Free Republic

Eddie Robinson, the record-setting coach who turned Grambling State University into a nationally recognized power, ushered more than 200 players into the National Football League and largely realized his vision of transforming the Louisiana school into the Notre Dame of historically black colleges, has died. He was 88. Robinson, for decades the most recognizable black football coach in the country, died Tuesday at Lincoln General Hospital in Ruston, La., the Associated Press reported. He had Alzheimer's disease. Starting in 1941 at age 22, Robinson coached at Grambling for 57 years and had a career mark of 408-165-15 when he was...

RUSTON, La. — Eddie Robinson, who sent more than 200 players to the NFL and won 408 games during a 57-year career, has died. He was 88. Super Bowl MVP quarterback Doug Williams, one of Robinson's former players, said the former Grambling State University coach died about 11:30 p.m. Tuesday. Robinson had been admitted to Lincoln General Hospital on Tuesday afternoon. "For the Grambling family this is a very emotional time," Williams said Wednesday. "But I'm thinking about Eddie Robinson the man, not in today-time, but in the day and what he meant to me and to so many people."...