Q&A with veteran wide receiver Sedrick Robinson

Editors note: Earlier this week, we sat down with veteran receiver Sedrick Robinson in the fifteenth edition of In the Eye of the Storm. Robinson, who is currently in his eight season in the AFL and second with the Storm, started his professional football career in 1999 with the Peoria Pirates of the Indoor Football League. After finishing an astounding college career at Kentucky Wesleyan University (1993-96), where he appears in the schools record books 58 times and ranks first all-time in 26 different categories. This season Robinson has tallied 19 receptions for 235 yards and one touchdown, 307 kickoff return yards and 545 all-purpose yards.

EDITOR: Mr. Robinson, first off what does it feel like to still see your name in Kentucky Wesleyan record books a total of 58 times?

SEDRICK ROBINSON: Man, I had a great time at Kentucky Wesleyan. They’re not a lot of upper class athletes that go to Kentucky Wesleyan so it was easy to get my name in the record books (laughter). I don’t think all of my records will be broken any time soon just because I came in as a freshman and we were an all passing team my whole four years there.

ED: It was ridiculous though! It took up two full pages of my notes. You were ranked number one all-time in 26 categories.

SR: (Laughter) I can’t complain. I wouldn’t go anywhere different or do anything different. They showed me love up there.

ED: In your first AFL game in 2002, you scored six touchdowns. What was that like?

SR: I actually scored seven! One of them got called back. It was a case where the opposing team hadn’t seen me yet. I ended up returning three kickoffs, two receptions and ran one in. I was excited.

ED: Before you began your professional football career, you played professional baseball for the Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. Tell me a little bit about that.

SR: I’ll tell you what, if I were smart and listened to my dad, I would still be playing baseball. I came out of school and our coach at Kentucky had some great ties with the baseball program and a lot of coaches around the Major Leagues. They got me a chance. The Indians took me on my 60 time; they knew that I could steal bases. I went up there and had a good year but I wanted to play football. I’m not going to complain about it, but if I were smart, I would still be playing baseball.

ED: You were stuck behind a ball player by the name of Kenny Lofton, who was inducted into the Indian’s Hall of Fame earlier this year. What was it like to be competing against him?

SR: I actually never got the chance to compete against him. What it was, right after I quit, he retired. I felt like an idiot. I had the chance to move up. I played center field too. I wish I stayed into it. There is less strain on your body and more money. I love playing football though. Money wise, it’s baseball. Just follow in your heart though; football is what I wanted to do.

ED: After Kenny took all of the glory, a friend convinced you to play for the Peoria Pirates (IFL) in 1999. What went down there?

SR: He called me up and said he was playing Arena Football in Illinois. He asked me if I wanted to play. I said, ‘You know what, man, I do miss football!’ I do want to play.’ I grew up with him, we went to school together and he told me to send my highlight tapes. A few days later I got a call back and they told me to come up immediately.  I ran my first route and they said, ‘Oh yes! We got a player!’ I’ll tell you right now, playing in Peoria was the best time playing football that I have ever had. It wasn’t about the money; it was about playing football. All the guys on the team lived together at a hotel. We all worked together, it was awesome. We won a Championship and went 17-0. It was great. I scored 6 touchdowns in the Championship and won the MVP.

ED: So you obviously took a little of that pretty baseball swing to the golf course and I had an opportunity to play with you on Sunday. Even though you won $2 from me, I took you down on a few holes. What does that feel like?

SR: (Laughter) It was a bad day for me! I’m going to blame it on my ribs. Brett [Dietz] and I go out to play sometimes. Of course, Brett’s a real good player. I go out sometimes and hit good and then I’ll hit not so good. It was a good time. I just like to go out there and hit around.

ED: What are some of your other hobbies off the field?

SR: Enjoying time with my son. I have a one-year-old now. I like teaching him and playing with him. I also enjoy reading books. I used to play video games a lot, now I don’t though. Now I just read and I also ride my bike.

ED: You looked up to former Storm offensive specialist George LeFrance for years. You even wore number 25 throughout your career (LeFrance’s number) in honor of the AFL great Hall of Famer. When you signed with the Storm, though, you were forced to change your number because it was retired. Tell me about this.

SR: George was a great return specialist in the league for a long time. I just try to pattern my game after him. I once talked to him and he told me that the first thing he does is runs up field right away and then do whatever you want. The main thing is catching the ball and running up field after that. I took over from that. I still want #25, but I got here and it was retired, rightfully so. I had to move on.

ED: You played in the AFL for Houston, New Jersey, Grand Rapids, Columbus, Austin and Tampa. What was your favorite city to play in and why?

SR: My favorite team to play with was New Jersey. In my second season there, the team moved out to Las Vegas, NV.

ED: What do you like more, returning kicks or catching passes?

SR: Returning kicks. When you return kicks, it’s all about you (laughter). No, seriously I just feel more comfortable taking the ball off of the net.

ED: What are the top three most-played songs on your iPOD?

SR: On game day, Phil Collins, In the Air Tonight. Then I would have to say, Tupac, Hit Him Up. That’s the only two I listen to.

ED: What is your favorite movie?

SR: It’s going to be, and don’t laugh at this… Harlem Nights.

ED: If you could succeed at another career besides athletics, what would it be?

SR: I want to work with kids. As soon as football is over that’s what I’m going to do.

ED: You’ve been around the AFL for a while. You’ve seen teams come and go, seen a year-long absence but now there are talks of a league-wide expansion. Your thoughts?

SR: I think it will be good for the league to get more teams, more money and more people getting involved. Hopefully the league will get to where it was.

ED: Where do you see yourself in 15-years?

SR: Hopefully watching my son play sports and me retiring somewhere.

ED: Okay, how did you let this happen. You intercepted a John Fitzgerald pass. Great! Good job there, Sed. So you start running it back but wait. Fitzgerald is in the way and strips it right out of your hand. Common man!

SR: Embarrassing! I actually played with Fitz on a couple of teams. It was embarrassing. We ended up losing that game so I didn’t feel too good about it. It was my most embarrassing play of my career.

ED: Sedrick, thank you for joining us today. Don’t go spending my $2 dollars all in one place and good luck the rest of the way!