ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, December 10, 1996 TAG: 9612100135
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: COLLEGE FOOTBALL
SOURCE: From Associated Press reports
Eddie Robinson, college football's winningest coach, has been told by Grambling he must quit as coach, ESPN reported Monday.
The cable network cited unidentified sources as saying Robinson, 77, must either resign or take a vice president's position at the school where he has been the head coach for 55 years.
ESPN quoted Robinson's grandson, Air Force Capt. Mike Watkins, as saying his grandfather was refusing to resign. Watkins said Robinson wants to coach one more year for a ``farewell tour.''
The ultimatum reportedly came from university president Ray Hicks, who was unavailable for comment Monday. The sports information office did not return a call.
Robinson was not at home Monday afternoon, and his wife declined comment.
Grambling ended its season at 3-8 with a loss to Southern University in the annual Bayou Classic. It marked the first time Robinson coached the team through back-to-back losing seasons, and it was the fourth losing season in 10 years. He had only two losing seasons in all the years before that.
Robinson has 405 victories, more than any other college coach.
In other college football news:
HEISMAN: Florida's Danny Wuerffel and Iowa State's Troy Davis were among four players invited to Saturday night's Heisman Trophy presentation.
Also invited to the Downtown Athletic Club, which awards the Heisman to college football's most outstanding player, were Arizona State's Jake Plummer and Ohio State's offensive tackle Orlando Pace.
A Heisman spokesman said one or two more players were expected to be invited later Monday.
The Heisman Trophy will be presented at the conclusion of an hour-long ESPN telecast beginning at 7:30 p.m.
LENGTH: Short : 43 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshot) Robinsonby CNB