Dave Robinson: Packers Hall of Famer honored during halftime ceremony
Dave Robinson pauses during his acceptance speech during a ceremony held at halftime Sunday honoring his inclusion in the Packers Ring of Honor and his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Jim Oxley photograph
Dave Robinson, the latest Green Bay Packers player to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, was honored yesterday at halftime of the Packers versus Atlanta Falcons game at Lambeau Field. In addition to short speeches, Robinson’s name was unveiled on the Packers’ Ring of Honor.
After the ceremony, Robinson met with reporters in the media hall inside Lambeau Field.
The following is what Robinson had to say during his opening statement and in response to questions.
"“Marv Levy said, ‘There’s no place I’d rather be than right here and right now.’“As much as I’m proud of my bust in Canton, I’m just as proud of the fact that they unveiled my name that will be here as long as this building is here … and this building is going to be here for a long, long time.“I really want to thank the people of Green Bay, would like to thank the Hall of Fame, and I want to thank all the fans that have come.”"
Dave Robinson is introduced to the Lambeau Field crowd at halftime of Sunday’s game.
Jim Oxley photograph
Robinson was asked about standing out in the cold at Lambeau Field on Sunday and whether it brought back any memories of the Ice Bowl:
"“You know, as cold as it was then and it was cold today, I didn’t have to worry about missing a tackle and costing the whole team $20,000 … it’s not as cold today [Sunday]. This is really a warm day considering … but without my pads, it was cold … it was pretty cold today."
On tearing up and the experience of being honored:
“I never thought I was an emotional guy, but to get this [Hall of Fame] ring, and to see your name on the ring up there … at Lambeau Field, that’s a real special thing. Other teams have rings of honor, but there’s nothing more special than having your name up there at Lambeau Field. That’s a big, big plus and then … I was very fortunate to be in that 50th anniversary class and our ring’s a little different than the others. All I can say is, ‘how sweet it is.’
Asked about wearing gloves during the Ice Bowl:
“It was a little colder than this and Coach Lombardi said he didn’t want anybody to drop a ball because they were wearing cloth gloves. So he said no receivers, no running backs, no defensive backs, or any linebackers could wear gloves. And everybody was complaining in the individual groups and I went to our then-assistant equipment manager, Dominic Gentile, and I said, ‘Dom, give me a pair of brown gloves, he [Lombardi) will never know the difference.’ Just recently, I was at a show where the guy had a film clip of us coming out of the locker room and he stopped the action and there were the gloves … I wore brown gloves the whole game.
On joining several other of his teammates in the Hall of Fame:
"“First of all, talking about the Hall of Fame itself – it’s a great team that will last forever. And for once – once in my life anyway, I’m on the same team as Vince Lombardi, and the seven blocks of granite. He’s in the Hall of Fame and we’re all on the same team. But [I] also look around the stadium here and I’m as close to being immortalized as possible. My name is right next to Forrest Gregg, a great guy, and Willie Davis on the other side … I tell you, you have to have had played in Green Bay; you have to have bled in Lambeau Field; you have to have sweated and sometimes cried … there was blood, sweat and a few tears … and it’s part of you – part of you is Lambeau Field – part of you is there forever. To be enshrined at Lambeau Field, to get this award at Lambeau Field – it’s the greatest thing in the world. It would have been great to get this ring in Canton – because I love Canton – but I really, really, really love Lambeau. Lambeau is my adopted home, Green Bay is my adopted hometown."
Pro Football Hall of Famer Dave Robinson’s name was unveiled Sunday on the Packers Ring of Honor at Lambeau Field.
Jim Oxley photograph
On what he will do now after being inducted into the Hall of Fame and having his name lifted onto the Ring of Honor at Lambeau Field:
"“The ring is my final piece of jewelry, but being inducted into the Hall of Fame and being enshrined – it’s not a one-time event. It’s going to last as long as you’re sucking air. Every day you go to the store … you don’t go as Dave Robinson … I’ll go as Dave Robinson, Green Bay Packer, Hall of Famer. It’s a great deal of responsibility, a great deal of pride on my part and I try to amplify what a Hall of Famer should be. I like to do the things that make people say, ‘that’ a Hall of Fame-type person and he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.’ I pay honor and homage to the Hall of Fame. I love the Hall of Fame and you know what? I love the Green Bay Packers.”"