Larry Robinson (American football) facts for kids
| No. 45 | |||
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| Position: | Running back | ||
| Personal information | |||
| Born: | April 6, 1951 Appomattox, Virginia, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||
| Weight: | 210 lb (95 kg) | ||
| Career information | |||
| High school: | Carver-Price (VA) | ||
| College: | Tennessee | ||
| Undrafted: | 1973 | ||
| Career history | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||
Lawrence Cordill Robinson (born April 6, 1951) is a former professional American football player. He was a running back for the Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League (NFL). Before playing football, he was a talented college basketball player for the University of Tennessee.
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Early Life and College Basketball
Larry Robinson grew up in Virginia. He went to Carver-Price High School. After high school, he attended Ferrum College.
Ferrum College Success
At Ferrum College, Larry was a star basketball player. He helped his team reach the NJCAA National Tournament two years in a row. In 1971, he was honored as an NJCAA All-American. This means he was recognized as one of the best college basketball players in the country.
University of Tennessee Years
In 1971, Larry transferred to the University of Tennessee. He made history there as the school's second African American basketball player. He helped his team become co-champions of the Southeastern Conference (SEC).
The next year, Larry was chosen as the team captain. He was a strong player, leading his team in both field-goal shooting and rebounding for both years he played there. In 1994, Larry was honored for his achievements and added to the Ferrum College Sports Hall of Fame.
Professional Football Career
Even though Larry was a basketball star, he never played college football. However, the Dallas Cowboys saw his athletic talent. They signed him in 1973 as an undrafted free agent. This means he wasn't chosen in the NFL draft, but a team still wanted him. The Cowboys decided to train him to be a running back.
Playing for the Dallas Cowboys
As a rookie in 1973, Larry played in four games for the Cowboys. He was mostly used as a kick returner, which means he would catch kicks from the other team and try to run them back. For most of that season, he was on the team's "taxi squad." This is a group of players who practice with the team but aren't on the main roster. Larry was released by the Cowboys in September 1974.
Life After Playing
After his time with the Dallas Cowboys, Larry Robinson returned to the University of Tennessee. On October 8, 1974, he became an assistant football coach there. This made him the first African American coach in the history of the University of Tennessee.
