Hall of Fame
For more than a quarter-century, when Ivy League fans
thought of Brown University, they thought of "Coach Robbie".
Ed Robinson dominated Brown football from 1892 until 1925,
first as a player and later as its most-revered coach. Robinson
earned nine varsity letters at Brown - four in football, three in
baseball and two in track. He coached at Nebraska in 1896
and 1897 with a 10-4-1 record and Maine in 1902 with a 6-2
mark. He returned to Brown on three occasions as coach.
His years were 1898-1901, 1904-1907 and 1910-1925, and
his record at Brown was 157-88-13. His 1915 Brown Bears
played in the Rose Bowl. Robinson was a soft-spoken, affable
chap who frowned upon pep talks and was incapable of hurting
a boy's feelings when he had missed an assignment. His kindly
approach to football drew the best from his athletes. He much
preferred to put the welfare of his players above winning, and
the result was total dedication to his charges. Robinson was born
Oct. 15, 1873, in Lynn, Massachusetts; he died March 10, 1945.
His coaching record for 27 years at three schools was 156-86-13.
He was elected tothe College Football Hall of Fame posthumously
in 1955. At the on-campus salute, his award was presented to
his son, Edward North Robbinson, Jr.. Fifteen members of his
1915 Rose Bowl team attended the ceremony. He became the
fourth alumnus of Brown University to be named to the
Hall of Fame, following John Heisman, Wallace Wade, and
Fritz Pollard. The university's statement on Robinson's election
called him "the father of Brown football".
