Bradley, encouraged by his brother, 
found a home at Ohio State where 
he’s now a junior. 
For two brothers at rival schools — 
with a father who is a Michigan State 
grad, nonetheless — their bond is less 
competitive than imagined.
“They both compete with each other, 
but they’re also super close and they 
mentor each other,” Brad said. “A lot 
of things Andrew has gone through, 
Bradley has been able to grow and 
see how it is.”

There are exceptions, of course, like 
how Andrew and Bradley have the 
same haircut — what Andrew calls 
the “Conor McGregor fade.” They 
have a bet: whichever team loses the 
Michigan-Ohio State game this year, 
the losing brother shaves their head 
and stays bald the rest of the year. 
***
As Andrew reflects during his fifth 
and final year, he talks with veteran 
confidence.
When he was hanging out with 

the Wolverine specialists at 
Northwestern this past weekend, his 
teammates discussed Devin Gardner 
like an ancient relic of Michigan 
football history. He was Andrew’s 
freshman year teammate. 
Former classmates of his who have 
transferred or graduated like Drake 
Harris, Moe Ways, Ian Bunting and 
Wilton Speight make his final year 
quieter. Dymonte Thomas, who 
used to pray in the north end zone of 
Michigan Stadium with Andrew 
before games, is now in his second 
season with the Denver Broncos. 
Now, Andrew’s pregame praying 
ritual is back to a familiar spot off the 
field. He kneels facing north, alone, 
by the left hash that he has snapped 
from for five years. Now Bradley 
prays with his classmate, running 
back Master Teague, before games. 
Off the field and out of mind, it’s hard 
to imagine Andrew’s journey as a 
whirlwind, but that’s exactly how it 
is. Does he wish he played more? Of 
course. But he doesn’t think about 
it. Starting long snapper Camaron 
Cheeseman is one of his good 
friends. Andrew actually likes being 
one of the first guys to congratulate 
the special teams unit after a play. 
Being a Michigan football player 
— the rah-rah and tradition that 
trumped any other D-I or D-II offer 
he got — is forever inscribed in his 
identity. 
“I’ll never forget when I met (former 
kicker) Kenny Allen’s mom the first 
time, and she told me at our first 
game, that when you see your kid 
running out of that field to touch that 
banner, you will cry, you will tear up,” 
Brad said. “Ever since that happened, 
I do. I get a little tightness in the 
chest because of that tradition, and I 
love it and it’s the greatest feeling.”

And when Andrew has gotten that 
rare chance to go into a game, the 
tear ducts well up. But if you’re not 
paying attention, he’s happier. Since 
2015, Andrew has only seen game 
action in 2016 against Hawaii 
and Rutgers and in 2017 against 
Wisconsin and Ohio State.
“I want to get thrown in the game 
and I almost don’t want Coach (Jim) 
Harbaugh to know I was in the game 
until he watches film, because I want 
to be the best I could be,” Andrew 
said. “It’s one of those things that 
you don’t wanna be known until 
someone puts on the tape and sees 
49 was in.”
Added Rubio: “A good long snapper 
is like a Honda Accord. It’s not the 
flashiest car in the world, but it’ll 
get you from point A to point B. … 
On fourth down, (a coach) wants 
to yell at his linebacker to get him 
the ball back or at his quarterback 
for throwing an interception or 
whatever. 
“Long snapping is one of those things 
he doesn’t want to think about.”
The age-old adages of reflection 
surface when talking to Robinson. 
There are no regrets going to 
Michigan and getting his degree in 
movement science. As of this fall, he’s 
applied to physical therapy schools 
and is even weighing participating in 
Michigan’s pro day.
A long snapper who has played in 
five games making it to the NFL 
seems like a pipe dream, but it 
doesn’t faze Andrew. He references 
Detroit Lions’ long snapper Don 
Muhlbach, who played only one 
season in college and is now a 15-year 
vet. To prepare, Andrew works with 
former NFL special teams coach 
Greg Zauner on his snapping.
With a degree in his back pocket, he 

says it’s better than never trying.
***
On Nov. 23, Brad and his wife 
Susanna will drive down to 
Columbus, Ohio in their pickup truck 
in anticipation for what is to come 
the next day. Their sons probably 
won’t see the field, but who knows 
that over a month away? Either way, 
they’ll be proud. 
It’ll be their first and only game they 
attend together this college football 
season, just as planned. Normally, 
they “divide and conquer.” Just 
this past weekend, Brad traveled 
to Evanston to see Andrew and 
Michigan, while Susanna ventured 
to Happy Valley to see Bradley and 
Ohio State. In Columbus, it’ll be the 
last time the two brothers will share 
a field.
Like any other fan would do, the 
couple will set up to tailgate with 
friends and family and let loose 
before another iteration of one of the 
sport’s greatest rivalries.
Neither of them really care who 
wins, if they’re being honest. And 

they may not be congratulated for 
their kids’ on-field performance. 
They’ll just be thinking about how 
they’ll celebrate with their sons after 
the game. 
It won’t be their last post-game 
celebration together, though. It’ll be 
their first. 
“We’ve made it a goal that when 
they’re done with their college 
careers and have families,” Brad said, 
“on Thanksgiving weekends we’ll 
either be at Ohio State or (Michigan) 
and that’ll be our tradition.”
So when they park at Ohio Stadium 
and prepare to tailgate and watch 
the game, the routine is the same. 
The faces of passersby will tense up 
seeing the back of their truck — side-
by-side Michigan and Ohio State 
football stickers. 
Brad has heard the question often: 
“What’s up with that?”
“It’s a unique situation,” he explains.

DESIGN BY JACK SILBERMAN | KATELYN MULCAHY / DAILY | PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE ROBINSON FAMILY

You don’t know Andrew Robinson -
he’s fine with that.

And someone tweeted, ‘Who is Andrew 
Robinson? I’ve never heard of him.’ And I was 
like, ‘Exactly.’ “You don’t want to be known.”

