Thursday, July 16, 1998

UH defensive back
Robinson ineligible

Junior college running back
Eric Shine also won't play for
the Rainbows this season

By Paul Arnett
Star-Bulletin

The University of Hawaii secondary lost what few whiskers it had on the end of its chin after it was learned that senior Robbie Robinson won't be eligible to play football this season.

Robinson was a proposition athlete coming out of high school in 1994. According to NCAA rules, a proposition athlete can earn a fifth season if he graduates in four years.

The Los Angeles resident needed to pass 15 hours over the summer to complete his degree in sociology. UH head coach Fred vonAppen said Robinson fell behind last spring while playing basketball at UH and couldn't catch up.

"We were really counting on him making it back because he's the only guy with any real experience back there," vonAppen said of the oft-injured Robinson, who started the last three games of 1997 at left cornerback.

Last year, Robinson finished with 11 tackles and four pass breakups. He started seven games in 1995 and 11 in 1996. In those two seasons, he totaled 60 tackles and one interception. He still has a year of eligibility remaining in basketball.

"We have a solid front seven on defense, but our secondary will be untested," vonAppen said.

Senior cornerback Donnell Williams started eight games for the Rainbows last year, but missed most of spring with a hamstring pull.

"We need some guys to come through back there, and in a hurry," vonAppen said.

The offense received some bad news, too.

As expected, junior college running back Eric Shine won't be eligible to play this season. The Mt. San Antonio (Calif.) College standout will attend a local community college this fall and have two years to play two.

"Like Robbie, he had a lot of credits to complete in order to be eligible," vonAppen said of the 5-foot-9, 170-pound running back, who rushed for 903 yards and 14 touchdowns last season. "But it goes with the territory."