Brooklyn, NY - Congressman Edolphus Towns sends out his condolences to the Robinson family in their time of mourning.  Coach Eddie Robinson died on Tuesday evening at the age of 88. 

"Coach Eddie Robinson is an icon, a legend.  There are not enough words to express what he meant to our children and those players he coached at Grambling State University," said Congressman Towns.

During his years at Grambling State University, Robinson coached the Tigers to more than 400 wins ushering nearly 200 of his players to the National Football League, including former Washington Redskin Quarterback Doug Williams, former Dallas Cowboy Receiver Everson Walls and former Minnesota Viking Sammy White who is currently an assistant coach at Grambling.

"Coach Robinson was not only a good man on the field but off the field as well.  He took a real interest in his players teaching them the meaning of teamwork and providing them with lifelong lessons that extend far beyond the football field," added Congressman Towns.

Robinson was the first to put football at African-American colleges on the map with the start of the now famous Bayou Classic.  A battle fought on the football field between Grambling State University and Southern University every Thanksgiving weekend. This is the very first regular nationally televised football game between two predominately African-American Universities to this date.

###