Wan'Dale Robinson just missed scoring on this 52-yard reception Saturday. (Vicky Graff Photo)
With about six minutes to play in Saturday’s Citrus Bowl, receiver Wan’Dale Robinson had a message for the Kentucky coaching staff.
“He is a very respectful, team-first kid,” said UK associate coach Vince Marrow on WLAP Sunday Morning Sports Talk. “He said, ‘Coach, give me the damn ball. These guys cannot cover me.'”
Marrow said that led to a conversation with offensive coordinator Liam Coen, Marrow, and Robinson that resulted in Robinson getting the ball on UK’s game-winning touchdown drive.
“Give Liam credit,” Marrow said. “We also actually blocked pretty good on that last drive. This was a kid from the state who wanted to put the state on his back, and he came through.”
He sure did. He had catches of 10 and 17 yards to start the drive and then had a spectacular 52-yard play where he juked several defenders to reach the one-yard line to set up Chris Rodriguez’s touchdown run in the 20-17 win over Iowa. He had 10 catches for 170 yards — and drew one pass interference penalty — in the game.
Robinson finished the season with 104 catches for 1,334 yards — both school records. His last catch broke the single-season yardage mark of Craig Yeast.
3 Responses
He will be sorely missed.
I’m 76 years old, lived in Lexington in the late 60’s and early 70’s. Watched the then "Commonwealth stadium"" being built along with the start of the new Rupp Arena and like so many others thought we were on the way.
Watched some pretty good football teams, a lot of not so good teams, even remember the Cats going to the Peach Bowl.
That being said, the past few seasons since the advent of Coach Stoops have brought back the excitement for an old man that I never thought would happen on the gridiron! The players like Levis, Robinson, Square and so many more makes me proud to wear my Cats shirts and hats in front of my Gator grad wife! She even watches games with me!
Here in Gainesville the Cats are coming out of the woods for the first time in years and proud to do so!!! Best wishes for many more seasons to come.
Dan thanks for taking the time to share this with us. Made my night. going to share with the UK staff myself