Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / Oct. 24, 1985, edition 2 / Page 7
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MMMiUHMm As (down-h< By BARRY COOPER Sp#cial To Th Review He has become one of the most quoted football coaches in America, the man "Good Morning America" scrambles for, the coach a dozen major newspaper reporters want to interview. But through all the hoopla, Grambling's Eddie Robinson, who has surpassed the late Bear Bryant to become the winningest college football coach ever, has clung to basic, small-town roots. Robinson, 66, looms much larger man tne serene tittle town of Grambling, La., a place so small that the nearest movie theatre is five miles away in Ruston. The people of Grambling haven't complained about the paucity of theatres, though. They'd rather watch "Grambling Football Highlights" than "Star Wars." In 43 years, Robinson has won more than 300 games at tiny, historically black Grambling. At this writing, his record stood at 324-106-15. Robinson probably will win a few more games, too, since this year's Grambling team, stocked with mor4 than a dozen players who weigh more than 275 pounds, may be one of his best ever in recent seasons. Without a doubt the Tigers are the class of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, and perhaps all of black mm a . m mm m*. mm . m college football. But enougn about tne Tigers' prowess. Today's applause is reserved for Robinson. More than 200 of his players have moved on to the National Football I amaiia nn/4 D/\Kinrnn CAmauikat OilU I\UfllJOV/li ? Jvmv n iihi reluctantly at first -- has accepted endorsement deals that swell his annual salary to around $150,000. But he remains the same down-home ' Eddie Robinson, known as "Coach Rob" to his players. While other coaches sleep in their offices and main' * tain a win-at-all costs philosophy, Robinson remains mellow. He spends most weekday mornings helping his wife with household chores before reporting to work. ? - \ UaAUjm WA Not many coacnes, wncuici mc; w laid-back or driven, have been as successful as Robinson. Clearly, if there were a black man ?K*ino a siireessful head wajiauK V/A wuiq w WHWW... coach at a major college or in the NFL, it is Robinson. But Robinson has ignored all overtures, including one from the Los Angeles Rams in the 1970s. The late Carroll Rosenbloom, then the Rams' owner, had Robinson flown in for an interview. But Rosenbloom wanted Robinson to accept a job as assistaht head coach, and Robinson 'SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS^SSSSSSSSSSSZ H | B US$jv> ^^^ s*>-' M B B B" ~: \ '| B jB .4r^RSyriPP n^HK ^ -?^ Jnj . Robinson on what he would do onc< quickly said no to that. He is certain _ ^ t t* _ * * now 10 remain ai uramoiing ior rour more years, until he reaches Louisiana's mandatory retirement age of 70. But those who know Robinson say his bond to Grambling is so strong that he could never null awav "Coach Robinson is Grambling University,*' said Doug Williams, a former Grambling and Tampa Bay Buccaneers star. "One of the most enjoyable things about my football career was playing for Coach Robinson. He is in a class by himself.*' Those who know Robinson say that little things make him special. Three years ago, when Grambling threw a big party to celebrate Robinson's 300th victory, Robinson insisted that the sports editors of small black weekly newspapers be flown in for the event ? at no charge to the writers. The weekly papers had chronicled Dnkiincnti'c m/arii ufk?n ko ixuuiiiduu a w*vi j 11 ivy v uvea uv uiouv Grambling a power in the '50s. They made him a hero in the black community, especially in the South, and top black players flocked to Grambling. Today, Grambling still recruits ^SSBBBaHBSBBBSi rid as you'll W*- r ' v ' V V' I K < Rb /<r\ . : 3 he broke the record: "I'll cry" (phot* - *v-^'~JV>^|pQ0ga?U outstanding players, though not nearly as many. Integration cut off v? _ t_ ? ? ? ? Kooinson s pipeline ana lea to Diack athletes enrolling at schools such as LSU, Alabama and Georgia. Still, Robinson remembers the way things used to be, especially the way the black press helped. "Eddie Robinson's career spans from the day the white media didn't even look toward blacks," said Cal Adams, veteran sports editor of the 1_1 I- ! ? 1 ri. n > ? otacK-onciuea ai. reiersourg (Ma.; Challenger and a follower of Or ambling football for more than 30 years. "Eddie has never forgotten about the black newspapers. When The Sew York Times can't get in to see him right away because he is busy, a reporter from a little black weekly will get in for a few minutes." J ? ^ - %"*- - ine aays oeiore integration were both the best and the worse for Grambling. There was no television exposure; few major newspapers showed Robinson much respect, apd Robinson constantly scrapped for money to fund his program. But he got the job done in magnificent fashion. The list of former Grambling stars includes Buck Buchanan, Ernie Ladd, Willie Davis, > f B Black College Sports Review ' PPPPMHHHH ever meet | i I ^F ' JMHlHHC^r' jrzm ht /^ %_ ^-4 - - * w^hl i***- i *sHH^9Bjfl wSmf* "j mSmtKKmnUmmtKmt'^ mm o by Mark Gail). j James Harris and Tank Younger. Most of Robinson's former pupils, including recent stars Trumaine Johnson and Everson Walls, stay in touch. "The thing about Robinson," Adams said, "is that his players never forget him. That right there shows you what kind of man he must be. Today, guys who will have been away from uramoung tor iu-zu years will call Eddie and ask his advice on something.' Almost every time, they will follow that advice." Robinson remains modest, even I while others offer mountainous praise. Asked how he would react to breaking college football's winningest coach, Robinson told a national magazine: "The same way I've reacted to every other big moment in my life: I'll cry. I'm a crier, and I am not ashamed to admit it. I think of how much I owe to so many, how much I have to be grateful for ? and 1 can't hold it back. "Willie Davis told me that Vince Lombardi was that way. I'll tell you what: If you want to see the meanest coach in the history of football bawling UL. . 1--1 i _ 1 urc a uiioy, jusi sacK arouna alter we win No. 324." Please See Page 21 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm October, 1d85-Page 7
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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Oct. 24, 1985, edition 2
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