Collection:LPB

Genre: Interview

Place Covered: Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, Grambling, Lincoln Parish, Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1995-04-02

Duration: 00:26:37

Subjects: ROBINSON, EDDIE | GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY | FOOTBALL | Segregation | Leland College (Baker, La.) | YOUNGER, PAUL "TANK" | NFL | McKinley High School (Baton Rouge, La.) | Jones, Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1905-1982 | National Football League | Football coaches | Sports

Contributors:

• Williams, Benjamin R. Audio
• Fourrier, Clay Executive Producer
• Fowler, Ken Producer
• Allen, Gary Associate Producer
• Eaglin, J. Carlos, II Director
• Weill, Gus Interviewer
• Robinson, Eddie Interviewee

This episode of the series “Louisiana Legends” from April 2, 1995, features an interview with Eddie Robinson conducted by Gus Weill. Robinson coached football at Grambling State University, a historically black university, from 1941-1997, where he won 408 games and sent over 200 players to the NFL. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1997. Robinson discusses: growing up in Baton Rouge; the early influences in his life, including his football coaches at McKinley High School and Leland College; not being bitter about segregation; getting the head coaching job at Grambling; the influence of Dr. Ralph Waldo Emerson Jones; his player, Paul “Tank” Younger, the first NFL player from a historically black university; his successful career at Grambling; preparing players for the NFL; and his impending retirement.