Robinson highlight real

[ChiTownBull]

http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/Sports/Headlines/sptFBC01120106.htm

DAYTONA BEACH -- ESPN Sports Center has provided USF linebacker Chris Robinson with plenty of entertainment over the years.

But the show served a more medicinal purpose Saturday night.

It convinced Robinson that he hadn't gone crazy.

The Flagler Palm Coast product says that in the aftermath of USF's upset at seventh-ranked West Virginia Saturday night, he worried he might be dreaming the whole unlikely scenario.

But after careful inspection of the highlight film, he realized that:

· Yes, his Bulls really did pull the upset.

· Yes, he, Chris Robinson, redshirt freshman and non-starter, made the biggest play of the game.

"It didn't seem real to me," Robinson said Wednesday. "So I went back to my room after the game and watched ESPN all night."

What Robinson saw is what USF fans will long regard as the most pivotal play in the biggest win in school history.

With USF trailing 6-0 in the second quarter, Robinson stripped the football from West Virginia quarterback Pat White. Defensive end George Selvie scooped up the fumble and raced nine yards for a touchdown.

The Bulls, a decided underdog playing a team once considered a national championship contender, added another TD before halftime and didn't trail again.

Robinson's hit was so pivotal that he figures his coaches won't hassle him for, well, blowing his assignment on the play.

He was supposed to be shadowing the running back in pass coverage, but found himself out of position and improvised by going after the quarterback.

"I went with my run read instead of my pass read," Robinson said. "I saw George pick it up, and when he did I was the happiest person. I tried to get it, but Pat White was holding my leg and I was holding his.

"My coach (defensive coordinator Wally Burnham) said it was one of those plays where it's, " 'Attaboy, don't do it again.' I thought that was funny."

Robinson was an unlikely hero. For much of the season he averaged between 12 to 15 snaps a game as a backup defensive end, entering the game mostly on third-and-long situations.

But he moved to his natural position, linebacker, when senior Patrick St. Louis was injured. And he capitalized on the opportunity in a big way Saturday, registering a career-best five tackles, two for loss, a sack and the game-changing forced fumble.

After the game, he and fellow freshman Selvie got a bite to eat before returning to their room to watch Sports Center. Robinson remembers being in disbelief -- of the win and his role in it.

"It didn't seem true to me," said Robinson, whose Bulls (8-4) are bound for an undetermined bowl game. "Somebody called me and said, 'Did you beat West Virginia?' I was like, 'no we lost.' It took me 10 minutes before I said, "no, we won.'

"It was just a shock to me we beat West Virginia. I knew we could, but it wasn't real yet."

It became clearer as he and Selvie watched their big play, over and over again. It was also shown during the Notre Dame-USC telecast.

After years of watching others shine on Sports Center, hearing the name "Chris Robinson" called by the anchor was quite an experience.

"It was weird, but I was happy for it," he said. "That win just shows that, given the right situation, we can beat any team in America.

"We're real young and as we grow the next couple of years we're gonna be on top of the Big East. I really believe that."

steve.master@news-jrnl.com

[E.T.]

The Freshmen we have on this team is amazing ... and loving the press !

I just hope he does well in coverage while in the LB position ... sure he will be getting plenty of reps and will do fine.

[MikeG]

don't get me wrong-- this win was definitely awesome.

But for me, the most pivotal win in USF history will always be the win against Pitt in 2001. It made so many things possible now imo-- Big East inclusion being the biggest part. That led to the program's accelerated progresion we see today imo