring in from around the country, one thing stands out. The respect that Eddie Robinson carried and gave. The hard work ethic instilled in him. The intense love he had for his team, and more important, that 74-year love affair with the girl he met in high school- Doris, whom he would be married to in 1941. Behind a good man, they say, is a good woman. And there's no doubt in my mind that Doris was his rock, as he was hers as well. If there's any example of how a marriage should be, just look to the Eddie and Doris Robinsons, and to another extent, the Ruby Dees and Ossie Davises (we lost Ossie last year). Their marriages worked because they lived as a team. One for the other, giving and receiving love unselfishly.

But going back to Coach Rob, he didn't look at his accomplishments as something that should be relegated to just black history. Oh, he has a place in that as well, but he didn't look at his accomplishments as 'just black'. He looked at his accomplishments as something good for all of humankind. White, black, Latino, Asian. The entire world. He felt that he had to give something back, for he was given a unique talent- in this case coaching. And the lessons he gave back could apply to all of us. The lessons that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to, if you just work at it. You do things because you love to- after all, even after he was pressured to retire in the 1990s, he saw it like this, "You can have my coaching job, when you could pry it from my cold dead hands" (to paraphrase the 'Gun from my cold dead hands' quote). Even when his last year of coaching was filled with scandal, Coach Rob still held his head high, and he left the same way he came in. Regardless of what the papers and historians say, he left with dignity in 1997.

Not even the scourge of Alzheimer's would diminish his twinkle. His son, Eddie Robinson, Jr. would show him the tapes of his father's games. As I watched this footage from New Orleans' WWL-TV, Coach Rob would smile, as if he would say, "Those were the days. It's been a very fun ride, indeed."

Now the legend has left for the great football field in the sky. God needed an extra coach on April 3, 2007, and Eddie Gay Robinson, Sr. had answered the call. But on his way to heaven, he looked down on the Earth, smiled at the legacy he left behind. And then ascended on to his heavenly reward.

To his widow, Doris, we thank you for sharing him for so many years. I feel your loss- I found it very difficult not to shed tears as you lost the greatest love and best friend, other than God, of course. To the children, Eddie, Jr. and Lilian, you had the best father any child could have. The lessons you've learned, I'm sure, you've passed on to your children and grandchildren, and to the great-grandchildren as well.

It would not surprise me at all that the students of Grambling State University will return from spring break with heavy hearts, as the school has lost its' biggest booster. They definitely owe a debt of gratitude and thanks to Coach Rob, for it was he who practically put the school on the map. It is hoped that the coaching he taught his players will rub off on the student body as a whole.

I've read this column by ESPN's Gene Wojciechowski (go to it here at http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=wojchiechowski_gene&id=2825782&sportCat=ncf ). He's right when he says that we must not get a case of 'self-imposed Alzheimer's when it comes to rememebering Coach Rob. A bowl game- or even the Bayou Classic game, the Southern University/Grambling State matchup played annually at the Louisana Superdome in New Orleans- must be named or renamed for the titan who put Grambling State where it is today. To do something less would surely disrespect the memory and legacy of Eddie Gay Robinson, Sr.


Shreveport's KTBS 3 did a tribute to him. You can go there by clicking on the title.

Copyright 2007, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.

Here's To You, Coach Robinson

He coached a small black college out of a small town in Louisiana. That college has turned out many a NFL star, and his coaching career spanned 57 years. His record was 408 wins, 165 losses, and 15 ties. His career spanned also 11 US presidencies, several wars- from World War II to the conflict in Eastern Europe. And until recently, he was the winningest football coach in college football.

Eddie Gay Robinson began coaching in 1941 at Grambling State, which was at the time called Louisiana Negro and Industrial Institute (the school itself was founded 106 years ago as the Colored Industrial and Agricultural School). That same year, he married his high school sweetheart, Doris, who survives him. During World War II, the football program was put on hold, so Robinson coached at Grambling High. He brought the school a state championship.

When he resumed coaching at Grambling State, the school received national notoriety when running back Paul "Tank" Younger signed with the LA Rams, and became the first black player to enter the NFL. Over the years, NFL scouts would go to Grambling- southeast of Shreveport- to recruit players.

The roster is long, and illustrious- Willie Davis; James Harris; Doug Williams, Willie Brown; and many others. In all, over 200 who played under Robinson went on to play in the NFL, CFL (Canadian Football League), and the now-defunct USFL.

Coach Robinson retired after the 1997 season, where he had two straight losing seasons, and was in the beginning stages of Alzheimer's Disease. But to many, he was- and will always be affectionately- known as 'Coach Robinson'.

Eddie Robinson died Tuesday night, at 88. In addition to being survived by Doris, he is also survived by son Eddie Robinson, Jr; daughter Lilian Rose Robinson; five grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

ESPN has a moving tribute to him. Go to this link: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2825016, and watch the video.

In many ways, Robinson defined what college football coaching should be- a compassionate, yet hard driving job. Where men are truly made. Coach Robinson never talked down to his men. He never let his fame get to him, and he made sure that his players knew that they had responsibilities- on and off the field- to be the best they can be.

May the current coach, Rod Broadway, continue Coach Robinson's legacy, and keep the Grambling State Tigers an illustrious and high respected team, bringing Grambling State University the respect that it so richly deserves.

Coach Robinson, you have fought the hard fight. You came out on top in everything you put your hand on. You are very much loved, and very muour players ch respected. Most of all, you are what college football should be- a game that brings out the best in those who play the game. You taught your players that the game is more than just what is played on the football field. You taught them about life, and responsibility. About their place in the world. You taught your players- and us all- how to be better than ourselves. For this, we so gratefully thank you.

Take your rest, Coach. You will be sorely missed, but your spirit will always be in our hearts.


Grambling Tigers/YouTube/ABC Sports

Copyright 2007, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.