ro_50
01-28-2009, 04:39 PM
January 26, 2009
Ex-Wolverine Gold weighs in on Robinson hire
Chris Balas
Rivals.com College Football Senior Editor
Note: Gold retired from the NFL with some good years left in him with no regrets. He now spends his time traveling to promote his web site WhatAreKidsSaying.com (http://www.whatarekidssaying.com/) encouraging children to write and share their feelings.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Former Michigan linebacker Ian Gold and new defensive coordinator Greg Robinson only crossed paths for a year in the NFL, but that was plenty of time for Gold to learn what made his first mentor tick.
Gold entered the NFL in 2000 as a brash rookie with a big contract, big ideas and even larger goals. Robinson, meanwhile, was in his sixth year as the Denver Broncos' defensive coordinator, having led the team to consecutive Super Bowl titles in 1997-98, the latter with a defense that thoroughly dominated throughout the playoffs.
Ex-Michigan linebacker Ian Gold, who excelled in the NFL, began his career with Greg Robinson.
Gold didn't learn until several days after the fact that Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez had hired Robinson as his defensive coordinator. When he found out, it brought back a flood of memories.
"He's a class act … he really is," Gold said of his first NFL defensive coordinator. "I was young, wet behind the ears, and he was the first guy to really sit me down and say OK, this is the NFL. This is what we expect of you, this is the role we expect you to play, things of that nature. He was my first real leader I worked with one-on-one."
The two didn't always see eye-to-eye, Gold added with a laugh, attributing their "disagreements" mostly to his own youth and immaturity. But that was part of the growing process that helped mold an eight-year NFL career with the Broncos (with a one-year hiatus at Tampa Bay).
As his career progressed, Gold realized there were several things he'd have done differently.
"I was young, thought I knew everything," he said. "He was a seasoned veteran and a great leader, led the team to a Super Bowl and all that. But I had a strong personality. Having that, having to answer to someone … I just want to play football. I don't want to have to do it exactly the way you want me to, don't want to conduct myself exactly the way you want me to, and that caused a little friction. The majority of it was my youth and my inexperience, my lack of wisdom."
Robinson was released at the end of the 2000 season but enjoyed continued success at many his other stops, including the University of Texas in 2004. He was neck deep in his defensive coordinator duties with the Kansas City Chiefs a year earlier when Gold suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament, a significant setback.
A few days later, Gold received a nice surprise … a handwritten note from Robinson.
"I hadn't talked to him for a couple of years, but I get this letter from him just wishing me well. I thought, 'That's a class act,' " Gold said. "Here this guy is that I didn't necessarily see eye-to-eye with when he was here, but how classy of a guy is he to reach out to me when I was at my lowest? I'm thinking I could be done, my career could be over, and all of these things are flashing before your eyes. I definitely appreciated that."
Greg Robinson does not yell a lot. He expects his players to go out and perform at a high level.
Gold confirmed that much of what's been said about Robinson's demeanor and approach is true.
"He doesn't do a lot of cussing … I don't believe I've ever heard him curse," Gold said. "He's a 'look, I tell you what to do … you either get it done or you won't play, period' type of guy. That's exactly how it was. He didn't get upset a lot, yell and scream, get in your face, all of that. He just expects guys to go out and perform at a high level. If you do not perform at a high level, you will not mesh well with him.
"I would definitely say he's aggressive in his approach. He took me as a linebacker and put me on the edge, and I'm rushing off the edge. He's definitely aggressive. He likes to get after quarterbacks, likes to attack offenses. I thought he had a great scheme."
There's no doubt in Gold's mind that the Wolverines will be back sooner than later following a 3-9 season, and he expects Robinson will be a big reason why.
"You've got to crawl before you walk," he said. "I'm sure everyone around understands that. Let the head coach do his job and earn his keep.
"But in Greg he really got a first-class guy. Every day we'd come to work and everyone would be in sweats … he'd be dressed in jeans and a nice collared shirt. He's a first-class, top-notch guy."
Ex-Wolverine Gold weighs in on Robinson hire
Chris Balas
Rivals.com College Football Senior Editor
Note: Gold retired from the NFL with some good years left in him with no regrets. He now spends his time traveling to promote his web site WhatAreKidsSaying.com (http://www.whatarekidssaying.com/) encouraging children to write and share their feelings.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Former Michigan linebacker Ian Gold and new defensive coordinator Greg Robinson only crossed paths for a year in the NFL, but that was plenty of time for Gold to learn what made his first mentor tick.
Gold entered the NFL in 2000 as a brash rookie with a big contract, big ideas and even larger goals. Robinson, meanwhile, was in his sixth year as the Denver Broncos' defensive coordinator, having led the team to consecutive Super Bowl titles in 1997-98, the latter with a defense that thoroughly dominated throughout the playoffs.
Ex-Michigan linebacker Ian Gold, who excelled in the NFL, began his career with Greg Robinson.
Gold didn't learn until several days after the fact that Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez had hired Robinson as his defensive coordinator. When he found out, it brought back a flood of memories.
"He's a class act … he really is," Gold said of his first NFL defensive coordinator. "I was young, wet behind the ears, and he was the first guy to really sit me down and say OK, this is the NFL. This is what we expect of you, this is the role we expect you to play, things of that nature. He was my first real leader I worked with one-on-one."
The two didn't always see eye-to-eye, Gold added with a laugh, attributing their "disagreements" mostly to his own youth and immaturity. But that was part of the growing process that helped mold an eight-year NFL career with the Broncos (with a one-year hiatus at Tampa Bay).
As his career progressed, Gold realized there were several things he'd have done differently.
"I was young, thought I knew everything," he said. "He was a seasoned veteran and a great leader, led the team to a Super Bowl and all that. But I had a strong personality. Having that, having to answer to someone … I just want to play football. I don't want to have to do it exactly the way you want me to, don't want to conduct myself exactly the way you want me to, and that caused a little friction. The majority of it was my youth and my inexperience, my lack of wisdom."
Robinson was released at the end of the 2000 season but enjoyed continued success at many his other stops, including the University of Texas in 2004. He was neck deep in his defensive coordinator duties with the Kansas City Chiefs a year earlier when Gold suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament, a significant setback.
A few days later, Gold received a nice surprise … a handwritten note from Robinson.
"I hadn't talked to him for a couple of years, but I get this letter from him just wishing me well. I thought, 'That's a class act,' " Gold said. "Here this guy is that I didn't necessarily see eye-to-eye with when he was here, but how classy of a guy is he to reach out to me when I was at my lowest? I'm thinking I could be done, my career could be over, and all of these things are flashing before your eyes. I definitely appreciated that."
Greg Robinson does not yell a lot. He expects his players to go out and perform at a high level.
Gold confirmed that much of what's been said about Robinson's demeanor and approach is true.
"He doesn't do a lot of cussing … I don't believe I've ever heard him curse," Gold said. "He's a 'look, I tell you what to do … you either get it done or you won't play, period' type of guy. That's exactly how it was. He didn't get upset a lot, yell and scream, get in your face, all of that. He just expects guys to go out and perform at a high level. If you do not perform at a high level, you will not mesh well with him.
"I would definitely say he's aggressive in his approach. He took me as a linebacker and put me on the edge, and I'm rushing off the edge. He's definitely aggressive. He likes to get after quarterbacks, likes to attack offenses. I thought he had a great scheme."
There's no doubt in Gold's mind that the Wolverines will be back sooner than later following a 3-9 season, and he expects Robinson will be a big reason why.
"You've got to crawl before you walk," he said. "I'm sure everyone around understands that. Let the head coach do his job and earn his keep.
"But in Greg he really got a first-class guy. Every day we'd come to work and everyone would be in sweats … he'd be dressed in jeans and a nice collared shirt. He's a first-class, top-notch guy."