Larry Robinson (American football) facts for kids
| No. 45 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Running back | ||
| Personal information | |||
| Born: | April 6, 1951 Appomattox, Virginia, U.S. |
||
| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||
| Weight: | 210 lb (95 kg) | ||
| Career information | |||
| High school: | Carver-Price (Appomattox) | ||
| College: | Tennessee | ||
| Undrafted: | 1973 | ||
| Career history | |||
|
|||
| Career highlights and awards | |||
|
|||
| Career NFL statistics | |||
|
|||
| Player stats at PFR | |||
Lawrence Cordill Robinson was born on April 6, 1951. He is a former American professional football player. He played as a running back for the Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League (NFL). Before playing football, he was a college basketball star for the Tennessee Volunteers.
Contents
Larry Robinson's Early Life and College Basketball
Larry Robinson grew up in Appomattox, Virginia. He went to Carver-Price High School. After high school, he attended Ferrum College.
Becoming a College Basketball Star
At Ferrum College, Larry was a talented basketball player. He helped his team reach the NJCAA National Tournament two years in a row. In 1971, he was named an NJCAA All-American. This is a special honor for top college athletes.
In 1971, Larry transferred to the University of Tennessee. He became only the second African American basketball player at the school. The first was Wilbert Cherry. Larry helped his team become co-champions of the SEC.
The next year, his teammates chose him as their captain. He was a very good player. He scored about 10.9 points per game. He also grabbed about 8.8 rebounds per game. He was excellent at shooting, making 60% of his shots. Larry led his team in both shooting and rebounding for both years he played there.
In 1994, Larry Robinson was honored for his achievements. He was added to the Ferrum College Sports Hall of Fame.
Larry Robinson's Professional Football Career
Larry Robinson did not play college football. He was a basketball player. But the Dallas Cowboys saw his athletic talent. They signed him as an undrafted free agent after the 1973 NFL draft. This means he was not chosen in the main draft. The Cowboys decided to train him to be a running back.
Playing for the Dallas Cowboys
On September 19, 1973, Larry was put on the inactive list. He spent most of his first season on the team's practice squad, also called the taxi squad. As a rookie, he played in four games. He was mainly used to return kicks.
Larry Robinson was released by the Cowboys on September 10, 1974.
Larry Robinson's Life After Playing
After his time with the Cowboys, Larry Robinson made history. On October 8, 1974, he became the first African American coach at the University of Tennessee. He was hired as an assistant football coach.
