Eddie Robinson

[rob-in-suhn]

Robinson, Eddie (Edward Gay Robinson), 1919-2007, African-American football coach, b. Jackson, La., grad. Leland College, Baker, La. (B.A., 1941), Univ. of Iowa (M.A., 1954). A college quarterback, Robinson was hired upon his graduation by Grambling State Univ. (then the Louisiana Negro Normal and Industrial Institute and later Grambling State College) as a coach and teacher. He later made sports history as the celebrated leader of the Grambling Tigers. In 1985 he broke the record set by Bear Bryant as collegiate football's "winningest" coach (a record Robinson no longer holds), and in 1995 he became the first coach to win 400 games. During his career, more than 200 Grambling players went on to play in the National Football League. At his retirement (1997), Robinson had a record of 408 wins, 165 losses, and 15 ties.

See his autobiography (1999); O. K. Davis, Grambling's Gridiron Glory (1985); A. Wash and P. Webb, ed., Reflections of a Legend: Coach Eddie G. Robinson (1997).

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Eddie Robinson (soccer)

Eddie Robinson (born June 19, 1978 in Orlando, Florida) is an American soccer defender, who currently plays for Houston Dynamo of Major League Soccer.

College

Eddie played college soccer at University of North Carolina from 1996 to 2000, finishing his career with four goals and eight assists in 73 games.

Professional career

After graduating, he was selected 20th overall in the 2001 MLS SuperDraft by the San Jose Earthquakes. Eddie saw very little playing time in the Quakes backline during his rookie year, appearing in only one game. However, in 2002, he was a fixture on the Quakes back line, due to a rash of injuries suffered by Earthquakes defenders Troy Dayak and Jeff Agoos. He proved to be quite effective in set pieces due to his large vertical leap.

Although Eddie has won two MLS Cups with the Earthquakes, in 2001 and 2003, he has struggled greatly to stay healthy. Right hamstring problems limited him to 13 games in 2003, and he missed most of the 2004 season due to a ruptured tendon in his left hamstring. He became a starter in 2005. Along with the rest of his Earthquakes teammates, Robinson moved to Houston for the 2006 season.

International career

Robinson earned his first cap for the United States on January 19, 2008 in a friendly against Sweden. He scored his first international goal in the 2-0 victory.