Oklahoma State University Athletics
Up Close With Terrence Robinson
September 21, 2002 | Cowboy Football
Sept. 21, 2002
By Chris Matthews, OSU Media Relations
One of the biggest honors a student athlete can achieve is being voted by his teammates to represent his team as its captain. Senior linebacker Terrence Robinson has proven the necessary leadership qualities to his teammates that bestows such an honor.
Robinson shares the captain duties with offensive lineman Jason Russell. They are able to work together and share input on what is best for the team at their weekly captains meeting.
"We are working together as a team," Robinson said. "Jason works well with me, and I think that we will be a real good unit."
The Tyler, Texas native has led by his play on the field in his first three years at Oklahoma State. He was third on the team in tackles a year ago with 75 to go along with two sacks two sacks. Now Robinson is trying to become a vocal leader on the field.
The NCAA held a leadership conference in Orlando, Fla. which Robinson was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to participate in. Being the team's defensive captain is an excellent opportunity to put the leadership skills he learned to use.
"Just going to that conference helped me out a lot," Robinson said. "When I came in I was real quiet, but at that leadership conference I learned to be more vocal. I use to try to lead by example, which is good in many ways but it is also important that you speak out. That is one of the key aspects I learned from being at that conference was just being more vocal."
Being the one senior on what is a very young linebacking core, Robinson gets a chance to lead and be vocal every practice. Last year he was lined up next to Dwayne Levels, who is currently with the Cincinnati Bengals, but he now gets a chance to share the middle of the defense with redshirt freshman Paul Duren. Robinson and Duren are both backed up by true freshmen Pagitte McGee and Lawrence Pinson.
"Duren has done an exceptional job by stepping in and contributing," Robinson said. "He has sacrificed his time to get bigger, faster and stronger. We needed a guy to come in and step up right away and that is what he did."
"We were expecting those freshmen to come in and contribute right away," Robinson said. "They have done a good job of doing that. They have a few small problems such as lining up. They have also sacrificed their time by getting in and watching film. They have just been studying the game and have done exceptionally well."
The business marketing major is able to use his leadership skills in the classroom as well. He meets with groups and takes an active role in his classes. Robinson says that being a leader is a challenge, but it is something he enjoys.
"Anybody who plays linebacker is thrust into a leadership role," defensive coordinator Bill Clay said. "It is the nature of that position because he stands out and communicates what we are trying to do on defense. Terrence just exudes the confidence that the rest of them need to hear from a leader. It is not what he says, but it is how he says it and how he plays."
