For the Fobbs family, Eddie Robinson was more than a coach. Robinson, who coached at Grambling State for 57 seasons, died April 3. He lost his battle with Alzheimer’s disease at age 88. His funeral is set for April 11.He took the time to be there for his players, critiquing every aspect of their lives. Robinson had an emotional farewell in 1997 when he ended his coaching career at second all-time among all divisions of college football with 408 victories.
“It hurt,” said Broderick Fobbs of Robinson’s death. “He was like a dad to us.”
Fobbs was a running back at Grambling State from 1992 to 1996 and now is the offensive coordinator at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, La.
“You kind of have mixed feelings,” Fobbs said. “You miss him, but you don’t want to see him in pain. I am thankful to have memories.”
Robinson was also like a father to North Carolina A&T coach Lee Fobbs, father of Broderick. The Grambling legend was also a role model to Hampton coach Joe Taylor. The list goes on for people who came in contact with Robinson.
Lee Fobbs, a running back at Grambling State from 1968 to 1973, played for Robinson. He also served as an assistant under him at Grambling State. Robinson even went out of his way at dinner to teach Fobbs the correct utensils to use.
A little over two decades later, things were the same with Broderick Fobbs in his experience at Grambling.
Robinson had the personal touch as a recruiter. He used that method to recruit Lee Fobbs. Robinson talked with Lee Fobbs’ mother and sealed the deal with her. Lee Fobbs was heading to Grambling State whether he liked it or not.
“He spent most of the time with my mom,” Lee Fobbs said. “My mom told me I was going to Grambling.”
It was at an early age when Broderick Fobbs started to ask his dad about his career. He had heard that his father had an outstanding college career. Lee Fobbs was known around the house as being humble, especially not talking about his career on the football field.
As a result of question after question to his dad, the young boy found out about Robinson. So when it was time to go to college, Broderick Fobbs opted for Grambling State.”I was recruited by him,” Broderick Fobbs said. “It was impossible for me to go anywhere else. I have always been surrounded by positive people. What more positive can you get than Eddie Robinson?