Edward N. Robinson
Biographical details
Born(1873-10-15)October 15, 1873
Sabattus, Maine, U.S.
DiedMarch 10, 1945(1945-03-10) (aged 71)
Brookline, Massachusetts, U.S.
Playing career
Football
1892–1895Brown
Position(s)Halfback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1896–1897Nebraska
1898–1901Brown
1902Maine
1903Phillips Exeter Academy
1904–1907Brown
1909Tufts
1910–1925Brown
1926–1929Boston University
1931Providence Steam Roller
Baseball
1897Nebraska
1901Yale
1902–1903Phillips Exeter Academy
Head coaching record
Overall170–113–16 (college football)
4–4–3 (NFL)
8–5–1 (college baseball)
Bowls0–1
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1 WIUFA (1897)
1 MIAA (1902)
College Football Hall of Fame
Inducted in 1955 (profile)

Edward North "Robbie" Robinson (October 15, 1873 – March 10, 1945) was an American football and baseball coach. He served as the head football coach at University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Brown University, University of Maine, and Tufts College—now known as Tufts University, and co-head football coach at Boston University.[1][2] He also coached for the Providence Steam Roller of the National Football League (NFL). He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1955.

Early life

Robinson was born in Sabattus, Maine, and attended Danvers High School the Dean Academy.[3][4] He played halfback for the Brown Bears football team and was a pitcher and right field for the Brown Bears baseball team.[3] Robinson was selected by Walter Camp in 1895 as a Third Team All-American. He graduated from Brown in 1896 and earned a degree from the Boston University School of Law in 1898.[5]

Coaching

Football

Robinson began his coaching career at Nebraska. He compiled a 11-4-1 record over two seasons and led Nebraska to its ever first conference championship.[6] He then coached at his alma mater from 1898 to 1901.[4] He coached at the University of Maine in 1902 and at Phillips Exeter Academy in 1903.[7] He returned to Brown in 1904 and remained there until 1907. After one year as the head coach at Tufts, he returned to Brown for his third stint as head coach.[8] In 1923 he turned down the opportunity to become the head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide football team.[9] Robinson and his assistant Reggie Brown were let go after the 1925 season, ending his 24 year tenure as Brown’s head coach.[10] On April 2, 1926, athletic director George V. Brown hired Robinson and Brown to coach the Boston University football team.[11] They served as co-head coaches of BU until 1930, when they were replaced by Hilary Mahaney.[12] In 1931, Robinson coached the Providence Steam Roller of the National Football League.[13] Under Robinson, the Steam Roller finished the 1931 season 4–4–3 record.[14]

Baseball

In 1901, Robinson was hired to coach baseball at Yale University.[15] The following year he led the Phillips Exeter baseball team to a championship.[16] He was retained by Phillips Exeter for the following season and given the additional role as head football coach.[7]

Later life

A longtime resident of Danvers, Massachusetts, Robinson spent his later years in Boston's Brighton neighborhood and was in charge of football for the Boston Parks Department.[3][4] He died on March 10, 1945, at Corey Hill Hospital in Brookline, Massachusetts.[4]

Head coaching record

College football

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Nebraska Bugeaters (Western Interstate University Football Association) (1896–1897)
1896 Nebraska 6–3–1 1–1–1 3rd
1897 Nebraska 5–1 3–0 1st
Nebraska: 11–4–1 4–1–1
Brown Bears (Independent) (1898–1901)
1898 Brown 6–4
1899 Brown 7–3–1
1900 Brown 7–3–1
1901 Brown 4–7–1
Maine Black Bears (Maine Intercollegiate Athletic Association) (1902)
1902 Maine 6–2 2–1 1st
Maine: 6–2 2–1
Brown Bears (Independent) (1904–1907)
1904 Brown 6–5
1905 Brown 7–4
1906 Brown 6–3
1907 Brown 7–3
Tufts Jumbos (Independent) (1909)
1909 Tufts 2–6
Tufts: 2–6
Brown Bears (Independent) (1910–1925)
1910 Brown 7–2–1
1911 Brown 7–3–1
1912 Brown 6–4
1913 Brown 4–5
1914 Brown 5–2–1
1915 Brown 5–4–1 L Rose
1916 Brown 8–1
1917 Brown 8–2
1918 Brown 2–3
1919 Brown 5–4–1
1920 Brown 6–3
1921 Brown 5–3–1
1922 Brown 6–2–1
1923 Brown 6–4
1924 Brown 5–4
1925 Brown 5–4–1
Brown: 140–82–12
Boston University Terriers/Pioneers (Independent) (1926–1929)
1926 Boston University 2–6
1927 Boston University 3–4–1
1928 Boston University 3–3–2
1929 Boston University 3–6
Boston University: 11–19–3
Total: 170–113–16

References

  1. ^ "Going Back to Brown: Edward N. Robinson Again Appointed Football Coach There - With Tufts Last Year". The Boston Daily Globe. February 12, 1910.
  2. ^ "Marsters Is Engaged as Co-Coach of Eleven At Boston University for Coming Season". The New York Times. January 19, 1930.
  3. ^ a b c Mack, Gene (November 14, 1924). "Coaches Who Once Played the Game: Edward N. Robinson, Brown". The Boston Daily Globe.
  4. ^ a b c d "Ed Robinson; Noted Football Mentor, Dies". The Boston Daily Globe. March 11, 1945.
  5. ^ "Edward N. Robinson Former Brown grid coach". New York Daily News. New York, New York. Associated Press. March 11, 1945. p. 76. Retrieved October 21, 2018 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  6. ^ "Mick Stoltenberg on Nebraska's future". The Breeze. January 17, 2019.
  7. ^ a b "Decide on Robinson". The Boston Daily Globe. January 31, 1903.
  8. ^ "Going Back to Brown". The Boston Daily Globe. February 12, 1910.
  9. ^ "Brown Coach Turns Down Alabama Job". The Boston Daily Globe. January 26, 1923.
  10. ^ "Robinson Not to Coach at Brown Next Season". The Boston Daily Globe. December 24, 1925.
  11. ^ Hallahan, John (April 3, 1926). "Robinson and Brown Signed to Coach B. U.". The Boston Daily Globe.
  12. ^ "Marsters Is Engaged as Co-Coach of Eleven At Boston University for Coming Season". The New York Times. January 19, 1930.
  13. ^ Sportsman (February 16, 1931). "Tips and Topics". The Boston Daily Globe.
  14. ^ "Ed Robinson Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks | Pro-Football-Reference.com". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  15. ^ "School News". Yale Alumni Weekly. March 8, 1901. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  16. ^ "Triumph for the Coach: Much of the Credit for Exeter's Victory Due to Edward N. Robinson". The Boston Daily Globe. June 9, 1902.

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