Robinson, "Eddie" (Edward G.)
Football
b. Feb. 13, 1919, Jackson, LA
d. April 3, 2007
A four-year starter at quarterback for Leland College in Louisiana, Robinson doubled as an assistant coach in 1939 and 1940, his junior and senior years. After graduating in 1941, he became head basketball and football coach at Louisiana Negro Normal and Industrial Institute, now known as Grambling College.
Robinson made Grambling the best known of the predominantly black football colleges and went on to become the winningest coach in college history. He had a perfect 8-0-0 record in his second season at Grambling and he later produced two other undefeated teams.
The school dropped football in 1943 and 1944 because of World War II and Robinson coached Grambling high school during these years. He returned to the college when the football program resumed in 1945.
Robinson coached Grambling through the 1997 season, a total of 55 seasons. He recorded his 324th win on October 5, 1985, a 27-7 victory over Prairie View A & M, to break "Bear" Bryant's record of 323 victories. His final record was 408 wins, 165 losses, and 15 ties.
Though quiet and soft-spoken, Robinson was an excellent recruiter who sold prospects on the merits of Grambling's academic program as well as the success of its football program. More than 200 of his players performed in the NFL, including Pro Football Hall of Fame members Willie Brown, Buck Buchanan, and Willie Davis, along with Doug Williams, the first black to quarterback a winning Super Bowl team, with the Washington Redskins after the 1987 season.
