Jayleigh Cape stated that, “Without the existence of people to acknowledge or dispute your greatness, your greatness is irrelevant. You are because they are. Without them, no matter how they treat you, you would not exist. Treat all the world as if you owe it your gratitude, because even the cruel and heartless define who you are.”
This theory was blatantly seen and demonstrated in the life of the late Coach Eddie Robinson. Although, he is now deceased and unable to receive his accolade, justice has finally been awarded to this coach of 56 years.
Coach Eddie Robinson was not just your ordinary type of coach. This man was decorated with honors and a resume to match among the athletic division of universities throughout the nation.
East Baton Rouge Parish Library regards this Jackson-born coach as “probably the most famous and important athletic figure to come from Baton Rouge.” He was the head coach at Grambling State University between the years of 1941 through 1997 and is recorded as having 408 wins, 165 losses and 15 ties.
Under his realm of success stories, he has produced over 200 college football players that have went on to pursue careers on professional football teams. Another attribute that may be penned to Coach Robinson’s accomplishments is the fact that he coached the first Black player from a historically Black university to be drafted and play in the NFL. Paul Younger was that talent. In 1949, he began playing for the Los Angeles Rams. Coach Robinson was not just any coach he actually had a concern for the men and women that he coached and mentored.
He once expressed, “I feel that coaches have a responsibility to provide a model and to guide their athletes on and off the playing field.” This sentiment remained one that set him aside from other coaches in his time era and proceeding upwards.
You know we have to be careful of the things we do and the things we say. Because I don’t care who you are, where you have been and what you have done in this life; what goes around comes right back on around. Now how ironic is it that recently, “The NCAA imposed a four-year bowl ban on Penn State, invalidated 112 wins, fined the school $60 million and took away future scholarships.”
This all in lieu of NCAA sanctions against Penn State in a presumable scandal concerning Jerry Sandusky’s child sexual abuse case. Jerry Sandusky became a defensive coach under the leadership of Joe Paterno.
The penalties were imposed on the university’s football program because of its alleged inappropriate handling of the situation. Reports suggest that “an internal investigation found Paterno colluded with other high-ranking officials to cover up abuse allegations against his former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky. As a result, Coach Eddie Robinson has once again become the leading coach in Division I history to have a record as the most wins. However, I think what offends me most about this whole situation is the initial attempt to discredit someone who is really worthy of receiving such an honor.
Robinson unlike more larger and elite universities did not have the privilege to train his athletes on the best of equipment as a matter of fact there were times when he did not have any equipment to train on.
Nevertheless, he encouraged and produced positive athletes that excelled in various tasks throughout history.
Ultimately, I must say that I am delighted to know that Coach Robinson has once again regained his title in American history.
Concluding, that is why I just really believe that we should treat one another fair and give credit to those of whom it is due. Because believe it or not, “What goes around, comes right back around!”
