Robinson Quietly Leaving His Mark
Sep 26, 2001 | Football
Sept. 26, 2001
NEW ORLEANS, La. - When analyzing the Tulane offense, it's easy to look past senior wide receiver Zander Robinson. After all, it's Patrick Ramsey who is on the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm checklist. It's wide receivers Roydell Williams and Terrell Harris that rank among the national leaders in both receptions and receiving yards per game. It's running back Mewelde Moore who ranks among the nations best ground gainers.
Standing just 5-9 and 173 pounds, it's easy to look at Robinson and see a quiet young man who simply does not stand out. But whenever the Green Wave squad looks to someone for leadership, Robinson becomes the center of attention.
"When you think about David and Goliath, he's definitely David," Tulane wide receivers coach Trooper Taylor says. "He may even be one of the pebbles. He looks like a guy who would need help getting onto a bus. But when he steps onto that field, you take notice in a hurry." Robinson may be quiet and soft spoken off the field, but his play on the field speaks such a high volume that the New Orleans-area native who decided to stay home to play his college ball simply does not have to say a word.
"Zander is the speed receiver in our four-wide receiver offense," Taylor says. "He'll stretch a defense for us, and it takes two guys to cover him - a corner and a safety over the top. And while his speed and ability to get deep is important to our team, his leadership and work ethic mean that much more to us.
"Zander never takes a play off during a game or even a rep off during practice. He only knows one speed, and that's fast. That type of work ethic and all-out attitude is contagious, and the other players pick up on it and follow suit."
While Robinson accepts his leadership position and takes it seriously, he is "just doing my job."
"If you're out there with a group of guys and they're all working hard, you want to take it up a notch and be that much better," Robinson says. "I just want to be the guy who takes it up that notch. This is my fifth year here, and I know that I've got guys looking up to me because of my experience. I'm blessed to have this talent, and I just want to help lead the younger guys in the right direction."
Like the player himself, Robinson's collegiate career got off to a quiet start. As a true freshman in 1997, Robinson broke his ankle on the very first play of full-squad workouts and receiving a medical redshirt. Not only did the injury set him back, but Robinson also had the burden of learning to play a new position. As part of local prep power John Ehret High School's famed "Three Amigos" - joining running back Elvis Joseph who is now with the Jacksonville Jaguars, and wide receiver Reggie Wayne, who is now on the Indianapolis Colts' roster - Robinson played quarterback and racked up 2,195 yards of total offense as a senior.
"At first, it was kind of difficult," Robinson said on the switch from prep signal caller to collegiate wideout. "I had to learn to run routes and stuff like that, but I had some good coaches and they really helped me."
Since then, however, Robinson has played in 37 consecutive games, including all 12 in 1998 when the Green Wave rolled to an undefeated season en route to the Liberty Bowl championship.
Robinson's numbers resemble himself as well, as they do not jump off the statistics page at the casual glance. So far this year, Robinson has seven receptions for 94 yards and a touchdown in three starts during the 2001 season. But according to Taylor, the stats do not tell the full impact that Robinson has on the team.
"Zander doesn't catch a lot of balls, but the ones he does catch are usually deep down the field," Taylor says. "He probably runs more during a game than anyone else, and never complains. His speed and ability to get downfield opens up the short and intermediate routes for guys like Roydell (Williams) and Terrell (Harris)."
And while Williams and Harris get the national attention for their high rankings in the Division I receiving statistics, it's Robinson who is quietly well on his way to etching his name into the Tulane record book. Robinson leads all current players in career yards per reception with a 13.33 average, and is on pace to surpass former Green Wave great Wil Ursin for 10th place in Green Wave record book for career yards per reception.
"That's something special," Robinson said of the record, "but I'm just looking forward to the next game, and getting better as an individual. I'm just going to go out there and do my job," Robinson says. "If my coach wants me to run a deep route to clear out the middle for a running back, I'll do that. If he wants me to block I'll do that to. I just want to go out and do whatever I can do to help the team get better and win."
While Robinson's play speaks volumes on the field, his performance away from the gridiron has been even more impressive. Not only has Robinson already completed his bachelor's degree in sociology, but he's also begun work on his master's degree and is a devout member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
"The story of Zander Robinson would be incomplete without mentioning how deeply religious he is," Taylor said. "You're not going to find him without his bible, and he's not afraid to wear his Christianity on his shoulder."
Robinson gives credit for his deeply religious persona to his parents, Doris and Norman Robinson, who "instilled God in my heart when I was young."
"God is the person that I put first, above everything else," Robinson said. "It says in the scripture that Jesus said, 'If you should be ashamed to honor me before my father in heaven, than I shall be ashamed to honor you.' That's something that I keep in my heart, and I just want to be a witness for people today. Being one of God's people is not something to shy away from. I'm just going to shine my light."
Even though the sun will set on Robinson collegiate career at the end of the season, his light will shine on the Green Wave program for years to come.
