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.”