Athletics

Dave Robinson set for Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement

An All-American at Penn State, Dave Robinson was a first-round draft pick of the Green Bay Packers in 1963. He becomes the sixth Penn State football player enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Credit: Pro Football Hall of FameAll Rights Reserved.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Former Penn State All-America end Dave Robinson is set to become the sixth member of the Penn State Football family to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The enshrinement ceremony for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2013 is at 7 p.m. on Saturday (Aug. 3) in Canton, Ohio. The 50th annual ceremony will air live on NFL Network.

Robinson is the sixth member of the Penn State Football family to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, joining Jack Ham, Franco Harris, August Michalske, Lenny Moore and Mike Munchak. Munchak, head coach of the Tennessee Titans, had been Penn State's most recent inductee, in 2001.

"It's very special; it means an awful lot," said Robinson, a resident of nearby Akron. "I have been around the Hall of Fame and involved with the Board of Directors since the 1980s. I'm getting a whole new look at the Hall of Fame. The big thrill is, every single man in the Hall of Fame, they are the elite. This is the last team you will ever be elected to. The Hall of Fame is the top; there's nothing beyond it."

From Mount Laurel, N.J., Robinson was a first-team All-American for the Nittany Lions in 1962 and a three-year letterwinner under Coach Rip Engle. He helped Penn State to a 24-8 record from 1960-62, including wins over Oregon in the 1960 Liberty Bowl and Georgia Tech in the 1961 Gator Bowl. An offensive and defensive end, Robinson was the MVP of the 1962 Gator Bowl, despite the Nittany Lions falling to Florida, 17-7 to complete a 9-2 season. He was inducted into the Gator Bowl Hall of Fame in 1996.

The Green Bay Packers and Coach Vince Lombardi selected Robinson in the first round of the 1963 NFL Draft (14th overall selection) and he played linebacker 12 years in the NFL. He played with the Packers from 1963-72 and the Washington Redskins in 1973-74.

Robinson was selected to the Pro Bowl three times (1966-67, 1969) and twice earned Associated Press first-team All-Pro honors (1967, 1969) during his career in Green Bay. Robinson was a starter on teams that won three consecutive NFL Championships (1965-67) and Super Bowls I and II. He was named to the NFL's All-Decade Team of the 1960s. He intercepted 27 passes in his 12-season career.

Robinson is among 22 members of the Penn State football family who are enshrined into the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame (1997). He was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 1982.  

Last Updated August 2, 2013

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