nrtlauò (©bseruer Page B2 A p r il 11.2007 S ports Grambling’s Eddie Robinson Remembered Coach sent more than 200 players to NFL (AP) — Former Grambling coach Eddie Robinson, who created a football powerhouse at the small, black college in northern Louisiana that turned out hundreds of NFL players, is being remembered after his April 3 death. He was 88. The soft-spoken coach spent nearly 60 years at Grambling State University, where he set a standard for victories with 408 and nearly every season saw his top players drafted by NFL teams. Doug Williams, a Super Bowl MVP quarter­ back was one of them. “For the Grambling family this is a very emotional time," Williams said. "But I’m think­ ing about Eddie Robinson the man, not in today­ time, but in the day and what he meant to me and to so many people.” Robinson's career spanned 11 presidents. several wars and the civil-rights move­ respected him.” ment. His older records are what people Robinson was forced to retire after w ill remember: In 57 years, Robinson the 1997 season, after the program fell compiled a 408-165-15 record. Until on tough times. His final three years on John Gagliardi of St. John's, Minn., the sidelines brought consecutive losing seasons for the first time, an NCAA topped the victory mark fouryears ago, Robinson was known as the winningest investigation of recruiting violations and four players charged with rape. coach in all of college football. As pressure mounted for him to step "The real record 1 have set for over aside, even the governor campaigned to 50 years is the fact that I have had one give him one last season so he could try job and one wife," Robinson said. Robinson had been suffering from to go out a winner. But that final season produced only Alzheimer’s, which was diagnosed three wins for the second straight year. shortly after he was forced to retire following the 1997 season, in which he Robinson’s teams had only eight los­ won only three games. His health had ing seasons and won 17 Southwestern been declining for years and he had Athletic Conference titles and nine na­ Grambling State football coach Eddie Robinson talks been in and out of a nursing home with players Tyree Madison (88) and Chiron Applewhite tional black college championships. His den is packed with trophies, represent­ during the last year. (right) at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Ala., on Robinson said he tried to coach each Nov. 9, 1997. (AP photo) ing virtually every award a coach can player as if he wanted him to marry his win. He was inducted into every hall of W illiam s, w ho su cceed ed R obinson as fame for which he was eligible, and received daughter. He began coaching at Grambling State in Grambling’s coach in 1998. Others went to the honorary degrees from several universities, in­ 1941, when it was still the Louisiana Negro Canadian Football League and the now-defunct cluding Yale. Normal and Industrial Institute, and single- USFL. When he began his career, Robinson had no Robinson’s pro stars included Willie Davis, paid assistants, no groundskeepers, no trainers handedly brought the school from obscurity to James Harris, Ernie Ladd, Buck Buchanan, and little in the way of equipment. He had to line international popularity. Grambling first gained national attention in Sammy White, Cliff McNeil, Willie Brown, the field himself and fix lunchmeat sandwiches for road trips because the players could not eat in the “white only” restaurants of the South. He was not bitter, however. “The best way to enjoy life in America is to first be an American, and I don’t think you have to be white to do so,” Robinson said. “Blacks have had a hard time, but not many Americans haven’t.” Robinson said he tried to teach his players about opportunity. “The framers of this Constitution, now they — Eddie Robinson, former Grambling Coach did some things,” Robinson would say. “If you aren’t lazy, they fixed it for you. You’ve got to 1949 when running back Paul “Tank” Younger Roosevelt Taylor, Charlie Joiner and Willie Wil­ understand the system. It’s just like in football, if signed with the Los Angeles Rams and became liams. you don't understand the system, you haven’t the first player from an all-black college to enter Robinson said he was inspired to become a got a chance.” the NFL. Suddenly, pro scouts learned how to football coach when a high school team visited His first season, Robinson's team went 3-5. find the little school 65 miles east of Shreveport the elementary school he attended His second year Grambling was 9-0 and did not near the Arkansas border. “The other kids wanted to be players, but I allow a single point. Robi nson sent over 200 play­ wanted to be like that coach,” Robinson said. “I In 1943 and 1944 there was no football at ers to the NFL, including seven liked the way he talked to the team, the way he Grambling because of the war. Robinson coached first-round draft choices and could make us laugh. I liked the way they all at Grambling High School those years and won a high school championship. The same year Robinson started coaching at Grambling, he married his high school sweet­ heart, Doris, whom he courted for eight years. Robinson is survived by his wife, son Eddie call 503.288.0033 ' Robinson Jr., daughter Lillian Rose Robinson, or email: ads@portlandobserver.com five grandchildren and fourgreat-grandchildren. The other kids wanted to be players, but I wanted to be like that coach. I liked the way he talked to the team, the way he could make us laugh. I liked the way they all respected him. Eddie and Doris Robinson at their home in Grambling, La., in July 2004. (AP photo) State Farm" Providing Insurance and Financial Services Horne Office. Bloomington. Illinois 61710 Advertise with diversity in Ernest J. Hill, Jr. Agent (Observer 4946 N Vancouver Avenue Portland, OR 972,7 503 786,103 ta* 503 286 1146 erme hill h5mti