Joe Robillard's NFL experience

JOE ROBILLARD

Linfield Class of 1969

Came to Linfield from Hood River High School, Hood River, Ore.

6-1and 200

Recruited to Linfield to play football. Lettered (1965, 1966, 1967 and 1968) in that sports for coaches Paul Durham and Ad Rutschman. Also lettered in track & field in 1966, 1967, 1968 and 1969. He was Northwest Conference champ in both the high and intermediate (400 meter) hurdles and also ran on relay teams

DRAFTED BY SAINTS
Drafted by the NFL New Orleans Saints in (13^th round, 319^th pick) of 1969 NFL draft.

PRO SCOUTS
“I was generally not aware there were pro scouts at Linfield practices watching me. I suspect coaches Durham and Rutschman didn’t want disruption in practices. Knowing scouts were there could have caused that. After practices, I do remember talking to scouts for Green Bay, Atlanta and Detroit. They would talk to me a bit and get my height and weight and that was about it. I suspect they scouted big school players during games and small school players during practices. I never recall a pro scout watching me play in a game for Linfield.”

DIDN’T SIGN
After I was drafted, a Saints scout game to campus. But, I’m sure to the scout’s surprise I declined to sign their offer sheet. I may have been one of the original contract “hold outs.”

Perhaps even more amazing when I think back on it is that fact I went to the two week Saints Rookie camp in New Orleans without a contract. But, that didn’t last long.

I was called to an office and met with two Saints officials and the team attorney. They made it clear that I would not be allowed to practice without signing a contract. They had me. I was 2,000 miles from home. The Saints paid for a one-way plane ticket (Portland to New Orleans). If I didn’t sign, I wasn’t going to practice. I would not get the $15 per diem. Here I was in the office with the three of them. I thought, “I’ve got them right where I wanted them.” But, of course, the reality is they had me right where they wanted me. I signed.

ROOKIE CAMP
It went well for me. I was He was invited back to the Saints regular camp with the veterans at Cal-Western University in San Diego. I played in two pre-season games. But, I was cut after the second.

TRAINING CAMP
It was all about who was the biggest and baddest. We fought with each other all during practice. But, after practice we’d go out for a beer.

PREPARATION?
We didn't run pro schemes at Linfield so there were adjustments I had to make. Division 1 players on teams that ran pro schemes didn’t have many adjustments to make.

LINFIELD KNOWN? With two exceptions – a player from Hawaii who had played Linfield and a player from Oregon State, Linfield was an unknown.

SKILL LEVEL
Training camp and pre-season game experience showed me my skill level was not a significant step up from Linfield But because I was a late round draft choice I understood I was not going to be allowed many "do-overs" In hindsight, I should have spent time with a couple of Division 1 buddies on the team to better understand defensive schemes. If I’d done that I could have "reacted" rather than have to think through coverages.

DISAPPOINTED NOT TO HAVE PLAYED IN THE NFL? 
It probably worked out for the best for me. Money wasn't huge back in the 1960's. Minimum salary was $14,000.  Today, I can still walk and remember my name.

WATCHING FOOTBALL IN PERSON AND ON TV
I love watching college and pro football. Seeing my son, Matt Robillard, play football for Miami University of Ohio was especially enjoyable.

POSTSCRIPT – Joe played baseball for Linfield. Read story http://bit.ly/1L1sLmN

JOE ROBILLARD PHOTO INFORMATION:

-Baseball player Joe Robillard in Linfield Review, April 11, 1968

-Joe Robillard on cover of L&C at Linfield home game Oct. 5, 1968, printed program

-Clipping from Feb. 6, 1969, Linews story by Chuck Humble about Bob Haack, Joe Robillard, NFL draft

-Clipping, perhaps from a 1969 issue of the McMinnville News-Register, about Bob Haack, Joe Robillard, NLF draft

-Linfield Sports Info publicity photos

Randy Marshall's NFL experience

RANDY MARSHALL

Linfield Class of 1969 (graduated 1973)

Came to Linfield in 1965 from Santiam High School (Mill City, Ore.)

6-5 and 270 pounds

RECRUITED TO PLAY BASKETBALL

My recruitment to Linfield was to play basketball. Ted Wilson and his assistant, Dick Barnett, recruited me. (I lettered in 1965-66  season playing basketball for Linfield.) There was no interest from the coaches for me to play football. I credit my career in Linfield football (lettered 1966, 1967, 1968 and 1969) to Pete Dengenis. He was an assistant coach and talked me into trying out for the football team. He convinced Coach Durham I had football potential. I played two seasons for Coach Durham and the last two for Coach Rutchman. It was Coach Rutschman who developed me into the NFL player I became. He is a great man, person and coach who took me to the height of my football career.

NFL SCOUTS

During my junior season (1968) at Linfield I had contact with NFL scouts representing several teams. They came to campus and ran me through timed runs and visited with me. It was the same thing my senior season (1969), but in addition to scouts representing several teams a scout for the New Orleans Saints came to campus and timed me in some runs and some other testing.

The Saints were very interested in me and I thought I would end up with New Orleans.  But, on the day of the 1970 NFL draft I was surprised to get drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the 6th round (152^nd overall).   I think I was the first Linfield player to get drafted that high in the NFL.

NFL CONTRACT

I asked Coach Rutchman to help me with the contract and negotiations. So, when Bobby Beathard of the Falcons came to campus in the spring of 1970, the three of us sat in Coach Rutschman’s office and negotiated a deal which I eventually agreed to and signed.

WITH THE ATLANTA FALCONS

I first trained and played the summer and fall of 1970 for the Atlanta Falcons. Initially, I made the (1970) Falcon's taxi squad. Then, I was activated and started against Denver. Because of how I played in that game I was named 'Lineman of the Week.'  Denver threw the whole kitchen sink at me thinking they could run over a rookie. It did not happen. One highlight of that season was the game against New Orleans. I scored a touchdown for Atlanta after sacking Saints QB Billy Kilmer in the end zone and recovering the fumble. This TD put me in the NFL record book. That game was played Sunday, Oct. 25, 1970, in Atlanta.  After a summer of rehabilitating a knee injury from the last Falcon game of the 1970 season I had a good year in 1971 backing up Claude Humphrey, now a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. A story in the Aug. 19, 1971, Spartanburg,  S.C.,  Herald-Journal reported that the Falcons cut a veteran because "second year man Randy Marshall," after having knee surgery during the off season, regained his job as Humphrey's back-up, making the veteran player expendable. In Atlanta's first preseason game of 1971 against New England I sacked Patriot QB Jim Plunkett (a rookie that year, Heisman Trophy winner from Stanford) four times. That earned me a spot on the Falcon team roster. I signed another contract with the Falcons in 1972. Atlanta traded me the Buffalo Bills. But, I did not pass the Bill's physical because of my knee problems and had to retire.

ATLANTA FALCONS TRAINING CAMP

It was a real eye opener. There was fighting and cheap shots from the pro players you don’t see in college. The veterans stuck together and protected themselves from the new players and rookies. This was a job to them and they were not going to allow someone to take their job. Coming from a small high school (Santiam) and a small college, I was nervous my first day of training camp. There I was with big name NFL players and high draft choices. But, after a few hours of practice, I realized that I was as good or better than many of them. I could compete and play with the best players at camp. On the second day of training camp I played with a lot more confidence and excelled. The major difference between college and the pros was that there was no team play in training camp. All players were out for their own good. You look out for yourself with veterans. Unless they wanted you on their team, they could hurt you and take you out.

Falcon training camp was at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tenn. The humidity was unbelievable. I’d lose 15 pounds at practice just from sweat. So, I drank a lot of Gatorade.

My preparation after being drafted and getting ready for training camp went well. I was in good physical shape. I put on weight as the summer went on. I was on a special protein diet and weight program the Falcons provided.

DID ANYONE KNOW LINFIELD?

No one had any idea where Linfield. Two players did know Oregon. Bob Berry, the Falcon quarterback from University of Oregon. And Falcon coach Norm Van Brocklin, who also played for quarterback for the University of Oregon and was an all-pro quarterback for the Rams and Eagles.

SURPRISES AND DISAPPOINMENTS

My biggest surprise was watching the big name college players and draft choices being waived by the Falcons while I stayed. This was very reassuring. The most disappointing was the fact I could have had a very long and successful career if not for my knee problems.

THE TOTAL EXPERIENCE OF BEING A PRO

We traveled first class. I got to a lot of places, met a lot of people, and had some great experiences I would have never had if it were not for football. Sometimes I do have some regrets because of the physical problems I have now related to football. But, if had it to do over again, yes I would.

WHAT IF?

What if my knees had not had problems and continued to play, how far would I have gone and where would it have taken me?” I think about this every once in awhile.

WATCHING NFL ON TV

I don’t watch NFL too much. If it’s the playoffs and the Super Bowl, I watch. But, for the most part I don’t because of the arrogant attitude of the players today. They’re a bunch of overpaid spoiled brats. Most of them can’t talk or add two and two.

CONTINUED CONTACT WITH FALCON TEAMMATES

I stayed contact for a few years but as time went along so did the communication. My last good friend and teammate was Greg Lens. He was born in 1945 and died 2009. He had Alzheimer's. We all know what that was from. Of the 46 players that I played with in Atlanta, six or seven have died.  Not good odds.

FINAL COMMENT

I am proud of what I accomplished coming from a small high school and college and I hope I inspired the same in others. I attribute a lot of my accomplishments to my friend and coach, Ad Rutchman.

POSTSCRIPT -- These days Randy keeps up his competitiveness by racing lawnmowers. See

http://bit.ly/1nZiEoZ

RANDY MARSHALL PHOTO INFORMATION:

-Randy Marshall, 1971 Atlanta Falcons publicity photos

-Linfield Sports Info publicity photos

...........

Randy Marshall signed US Postal Service postcard (football)

 

 

Bob Haack's NFL experience

BOB HAACK

Linfield Class of 1969

Came to Linfield from Dallas High School, Dallas, Ore.

6-5 and 265

BASEBALL WAS TO BE HIS GAME

“I was recruited to Linfield by Roy Helser to be a pitcher on the Linfield baseball team. I played JV baseball, but never played varsity baseball for Linfield. How I ended up on the football team is an interesting story. (See story at this link

http://bit.ly/1PhIL5F) 

“I also played JV basketball. And, I had a one-match experience as a heavyweight wrestler on the Linfield wrestling team. In that sport, one match was all the career I ever wanted.

NFL SCOUTS

“Contact with NFL scouts started after my sophomore year at Linfield with a scout representing several teams, including the Cowboys and Saints. There were scouts in touch with me during the spring following my junior season, too.

NFL CONTACT

“I was drafted in the 17^th round (419^th pick) by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1969 NFL draft. I read that in the newspaper. But, when I got a telegram from the Eagles telling me the same thing, I knew it was for real. Coach Dick Stanfel of the Eagles came to the Linfield campus to meet me in Coach Rutschman’s office in mid-February 1969. Dick and I discussed money, bonuses and pre-season conditioning. Dick wanted to time me in the 40-yard dash. So, I went to Maxwell Stadium, changed my clothes and he timed me in 4.9 seconds. That confirmed what the Eagles had on paper for me: 4.8 to 5.0 in the 40. After that, I changed my clothes again and went back to Ad’s office and signed a contract for $21,500 with increment bonuses totally an additional $4,000 based upon making the Eagles’ roster.”

WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN IN PORTLAND

“First pre-season game in 1969 for the Eagles was in Portland in Civic Stadium vs. the Saints. Imagine, playing in Oregon for the Eagles against the Saints, with Joe Robillard on the Saints roster.  But, unfortunately, it did not happen for either of us. Joe and I were both released on the same day, two weeks prior to what would have been our pro debuts in Portland.

VIETNAM WAR

“When I graduated from Linfield in 1969 and signed with the Eagles was during the peak of the Vietnam War. Like any male students attending college during the war, I had a student deferment as long as I was a full-time student and passed my classes. It wasn’t long after I graduated from Linfield that I had my military pre-induction physical in downtown Portland. The Eagles provided me with an ‘out’ by getting me into the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. So, when I went to Philadelphia I attended military drills for several months in Pottstown, Pa. (about 40 miles from Philly) before reporting to Fort Lewis, Wash., in December 1969.

“By the way, Joe Robillard was also at Fort Lewis – I assume he was with the Louisiana National Guard -- about four weeks ahead of me in boot camp. We each got military leave at Christmastime and drove from Fort Lewis down I-5. Joe headed home to Hood River I was going home to McMinnville where my wife Nancy (Steinbach Haack) and I lived. As Joe and I made that I-5 trip, we shared our pro football and boot camp experiences.

“During that leave, Nancy gave birth to our daughter, Shannon, in the McMinnville hospital across the street from the Linfield campus. The hospital has since moved, but then it was where a Walgreen’s drug store is now.

WITH THE EAGLES

“I was with the Eagles for three weeks. Then, I was released and picked up by the Redskins and traded back to the Eagles on the same day. And, on the same day the Eagles released me. The Eagles encouraged me to play for its Pottstown Firebirds farm team and promised it would keep tabs on me and bring me up to the Eagles if and when things changed. I did play for the Firebirds and the team won the ACFL (Atlantic Coast Football League) in 1969. One of our victories was over the Hartford, Conn., Knights. Two players for the Knights were John Lee and Ed Griffin, my former Linfield football teammates.

PRO TRAINING CAMP

“I realized very quickly that I was on my own. I was being evaluated and judged on every drill and also in what I said or how I responded in ‘skull sessions’ between practices. At the end of the first week with the Eagles, about 40 draftees/free agents/and walk-ons were released. I was still there. Then, the veteran players came to camp and it really became interesting. The vets pushed us rookies, asking about our former college teams and the team mascots. At meal team rookies provided entertainment by singing our college alma maters. The Linfield Alma Mater was one of their favorites. When I got to ‘The Old Oak gives us courage, keeps us steadfast in on our way, For her we'll fight, With all our might…’ the vets would hoot and holler, pound the tables and have me start over again.

WERE YOU PREPARED FOR THE PROS?

“Yes and no! The intensity and love of competing never changed. But, what was so remarkably different between Linfield and the pros was the physical size, strength and quickness of the surviving rookies and veterans. Yes, we at Linfield had many strong, quick and physical players that truly made our team outstanding in the Northwest Conference. But, when you are in an NFL training camp there are 75 players with outstanding qualities and characteristics. We’re competing for only 43 slots on the active roster. The survival and fear of not making the cut was very intense.

WEATHER

“Eagle training camp was at Albright College in Reading, Pa. The temperatures were in the upper 90s and the humidity was outrageous. We were having daily doubles practices. And, we were learning the offensive audible system called on the line. The offensive play could change. The formation and the motion and the snap count could change, too. All of this could change your blocking assignment. So, we’re sweating and exerting in intense practices. Plus, in our skull sessions we have our coaches demanding perfection regardless of our experience, peer pressure and hazing from the veterans. We were playing football at Linfield and in the NFL camp, but motivation is different. You are working extremely hard. It was Intense pressure beyond compare with what I had ever experienced.

WAS LINFIELD KNOWN?

“No. Several joked about Oregon in general. Was Oregon a state or a territory? I remember being asked if we Oregonians were still fighting and dealing with Native Americans over fishing and water rights.

SURPRISES/DISAPPOINTMENTS?

“The biggest surprise was the shear and overwhelming talent from all over the country. The greatest disappointment was the negative comments from people, so called fans, going to and from training camp. The Eagles fans earned a nickname: ‘The Philadelphia Boo Birds!’ As bad as it was during the training camp, I was told during the previous Eagles season, when the team only won four game, the Boo Birds were really awful. But, despite all of this there were children wanting or autographs and wanting their photos taken with us.

WERE YOU PREPARED?

“I was well prepared at Linfield under both head coaches: Paul Durham for three and Ad Rutschman my senior year. I truly ‘learned the game specifically’ with Rutsch. Every aspect of the game was broken down, learned, enforced with live drills and then executed in scrimmage. At Linfield, game day was a break from the rigorous schedule! In the NFL camp, your s playing ability was revealed with a scoring system of points, based upon the coaches’ review of each play. The pressure to perform in the NFL is intense.

WHAT IF

“I truly believe I would have played in the NFL, based upon several on my teammates from Pottstown making it with the Eagles the follow season. I was the Pottstown starting strong tackle and played four games, prior to my career ending injury: fracturing three neck vertebrae/transverse process.

DO YOU WATCH THE NFL TODAY?

“Rarely! On occasion, with family and friends during the play-offs/championships I will watch the last quarter, if it's close. But, for the most part, for me watching the NFL is out of proportion to the realities of life.”

POSTSCRIPTS

--Planning to play Wildcat baseball, how Bob Haack became a Linfield football standout. Read story: http://bit.ly/1PhIL5F

- Bob almost attended Willamette University instead of Linfied. Read story:

http://bit.ly/1PhILCH

BOB HAACK PHOTO INFORMATION:

-Bob “Igor” Haack in the Oct. 19, 1967, Linfield Review, drawing by former Linfield QB Bruce Priem

-Clipping from Feb. 6, 1969, Linews story by Chuck Humble about Bob Haack, Joe Robillard, NFL draft

-Clipping, perhaps from a 1969 issue of the McMinnville News-Register, about Bob Haack, Joe Robillard, NLF draft

-NFL Philadelphia Eagles 1969 Training Camp media guide cover and roster

-Linfield Sports Info publicity photos

-Bob Haack's Dallas, Ore., High School "D" athletic letter

-Willamette University "Barney Bearcat" mascot logo