Kevin Robinson had no doubt what his future held for him.
A two-time All-American at middle linebacker in high school,Robinson could write his ticket to any university in thenation.
He had scholarships waiting for him at Florida State, Miami,Notre Dame, Nebraska and Florida to name a few.
But Robinson promised himself that he would never play footballin college.
After tearing virtually every ligament in both of his knees invarious injuries and going under the knife on four differentoccasions, the budding backer, packed with promise and potentialknew his body wouldn't let him live out his dream.
"I was a football player that got hurt," Robinson said. "Afterthe fourth knee surgery I decided I just wasn't going to playanymore."
That's when Robinson, at a crossroads, decided to pursue a sportthat he used in high school as a way to keep him in shape duringthe football off-season, the shot put.
"In high school I did track just messing around," the throwersaid. "I didn't have any idea what I was doing until I got tocollege."
Robinson decided to pursue his new sport at University ofMemphis where he soon broke every school throwing record and stillholds the Conference USA weight throw record.
In 1996 Robinson was named C-USA Athlete of the Year at theindoor championships.
That year he set two records at the meet, but his loftyexpectations for himself wouldn't allow him to be satisfied.
"That was a pretty good meet for me," Robinson said modestly. "Iguess you could say it was a breakthrough meet, but I still shouldhave done better."
Although the methods are obviously different, Robinson said thesensation he gets when he gets off a long throw is the same rush hegot when he planted opposing quarterbacks into the turf.
"When you really get a good (throw), you know right away,"Robinson said. "It's like getting a big sack, there's nothing likeit."
The gridiron great turned track star said, even though he wasenjoying success in track and field, it wasn't easy being away fromthe game he grew up playing.
"The first couple of years after I stopped playing I wasmiserable," Robinson said. "I never, in my wildest dreams, thoughtthat I would be a track athlete in college. Football was all Icared about."
After speaking to U of M football coaches on differentoccasions, Robinson said he was once again tempted to put the padsback on.
"I knew I could go out there and play right away- that I couldhave an impact," he said. "I thought about it for a while, but Ihad made a decision and I was going to stick with it."
Robinson graduated from The U of M in 1998 and returned to hisalma mater this season to take over a vacant assistant coachingposition.
One of Robinson's current projects is U of M junior GauteMyklebust, whose 57-foot 10-inch throw at the Ole Miss Invite wastopped by only one other thrower- an independent competitor namedKevin Robinson.
Robinson has been competing in meets lately as part of histraining.
You see Robinson is not done chasing his athletic dreams.
The hurler said he hasn't stopped training since he left The Uof M and has his sights set on the upcoming Olympic trials.
To qualify for the Trials Robinson must throw the shot 61 feet.The shot Robinson launched last weekend landed him just two inchesshy of qualifying.
If his past is any indication, Robinson will find a way tomuster the last two inches.
