To some, Baltimore is the land of opportunity. Many love to watch the Baltimore Ravens take care of business on the gridiron in front of thousands of fans every Sunday. Junior defensive tackle and Charm City-native Dane Robinson loved to watch one Raven in particular: Ray Lewis.
Just like the passionate and lively linebacker, Robinson expends all of his energy on the football field. Meeting Lewis early on in his football career gave him a role model to emulate.
"Just to see [Lewis's] passion and work effort on the football field really inspired me," Robinson said. "His intensity was incredible. Being able to meet him and talk about the way he plays really encouraged me to play football."
Robinson supports the community that supports him, in much the same vein that Lewis supports his local Baltimore community. A huge advocate of the True Blue student section, he runs towards the section of crazy supporters before every Buffalo football game.
Waving his arms and saluting the students, Robinson's energy rubs off on the fans and gets them ready for the upcoming game.
"The students create the atmosphere," he said. "UB Stadium is just grass and metal, but what makes it the [stadium is] that opposing teams' fear...the students."
Before Robinson ever dreamed of helping Buffalo compete in the Mid-American Conference, football was just something to do before basketball season. With most players towering over him on the hardwood, Robinson shifted his focus to molding himself into a stud on the Calvert Hall High School football field.
"Once all the point guards started to become the same height as me, my focus had to change and I began to pick up football pretty well," Robinson said. "I could use my aggressiveness to my advantage and wouldn't get called for fouls."
That energy and physical style of play pushed him into college football. Robinson came to Buffalo hoping to rectify a program struggling to gain respect.
Recruited to Buffalo in 2005, Robinson experienced disastrous records during his two years. However, the failures of the past just encouraged him to work hard towards success in the future.
"Buffalo used to be stuck in the basement of NCAA football rankings and in athletics in general," he said. "I want to leave here knowing I helped it succeed in becoming a respected program."
The hard work seems to be paying off. Starting as a sophomore last season, Robinson was a main reason for Buffalo's best record since Division 1.
At 267 pounds, Robinson is considered small for a defensive tackle, but he helped one of the worst defenses in college football rise among the MAC rankings.
Robinson attributes that success to the change in attitudes of him and his teammates.
"I expect teams to come after us and pound the rock," he said. "We look at every game as a test for us and we ask if we can pass the test. Most of the time we can answer 'yes'."
Even with the success he has experienced, Robinson's tenure as a Bull has not gone without adversity. His self-esteem took a little bit of a blow when his name was not on the list of starting 11 defensive players after spring and fall practices.
"[Being demoted] does affect your psyche as a player, but it gave me motivation to work and train harder during the summer," he said. "I came into this season thinking it's not about me but my team. Whatever my role is on defense, I'll do my best to get it done."
Robinson has worked continuously to increase his stats. As a football player, he wants them to show that he helped a struggling program get to the top.
But he wants his legacy to go far beyond numbers.
"I want the fans and students to remember me as somebody that appreciated them and worked towards success for both the team's benefit and the fans' enjoyment," Robinson said.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
