Michigan’s senior QB Denard Robinson spoke on behalf of the players on Friday at the conclusion of the Big Ten meetings in Chicago.
Robinson, a native of Deerfield Beach, Fla., expressed how fortunate he felt to represent his school but also to be representing his conference each Saturday in the fall. He even said to his Big Ten peers seated behind him, “When you guys play in bowl games, I root for you guys,” and specifically deemed Wisconsin RB Montee Ball, a “wrecking-ball.”
Robinson said that he and all the other Big Ten players have a responsibility to act as ambassadors for their respective schools because they’ve been given such an opportunity. “No matter what [Charles] Barkley says [in his commercial],” Robinson said, “we’re all role models.”
As a child, Robinson shared that he lost one of his siblings and that growing up in a tough neighborhood, he felt fortunate that he even made it out of Deerfield. He was so ashamed of his home that when colleges took an interest in him, Robinson told coaches to meet him at his grandparents’ house.
To conclude, Robinson said that “nothing I do on the football field compares to the degree I’ll get from the best university in the world.” Former Michigan State QB Kirk Cousins gave a moving speech at last year’s luncheon on July 29. Here’s his speech.
Robinson enters the season on a bevy of award watch lists, including the Davey O’Brien Award, given to the nation’s top QB, and the Maxwell Award, given to the nation’s best college football player.
The Wolverines open the season against defending National Champion Alabama in Dallas on September 1.
For more Big Ten coverage, follow Mike Singer and Dave Carey @CBSSportsBigTen
