Eddie Robinson Leadership Award Announced
Apr 24 | Women's Basketball
Orlando, Fla. - In honor of the life of Eddie Robinson, the Board of the National Consortium for Academics and Sports (NCAS) is announcing an award to honor his legacy. The Eddie Robinson Leadership Award will be presented to someone in the world of sport who exemplifies the courage to always stand up for justice for the people they lead. It could be for a coach, player, athletic administrator or someone who came from the world of sport and now does great things in society.
The award will be presented at the NCAS' Giant Steps Award Banquet and Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony held in Orlando, Florida each year. The NCAS inducted Eddie Robinson in the first class of inductees into its Hall of Fame in 1999. Coach Robinson then helped induct Muhammad Ali in 2000. Richard Lapchick, NCAS Executive Director, said, "Coach Robinson was a great person, family man, coach and American - a genuine leader. We want to honor that legacy by honoring other leaders who have stood tall for justice. The Eddie Robinson Leadership Award is the NCAS' way to do that."
The inaugural award winners for 2007 are Rutgers University women's basketball coach C. Vivian Stringer and her team. Stringer is the first coach in men's or women's basketball to take three different schools to the Final Four (Cheyney University in 1982, The University of Iowa in 1993 and Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, in 2000). In 2007, Rutgers returned to the Final Four but lost the championship to Tennessee in the finals. Stringer finished her 36th season with a 777-260 (.749) overall record, a 257-125 (.673) mark in her 12 seasons at Rutgers and as the third women's coach to notch 750 career Division I victories.
Lapchick said of Coach Stinger and her team that "they took adversity and turned it into another victory. The dignity they showed America forced us as a nation to look at all the ways we objectify and demean women. They may be helping us to change the culture."
Giant Steps Awards are given in honor of National STUDENT-Athlete Day (NSAD) celebrated annually on April 6th. NSAD honors student-athletes, civic leaders, coaches, barrier breakers, parents, administrators and others who have achieved excellence in academics and athletics, while having made significant contributions to their communities. NSAD exemplifies the achievements of Eddie Robinson, thus making the Eddie Robinson Leadership Award a perfect fit for the NCAS Banquet.
Eddie Robinson's career lasted through 11 presidents and three wars. Grambling State was home to Coach and his wife for more than 65 years. They were married that long and he coached for 56 years - all at the same institution. In spite of having more wins than any other coach, sending more than 300 players to NFL camps, having a graduation rate of 80 percent when football graduation rates were around 50 percent, and never having a player get in trouble with the law until his 56th year of coaching, Robinson was never even offered an interview for a Division I-A university head coaching job.
When he retired in November 1997, too many people in America stood up and took note for the first time of the winningest coach in the history of college football. He was very likely the best known coach in America in the African-American community and was surely the most beloved. However, many of society's racial barriers kept Robinson a secret from most of white America outside of the world of sports. Robinson, who began his career in a segregated society, helped football transcend race in the America he loved and treasured. The NCAS hopes to keep his name in mainstream America with the inception of the Eddie Robinson Leadership Award. Robinson's legacy is surely one to aspire to.
Under Stringer's guidance, the Scarlet Knights have become more than students and athletes during their careers - they have become citizens and role models as well. Stringer has stressed community involvement and education as often as she has stressed her aggressive and intense defensive game plan.
In high school, Vivian Stringer learned from her father that she would have to stand for something or she would fall for anything. Stringer shared this valuable lesson with her players and together they stood against the derogatory comments made by radio broadcaster Don Imus about their team upon their loss in finals of the 2007 NCAA Tournament. In response, the team held a press conference on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 to share their thoughts and feelings. Team leader Essence Carson said she was "glad and happy to finally have the opportunity to stand up for what is right."
As Rutgers forward Heather Zurich expressed, it was evident that they felt Imus stripped them of their "moment to celebrate success'?to realize how far we had come both on and off the court as young women."
The Rutgers women's basketball team chose to react to Imus' comments with grace and dignity, determined to show the country what a classy, educated and successful group of women they truly are. The women used their hurt and sadness to educate Don Imus and millions of Americans that words really can hurt.
On being notified that she and her players had won the Eddie Robinson Leadership Award, Vivian Stringer said, "I am delighted Rutgers women's basketball was chosen for this prestigious honor. Eddie Robinson was a pioneer and his legacy is one that will be remembered for generations to come. I believe the 10 young women that represent the Scarlet Knights epitomize the leadership and courage Coach Robinson taught his players."
The NCAS is proud to honor Rutgers University women's basketball. The award will be presented by Doris Robinson, who was married to Coach Robinson for 65 years, and their son, Eddie Robinson, Jr.
