The late Eddie G. Robinson was more than just a legendary coach; he was a legendary man. His traditions, which are still carried on by people all over the world, all started in Grambling’s community. In an effort to keep his legacy alive, Grambling State University celebrated the legend’s 95th birthday.
On Feb. 13, family members, old friends, former co-workers, former G-Men, present G-men, students, supporters and anyone else who was influenced by the African-American icon, all gathered in the Doris Robinson Banquet Hall of the Eddie G. Robinson Museum for his commemoration.
Robinson, who died at 88, many loved ones, but the most important person who is still here living in his remembrance is his wife, Doris Robinson, whom he married in 1941.
Doris knew all along her loving husband would become legendary well before he reached the national spotlight because of how he treated her.
“I felt that he was (going to be legendary) because he was great to me,” Doris said at the ceremony. “I don’t care what the world thought, I though he was Mr. Everything.”
His wife was right, for Grambling Eddie G. Robinson was everything. During his stint, he was not only the football coach of 57 years who won 408 games, but became the most winningest coach of NCAA Division-I football history.
Robinson also severed as the head basketball coach, he pioneered the route for African-Americans to the professional level, he made sure 80 percent of his student athletes graduated, and he was responsible for making Grambling a household name.
The way Eddie Rob carried himself, and how he brought the best out of those around him, some felt he was a better man than coach, despite sending over 200 athletes the Nation Football League.
“He was a great man he cared about you as an individual first and when it came to football he was second to none,” GSU’s new head football coach Broderick Fobbs said.
Fobbs played running back under the Hall of Fame coach, graduating in 1997.